Could Canada’s Bill C-10 Derail New Productions For Fear of Censorship?

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Parliment was treated to a host of Canada’s entertainment best and brightest today. The members of the entertainment industry were there to denounce a federal bill they have deemed nothing more than censorship.

The Bill C-10 could force Canadian productions out of the country due to tax credits being denied if the film or television production was deemed offensive.

“Any whiff of censorship is chilling for us,” actress Sarah Polley told a news conference before the Senate hearing.

“It’s the job of artists to provoke and to challenge. Part of the responsibility of being an artist is to create work that will inspire dialogue, suggest that people examine their long-held positions and, yes, occasionally offend in order to do so.”

At this time producers apply for a bank loan for the production of the film or television program. When the production is complete it may qualify for a government if it meets Canadian content rules.

The new ruling would give the government the power to revoke credits if they deem the project unacceptable. Those in the industry fear that this change could change the way banking institutions would react to new productions.

Other than India and the United States artists rely on public money. Taking away those funds could change the Canadian voice.

“When censorship, historically, has ever been introduced - and always with the best of intentions - it never goes right,” actress Wendy Crewson said.

“We do not want to open that gate in any capacity, under any government.”

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