Debate on Culture ahead of the Federal Elections 2025

Downtown HEC Campus
April 14, 2025 (3:30 - 5 PM)

Disclaimer: The following notes were taken by a QDF staff member during the debate. Every effort was made to represent the discussion accurately and remain neutral. However, they should not be considered an official transcript or an endorsement of any particular viewpoint.

Participants:

  • Liberal Party representative Steven Guilbeault

  • Bloc Quebecois representative Martin Champoux

  • NDP representative Marwan El Attar

Visions for a Canadian cultural sovereignty?

  • The Liberal Party stressed that our culture is non-negotiable and said it would fight for its protection (i.e. Maintain cultural exemption within NAFTA).

  • The Bloc Quebecois expressed the need for a change in the discourse around culture, to see it as an economic investment.

  • The NDP sees culture as a shaper of identity, and promised to increase financial support.

Financial support to the cultural sector & living conditions of artists

  • General consensus to increase financial support to the sector. All representatives have said yes to the sector’s demand of allocating 1% of the federal budget.

  • Considering that 41 % of artists & cultural workers are self-employed - NDP & Bloc expressed the need to reform Employment insurance, provide longer-term financial support to insure sustainability and predictability for the sector. LPC confirmed the need to work with artists to make necessary reforms.

  • All representatives agreed to the importance of supporting minority artists.

Artificial Intelligence

  • Bloc and NDP highlighted the urgency to act upon AI’s impact on copyright. Bloc calls for transparency from AI companies concerning their intentions of using artists’ works and in their communication with artists to ensure works are protected or used with consent and remuneration; NDP focuses more on a robust protection of artists against AI copyright infringement.

  • LPC calls for an international strategy to tackle this issue.

Copyright

  • All representatives have said yes when asked if they would work to implement the Artist’s Resale Right, which is currently not in place in Canada.

  • Regarding copyright exemptions for books and music in education - NDP expressed intention to maintain this exemption. Considering the $200 M of loss for writers and publishers since 2012 because of this exemption - Bloc expressed intention to make reforms.

Regulations on radio distribution and the future of CBC/ Radio-Canada

  • All representatives confirmed their belief in the importance of a high quality public broadcaster and expressed their support towards CBC/ Radio-Canada. All intend to increase financial support towards the public broadcaster, and Bloc and NDP have added that it must be fully public and free of cost for users.