The MAI and our Culture

The Multilateral Agreement on Investment ( )
and our Culture

If you think the emergence of American shock-jock Howard Stern as a local radio personality in Toronto and Montreal is frightening, just wait till the MAI (Multilateral Agreement on Investment) comes to Canada. We soon could have "all-Howard, all-the-time" radio stations from coast-to coast.

Sound alarmist?

Under the MAI, a new international economic agreement being negotiated by the 29 richest countries, most policies and practices that protect Canadian broadcasting and films would likely be illegal.
That means there will be no cultural protection--including Canadian content quotas. And conceivably there will be nothing to stop local radio stations from importing all programs from the United States.

What is the ?

The prime objective of the MAI is to allow the movement of money across international borders by imposing a new set of rules restricting countries from using legislation, policies and programs seen as impediments to the free flow of capital. In other words, it is a constitution for the largest corporations to rule the world. Even under NAFTA, our government was still allowed to use subsidies, investment policies and content quotas to ensure that our story was told and Canadian culture promoted.
All of that would be wiped away once corporations use their rights under the MAI to challenge existing legislation.

Here's how:

• The MAI would prevent us from requiring foreign film or broadcasting companies to locate in Canada or hire Canadian artists in order to operate here and receive the going subsidies and tax breaks. And these companies would be free to take all of their profits out of Canada. • The MAI would prevent us from offering subsidies to the CBC, the Canada Council and the National Film Board without offering them at the same time to foreign-based private corporations.

• The MAI would allow foreign corporations to bid equally with national firms if a provincially-owned network like TVO is privatized. • The MAI would allow American-owned magazines the same treatment as Canadian magazines in using the tax laws to deduct the cost of advertising.

• The MAI would allow American broadcasting networks to operate without restriction in Canada. • The MAI would prevent Canadian broadcasters from substituting Canadian commercials in American shows being simulcast in Canada.

• The MAI would allow book publishing to be thrown open to foreign firms who will then have the same right to subsidies as Canadian companies. • The MAI would allow foreign artists the same access to compensation for radio air play as Canadian artists.

• The MAI would allow foreign newspaper owners the same rights as Canadian owners under the Income Tax Act. Good-bye Conrad Black, hello Rupert Murdoch. • The MAI could put foreign performers on the same footing as Canadians under the new copyright act.

Our story is worth telling. But under the MAI it may be financially impossible for Canadian writers, musicians, artists and broadcasters to earn a living.

It's not too late. We can stop the MAI from coming to Canada.

Here's what you can do:

• Speak to your elected representatives: federal, provincial and local. Find out what they know about the MAI and what they are going to do about it.

• Involve your cultural community.

• Write a letter of concern to your local newspaper.

• Join the campaign.

Call 1-800-387-7177

904-251 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5J7

•	The MAI would prevent us from requiring foreign film or broadcasting companies to locate in Canada or hire Canadian artists in order to operate here and receive the going subsidies and tax breaks. And these companies would be free to take all of their profits out of Canada.	•	The MAI would prevent us from offering subsidies to the CBC, the Canada Council and the National Film Board without offering them at the same time to foreign-based private corporations.
•	The MAI would allow foreign corporations to bid equally with national firms if a provincially-owned network like TVO is privatized.	•	The MAI would allow American-owned magazines the same treatment as Canadian magazines in using the tax laws to deduct the cost of advertising.
•	The MAI would allow American broadcasting networks to operate without restriction in Canada.	•	The MAI would prevent Canadian broadcasters from substituting Canadian commercials in American shows being simulcast in Canada.
•	The MAI would allow book publishing to be thrown open to foreign firms who will then have the same right to subsidies as Canadian companies.	•	The MAI would allow foreign artists the same access to compensation for radio air play as Canadian artists.
•	The MAI would allow foreign newspaper owners the same rights as Canadian owners under the Income Tax Act. Good-bye Conrad Black, hello Rupert Murdoch.	•	The MAI could put foreign performers on the same footing as Canadians under the new copyright act.