Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage for her comments.
She mentioned in her speech several measures that the government is taking to protect Canadian publishing and Canadian
culture. I would point out that the effects of protective-type measures like that are very punitive, particularly for the consumer of culture. They lead to higher taxes, higher costs and less choice. They uphold inefficient businesses and they really do imply that somehow our culture is inferior to the culture that comes from other countries.
I also point out that culture is very dynamic and it is always moving and really is subject to change. The borders cannot stop that influence any more. We see a lot of that coming in anyway. I would argue that it is also necessary to have that type of influence to keep a culture fresh. Without that we get an inbred culture and a very nationalistic, very petty and very mean culture. That is a problem that a sovereign Quebec would have to deal with.
I also believe that when governments interfere and make arbitrary decisions on what constitutes culture it is extremely inappropriate. Culture is a very personal matter and we must let the consumer be sovereign.
Why does the government not want to let the consumer drive the cultural industry in Canada? Why is it afraid to let consumers make those types of decisions? Why is it afraid to let consumers decide what constitutes art, what constitutes a good novel and what constitutes the type of culture they want to be a part of and enjoy?