Open Letter to Canadian New Media Community
As you may know, there is wide speculation that the federal government may not renew the $14.5 million Canada New Media Fund (CNMF) when it's current contract expires on March 31, 2009. You may have read about this issue on the front page of Saturday's Globe and Mail.
The annual $14 million CNMF, administered by Telefilm, supports new media and Internet-based content creation and marketing activities. The loss of this fund has far-reaching implications for New Media BC's membership and the BC Digital Media industry as a whole.
The government has already announced the following program cuts, some of which will have a detrimental impact on our industry:
- Trade Routes, $9 million
- The A-V Preservation Trust, $300,000
- The Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund, $1.5 million
- The National Training Schools Program, $2.5 million
- PromArt, $4.7 million
New Media BC and the Canadian Interactive Alliance (CIAIC), are committed to remain at the forefront of this issue. For the past two years we have been calling for an increase to this fund, which has been very effective in supporting emerging companies and higher risk projects. Many critical and market successes - in BC and around the world - would not have been possible without the support of the CNMF.
We have already engaged key policy makers at the provincial and federal levels, in an effort to gather more information regarding the potential cuts, and also to gain information regarding program and funding that could ultimately replace the CNMF.
It is of the utmost importance that the Canadian government supports domestic creators of Digital Media content so that our exciting industry may continue to flourish in a province rich with innovation, new ideas, and intellectual property. New Media BC and the CIAIC will continue work on your behalf to ensure our collective concerns are heard.
It seems certain that there will be a federal election this fall. To this end we are planning a number of activities and a call to action to ensure that together we make the strongest possible case to become an important part of the economic and cultural agendas for all Canadian political parties.
Please stay tuned for further details.
Yours truly,
Kenton Low
President, New Media BC
kenton@newmediabc.com
The annual $14 million CNMF, administered by Telefilm, supports new media and Internet-based content creation and marketing activities. The loss of this fund has far-reaching implications for New Media BC's membership and the BC Digital Media industry as a whole.
The government has already announced the following program cuts, some of which will have a detrimental impact on our industry:
- Trade Routes, $9 million
- The A-V Preservation Trust, $300,000
- The Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund, $1.5 million
- The National Training Schools Program, $2.5 million
- PromArt, $4.7 million
New Media BC and the Canadian Interactive Alliance (CIAIC), are committed to remain at the forefront of this issue. For the past two years we have been calling for an increase to this fund, which has been very effective in supporting emerging companies and higher risk projects. Many critical and market successes - in BC and around the world - would not have been possible without the support of the CNMF.
We have already engaged key policy makers at the provincial and federal levels, in an effort to gather more information regarding the potential cuts, and also to gain information regarding program and funding that could ultimately replace the CNMF.
It is of the utmost importance that the Canadian government supports domestic creators of Digital Media content so that our exciting industry may continue to flourish in a province rich with innovation, new ideas, and intellectual property. New Media BC and the CIAIC will continue work on your behalf to ensure our collective concerns are heard.
It seems certain that there will be a federal election this fall. To this end we are planning a number of activities and a call to action to ensure that together we make the strongest possible case to become an important part of the economic and cultural agendas for all Canadian political parties.
Please stay tuned for further details.
Yours truly,
Kenton Low
President, New Media BC
kenton@newmediabc.com
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jill Golick on -
Kenton-
What a great letter. What could this government be thinking? How could they possibly be more short sighted? Here we have a growing industry that is innovative, entrepreneurial and all about the future. There is no question that we all have to work together to put this on the agenda throughout this election.
Jill
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Permalink Reply by Lynda Brown-Ganzert on -
Hi everyone!
We now have events happening in most major cities (we would love more representation from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and the Territories).
The CIAIC is taking the lead on lobbying in Ottawa and setting up MP meetings. I'm also working with their Exec Director James Lewis to develop key messaging and press release templates that everyone can use.
We have formed a leadership group of those folks leading events across the country. If you have an event that I don't know about, let me know and I'll add you to the group.
The day is going to profile digital media but it's also going to have a strong advocacy role given the recent cuts to our funding programs.
The louder the better so please help get the word out. The below announcement is a great example of how we can leverage our other networks to spread the word.
Thanks for anything you can contribute. This is a completely volunteer run event so any help is greatly appreciated. Cheers, Lynda
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Wired Woman is proud to help support Digital Media Day!
Join us to celebrate BC’s 1000+ new media companies and our position as a world centre for digital media excellence!
Meet BC’s digerati as they gather to celebrate the inaugural National Digital Media Day! 350+ people are expected for an evening of mixing and mingling and catching up with the rest of Canada.
There will be a networking reception featuring DJs Beats Without Borders followed by a digital shorts screening presented by the New Forms Festival.
*New Media BC members and potential members: the New Media BC 2008 Annual General Meeting takes place at 4 pm at Radical so come early if you want to hear our plans for the coming year and meet other members!
This event FREE to attend - but please RSVP here or via the NMBC site (www.newmediabc.com)
New Media BC thanks the following partners for their support of National Digital Media Day:
Fjord Interactive
Wired Woman
New Forms Festival
Mission Hill Winery
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