"Positive development" for Quebec's cultural scene at UNESCO
Mathieu Lacombe's Battle for Quebec Culture
Last Friday, Quebec's Minister of Culture and Communications, Mathieu Lacombe, failed to secure the international support he sought at the UNESCO seat in Paris. His mission? To protect national cultures against large digital platforms by recommending the adoption of a new binding international legal instrument. Although the states parties agreed merely to reflect on the matter, Lacombe remains optimistic, commending Quebec's leadership in rallying nations to this compromise.
The proposed legal instrument is Lacombe's answer to the erosion of Quebec culture he perceives as an imminent threat from global digital platforms. This fear led him to introduce Bill 109, which aims to impose minimum quotas for original French-language content on Canadian streaming platforms like Netflix and Spotify.
The Minister's stance has earned backing from six Quebec cultural industry unions and aligned with recommendations presented by UNESCO's Reflection Group on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions in the Digital Environment in February.
However, despite the mounting support, the international community's reaction was cautious. While eight countries openly endorsed a binding protocol, more than twenty, including Canada, favored further deliberation.
Steven Guilbeault, Canada's Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, revealed that the collective stance among member countries is to consider both the "opportunity, technical and legal aspects" of a binding protocol and the potential of existing tools within the 2005 Convention. Guilbeault expressed support for the idea of a protocol, although he advocates for a progressive approach.
Lacombe expressed disappointment in Canada's initial stance but acknowledged their recent shift towards considerations for a protocol. He believes the consensus among nations is robust, making it challenging for any country to back down in the future.
sources:
- "Quebec's Minister of Culture Proposes Bill to Regulate Digital Streaming Services"
- "Quebec Culture Minister Pushes for International Agreement to Protect National Cultures"
- "Quebec Wants to Dominate the French-language Digital Content Market"
- "Canada Walks a Fine Line on Quebec's Cultural Sovereignty"
- Listen In: Quebec culture ministers plan to regulate digital giants
- Why Quebec deserves to protect its culture
- Opinion: Balancing SOVEREIGNTY AND GIANTS: The tough job of Quebec's Minister Lacombe
News of Interest:
Video:
- Digital Giants vs. Sovereignty: An in-depth analysis of Lacombe's quest to assert Quebec's cultural sovereignty against the dominance of foreign digital streamers.
- In light of the international discussion on cultural protection, France has shown interest in supporting Quebec's battle for cultural sovereignty, sharing a common goal with Mathieu Lacombe's initiatives to regulate digital streaming platforms like Netflix and Spotify.
- As the global entertainment landscape evolves, the political sphere, particularly in France, keeps a close eye on Quebec's efforts to defend and promote its culture, deeming it a significant general-news topic worthy of attention.
