Media, Policy and Cultural Identity in Canada Essay by Master Researcher

One of the most fascinating aspects of the Canadian cultural identity is the degree to which government policy and free enterprise economic principles converge and frequently collide in the field of the mass media. In large measure this is a consequence of Canada's geographic position next door to the world's last remaining superpower and predominant popular culture engine, the United States. This paper explores how the Canadian government, in order to maintain cultural distinctiveness in terms of national identity, has adopted a range of policies that promote the Canadian identity in the mass media and restrict the reach of foreign media and foreign media ownership.