I have been a card carrying Canadian since 1960. I chose to emphasize my English heritage in my entertainment because I saw and heard very little Canadian or English content on radio or in the bars and theatres, just American music and Irish groups in the bars. So begat London Bobby. When I emigrated from England I had the choice of becoming American or Canadian and Canada won.
But Canada may lose an insidious war that is presently being waged and we can lose our Canadian identity through neglect and inaction. I believe that it is necessary to be especially wary of big money entities that are supra-national and have no moral heritage or self-regulating discipline, only the need to grow bigger regardless of local consequences. With such huge funds at their disposal we need to be especially careful that out government is not being subverted. A free and Canadian press is our first-line defense.
As for the United States, they are completely blind to the opinions of Canada or anywhere else. Their policy is one of myopic self-interest. They are aggressive and invasive. It is less than two hundred years since they invaded us, not long in historical terms. I believe it is essential that Canada's media and communications companies should be effectively owned and controlled by Canadians as specified in our existing laws. I am greatly concerned that the government has overturned a CRTC decision and allowed an Egyptian-controlled company to start up a wireless network in Canada. I believe this will lead to foreign control of other wireless companies, and that cable monopolies, satellite companies and broadcasters will demand equal treatment -- gutting several generations' work to build an independent country on the northern half of the continent.
And so a question for Mr. Harper:
Dear Mr. Harper, I want to know if you will actively defend Canada's cultural sovereignty and I also want to know what you will do to ensure that our laws defending Canadian ownership and control of media and communications are respected and enforced. Your response will affect my vote in the next election.
Yours truly,
Hugh Robert Smith
aka London Bobby.
