From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia

Canadian cultural protectionism

Culturalprotectionism in Canada has, since the mid-20th century, taken the form of conscious, interventionist attempts on the part of various Canadian governments to promote Canadian cultural production and limit the effect of foreign, largely American, culture on the domestic audience. Sharing a large border and (for the majority) a common language with the United States, Canada faces a difficult position in regard to American culture, be it direct attempts at the Canadian market or the general diffusion of American culture in the globalized media arena. While Canada tries to maintain its cultural sovereignty, it also must balance this with responsibility in trade arrangements such as GATT and NAFTA.