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Comment by VWWHFSfQ | Hacker News Reader

Is Canada still going forward with the law that USA streaming companies have to provide at least 30% domestically-sourced Canadian programming? I know EU and Australia did that. I appreciate the resistance to the continued American-ization of their cultures, but let's be honest here. I can only think of Rush, Bieber, and Kids in the Hall. Where is the rest of the 30% going to come from? It's going to be a lot of nonsense filler content that is only there to comply with some law.

edit: actually, Apple Music might be able to cover their 30% quota just with Neil Young's discography.

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> I can only think of Rush, Bieber, and Kids in the Hall.

Don't forget Avril Lavigne, Drake, Gordon Lightfoot, Céline Dion, Joni Mitchell, deadmau5, The Weeknd, and Nelly Furtado.

Just off the top of my head. Interestingly enough I'd never heard of Kids in the Hall before today. But all of those are or were "Big Names" in music.

We have (protectionist, yes) media regulators (the CRTC) that are nominally arm's length from elected governments so it's not likely to change unless the Canadian public decides that this will become a major election issue. Don't hold your breath.

Yeah, I've always assumed that Canadians were overrepresented in popular culture as a consequence of Canadian content regulations.

Well we're certainly overrepresented domestically, but there are still a reasonable number of Canadian acts that are known quantities south of 49.

Off the top of my head, more recent ish bands that never really crossed the border: The Arkells, Metric, July Talk, Broken Social Scene, Billy Talent, Tegan and Sarah, and many more. These bands sell out large music venues domestically, but can't gain much cross-border traction. They basically are able to exist because of Canadian Content laws.

Oh shit, forgot about Arkells. My wife went to high school with the bass player.

Some other noteworthy ones include: Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Bryan Adams, Barenaked Ladies and The Tragically Hip.

Of course one shouldn't forget what is perhaps Canada's greatest contribution to music: Nickelback.

> Don't forget ... Céline Dion ...

As a Canadian I was actively trying to forget that one. Thanks :(

Hi sorry can I add Norm Mac Donald to the list? Ty.

Neil Young!

Well Toronto does a lot of porn.

Well the Prime Minister himself agrees with you condescendingly saying there is no Canadian culture.

The fact that most people don't realize that a huge number of musicians and other celebs popular in the USA are Canadian isn't really a stirring argument in favor of the distinctness of Canada's culture. Our values may be distinct, and our history, but our culture? At least here in the English-speaking part of Canada, the culture is vaguely American with a lacquer of branded fandom for Tim Horton's and the NHL.

Trudeau wasn't wrong. The fact that conservatives pillory him for this rare moment of truth-telling is part of what's turned him into such a breathy-mouthed coward.

They attack him because, rightly, it was his father who set in place a series of policies that destroyed English Canada's once unique, distinctly British, culture.

But, why do I care? My parents dragged me into Canada at age six, I left as soon as I graduated. Not my country, not my problem.

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