The Lure of Canada

Re Brian Lowry’s article “Just Don’t Tell the Kids It’s Educational” (Oct. 3):

How could Calendar print a story like this without asking the real question about Canadian-content programming in the U.S.: Why was entertainment (one of California’s top businesses) excluded from NAFTA? Because if it was included, then the Canadians couldn’t lure business away from L.A. with big tax breaks, with cheaper production costs, cheaper artists, cheaper writers and big co-production deals with other countries.

Does Lowry realize that Canada has production agreements with 32 other countries--countries whose participation counts as credit in Canadian-content productions--with 32 countries but not with the U.S.? Does he realize that selling three hours of animation programming to Canada cost Los Angeles animation workers over $16,473,600 in wages!? How many jobs is that!? Thousands!

Yet Lowry focuses on the “educational” aspects of the sale and barely touches on any real issues of Canadian-content production. According to the governing agency, the Department of Canadian Heritage, the law allows large tax breaks for Canadian-produced programs “strengthening and celebrating Canada.” How does producing “Dumb Bunnies” for a U.S. network “celebrate” Canada? I’ll tell you how: with the money they took from U.S. animation workers.

DENNYS McCOY, Santa Monica