Latest news with #PIAC
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
CRTC hears debate on including a 'cultural element' in new definition of CanCon
OTTAWA — The federal broadcast regulator is considering whether it should include a "cultural element" in its new definition of Canadian content. Appearing before a Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission hearing Tuesday, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre said the CRTC should instead stick to its current approach, which looks at whether Canadians are employed in key creative positions. The consumers' group pointed out that the United Kingdom has a special institute to review and assess whether proposed cultural references in a production qualify as "sufficiently British." "We view a potential Canadian application of this approach, or any other cultural elements test, where a small group of people would be attempting to objectively define what and who is culturally Canadian, as being highly problematic," the advocacy centre said in a written copy of its opening statement. It also warned that production companies could exploit Canadian stereotypes to get around any "cultural element" test. "An American portrayal of how a Canadian character would speak or behave, for example, cannot be considered Canadian content," PIAC said. "It is merely a representation of the American cultural view of Canada." The CRTC's vice-chair of telecom, Adam Scott, asked the PIAC representatives whether Canadians wouldn't consider a miniseries about former prime minister Wilfrid Laurier to be more Canadian than one about former U.S. president Thomas Jefferson. Public interest articling fellow Aya Alshahwany responded by citing the hypothetical example of a big U.S. streamer making a movie about pop star Justin Bieber without any Canadians taking part in the production. "Using that to say, well, we made a documentary about a Canadian, this is CanCon now, I would have a really hard time digesting that as a Canadian to say, well, this is a reflection of my culture," she said. The CRTC has said that while it's leaning away from including a cultural element in its content test, it's open to hearing other viewpoints during the two-week hearing. The broadcast regulator has heard from others during the hearing who are in favour of including culture in the modernized definition of CanCon. The National Film Board, which appeared at the hearing Friday, has argued that now is the time to include cultural elements in the definition of Canadian content. It said in its prior written submission that not having a cultural element in the definition could result in harmful long-term consequences and risks erasing "what makes us who we are." It pointed to cultural tests used in countries such as Australia, France, Italy and the U.K. "These countries employ cultural elements alongside other criteria, such as nationality of key creative roles and ownership," the NFB said. It said those cultural elements include social or political relevance, how a way of life is depicted, and recognizable locations or figures, among others. "Our national screen culture has long operated on a definition of 'CanCon' that has excluded cultural elements. This approach has contributed to Canadians' inability to recognize when a story is of us," the NFB submission argues. The CRTC, which is looking at ways to modernize the definition of Canadian content, has heard differing points on how big U.S. streamers should contribute to the system. Netflix, Paramount and Apple pulled out of the hearing on the first day, and Motion Picture Association-Canada, which represents Netflix, Paramount, Disney and Amazon, argued foreign streamers shouldn't be expected to fulfil the same responsibilities as traditional broadcasters when it comes to Canadian content. The CRTC has ordered streaming services to pay five per cent of their annual Canadian revenues to a fund devoted to producing Canadian content. Multiple streaming services have launched legal challenges against that rule. Apple, Amazon and Spotify asked for and were granted a pause on their payments until the court process plays out. On Tuesday morning, U.K.-based sports streaming service Dazn told the hearing it shouldn't have to pay. Deidra Dionne, Dazn's vice-president in Canada, said such requirements are "not appropriate for international sports services" and make Canada an international outlier. "Our senior leadership continue to contemplate if the levies imposed make prioritizing growth in Canada a priority," she said. Geoff White, the executive director of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, who appeared after Dionne, took aim at Dazn and the other streamers in his remarks. "I just think there's an arrogance from the foreign streamers in terms of not showing up and arguing how their business models are so complicated and so different," he said. White urged the CRTC to "have that moral courage to stand up to the foreign streamers." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 20, 2024. Anja Karadeglija, The Canadian Press Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Insider
15-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Ghana's Mahama courts oil investors, pushes for aggressive crude oil extraction
Ghana is urging investors to help boost oil production as the global push for decarbonization threatens to leave fossil fuel assets stranded. Ghana is encouraging increased oil production amidst global emphasis on decarbonization. President John Mahama highlighted the decline in oil output and the need for renewed investment during the Africa CEO Forum. Despite calls for expanding oil drilling, Ghana continues to uphold commitments to clean energy targets. Ghana is urging investors to help boost oil production as the global push for decarbonization threatens to leave fossil fuel assets stranded. President John Mahama made the appeal during the Africa CEO Forum held on Tuesday in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. 'Oil is in transition and so anybody who has any assets should be pumping like there's no tomorrow,' he said, signalling Ghana's readiness to welcome investors with open arms. 'We're rolling out the red carpet for anyone ready to drill.' Oil output declines Ghana's oil production has declined steadily over the last five years, largely due to limited investment in new exploration and field development. According to the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC), Ghana's oil output fell to 48.3 million barrels in 2024, slightly below the 48.2 million barrels produced in 2023, and well down from a peak of 71.4 million barrels in 2019. Mahama attributed the decline in output to regulatory uncertainty, which he said drove some major players away. 'ENI was held in contempt and they had to move all their expatriate management to Cote d'Ivoire,' he noted, adding that now the company was 'back and they are drilling again'. Mahama's call to action echoes a growing sentiment among oil-producing nations, including recent appeals by U.S. leaders for increased domestic output. OPEC, too, has raised production levels, contributing to a roughly 13% drop in Brent crude prices this year, now hovering around $65.3 per barrel, per Bloomberg. Elected in December, Mahama has pledged to revive Ghana's struggling economy, which is still reeling from a debt crisis and rising cost of living. Reflecting on past government priorities, he said, 'The environment got a bit toxic. The government did not seem to prioritise the sector.'
Business Insider
02-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Ghana's oil production falls for fifth consecutive year, according to PIAC report
Ghana narrowly missed matching its 2023 crude oil production levels, recording a marginal shortfall of just 0.01%, equivalent to 7,000 barrels. By the end of 2024, total crude oil output stood at 48,240,010 barrels, slightly below the 48,247,037 barrels produced in 2023. Ghana nearly matched its 2023 crude oil production, with a marginal shortfall of just 0.01% Total crude oil output by the end of 2024 was 48,240,010 barrels, slightly below the 2023 production of 48,247,037 barrels PIAC's 2024 Annual Report highlighted concerns about the declining production from the TEN Field The 2024 figure marks the closest Ghana has come to reversing the downward trend in annual oil production since 2019. PIAC releases 14th Annual Report on Petroleum revenue use This information was revealed in the 2024 Annual Report on the Use and Management of Petroleum Revenue, published by the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC). The report—PIAC's 14th annual and 27th statutory submission—was officially launched on Tuesday, 29 April 2025. Presenting highlights of the report, PIAC Chairman Mr Constantine Kudzedzi disclosed that the Jubilee Field contributed the largest share of production, accounting for 66% of Ghana's total output. The Sankofa Gye-Nyame (SGN) and Tweneboa-Enyenra-Ntomme (TEN) fields accounted for 20% and 14% respectively. PIAC expressed concerns about the continued decline in production from the TEN Field, describing the field's output as the lowest among the three producing sites. The committee urged the government to undertake both technical and cost audits to determine the root causes of the declining performance. 'The TEN Field turned out the lowest production among the three producing fields, with substantially high production and development cost trends raising concerns about the viability of the field,' the report noted. Ghana Group contributes $89.44 Million in oil lifting The report further indicated that the Ghana Group contributed approximately $89.44 million in petroleum revenue through a total lifting of $73.91 million in 2024. This performance reflects ongoing challenges in optimising returns from Ghana's petroleum sector amid rising operational costs.
Business Insider
30-04-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Ghana's petroleum revenue climbs to $1.35 billion in 2024 despite output decline
Ghana's total petroleum revenue rose to US$1.35 billion in 2024, reflecting a 27.8% increase from the US$1.06 billion recorded in 2023. This is according to the 2024 Annual Report released by the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC). Ghana's petroleum revenue reaches US$1.35 billion in 2024, a 27.8% increase from 2023 Annual report highlights drop in crude oil output for the fifth consecutive year PIAC urges government to attract new capital into the upstream oil sector to mitigate production decline This figure represents the second-highest annual petroleum revenue since Ghana commenced commercial oil production in 2011, with the highest being US$1.42 billion in 2022. Rising prices offset falling production According to PIAC, the revenue surge was largely driven by favourable international crude oil prices, which helped to cushion the continued decline in oil production. Ghana's crude oil output dropped for the fifth consecutive year, reaching 48.25 million barrels in 2024, down from a high of 71.44 million barrels in 2019. The report noted a marginal year-on-year production decline of 0.01%, with an average annual drop of 7.4% over the past five years. PIAC expressed concern over the sustained drop in production levels, warning that it poses long-term risks to Ghana's petroleum revenue potential. The Committee urged the government to prioritise attracting new capital into the upstream oil sector. 'Parliament should ensure that the Ministry of Energy and its allied agencies increase efforts to secure investments in Ghana's upstream petroleum industry,' the report recommended. Now in its 14th edition, the PIAC Annual Report covers the performance of Ghana's petroleum sector from January to December 2024. It includes detailed assessments of production volumes, crude liftings, revenue collection and allocation, as well as utilisation of petroleum funds.
