Increased support for film, video and new media production has made it onto the federal government’s upcoming agenda with the Oct. 12 reading of the speech from the throne.

Delivered by newly appointed Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, the Liberal government promised that over the second half of its term it would boost support ‘for the production of Canadian stories and images in print, theatre, film, music and video,’ and stressed that ‘in particular, [it] will increase support for the use of new media.’

While Heritage Canada’s chief of media relations Anne Sophie Lawless says no specifics are currently available, she says the ministry is pleased that these cultural initiatives were named in ink.

‘What is mentioned in the throne speech becomes the priority when the next budget is tabled in February,’ she says. ‘So from our point of view it is very important that culture is recognized by the federal government in the throne speech as having an important place.’

In an outline for increased trade and investment, the document states the government’s plans to increase trade promotion in strategic sectors with high export potential, and named cultural industries as one of the targeted sectors. The speech also indicates that at the coming round of World Trade Organization negotiations, the Liberals will be looking to build a ‘more transparent, rules-based’ global trading system which ‘respects culture’ and provides Canadian companies in all sectors with a level playing field and better access to world markets.