Canadian Content and Satellite Radio

It seems that the prospect of a person choosing to buy a product and paying for a subscription to use that product frightens the cultural-protection nannies in Canada. The legislation that would issue broadcast licenses to satellite radio providers is being met with resistance due to the lack of Canadian content and French-languate programming. Unsurprisingly, the Globe & Mail article does not even bring up the possibility that demanding these types of content regulations on a form of media that is available only to those who choose to purchase it is, in principle, an unjust restriction on consumer freedom; the main thrust of the argument in favour of allowing the service comes from those who think it will help workers in auto manufacturing due to the demand for satellite radio in cars. It goes to show just how entrenced the idea of media regulation is in Canada. Memo to the government: let the people decide if the want to listen to the broadcasts!