Deborah Owusu-Akyeeah

Position Canadian directors and storytellers as global ambassadors of cultural sovereignty and creative excellence through international partnerships and export programs. - Promote the visibility of Canadian directors and works at international markets and festivals. - Support mobility, co-production, and export opportunities for Canadian creative talent. - Advocate for the inclusion of directors’ authorship and cultural diplomacy objectives in international trade and cultural agreements. Ensure that the evolution of AI and digital tools strengthens, not replaces, human creativity and artistic authorship. Advocate for a human-centred approach to AI governance that protects creators’ rights and preserves artistic integrity. Support clear rules for AI training, use, remuneration and attribution in audiovisual productions. Ensure Canada’s screen industries remain globally competitive through tax incentives, fair labour practices, and investment in talent. Promote tax and financing mechanisms that encourage private investment in Canadian-owned intellectual property. Advocate for modernized funding models through Telefilm Canada, the CMF, and provincial agencies. Engage with Finance, ISED, and the PMO to strengthen the creative economy’s contribution to GDP and exports. Strengthen Canada’s audiovisual and cultural ecosystem by ensuring that directors and creative authors are recognized, supported, and central to cultural policy. Advocate for sustained and equitable funding for Canadian feature films, scripted series, and documentaries. Support the implementation of the Online Streaming Act (Bill C-11) in a way that ensures meaningful opportunities for Canadian creators and independent producers. Advance the recognition and protection of directors and screenwriters as primary authors of audiovisual works in Canadian law and international treaties. Support collective management and equitable remuneration for the use of Canadian audiovisual works worldwide. Defend creative and moral rights in digital environments and oppose any weakening of authorship or copyright protections.

Pursuing funding options from federal government to support social finance initiative for Canada's cultural sector

Reform of grant and contribution program administration and access to federal business development programs for charities and non-profit organizations, and an expanded mandate for the tax credit of Canada Discussions with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada regarding the eligibility of charities and public benefit nonprofits for existing federal government initiatives aimed at assisting small- and medium-sized enterprises. Discussions with Public Services and Procurement Canada regarding a possible social procurement program. Bill S-222 and Bill S-216: Discussions pertaining to the advancement of this legislation that seeks an amendment to the Income Tax Act to enable new regulation of charities engaging in partnerships with non-qualified donees. Discussions with Treasury Board on the administration of grant & contribution programs. Regulations governing business activities carried out by registered charities Seeking government funding, tax and other incentives for the purpose of charitable giving Discussions with ESDC and Statistics Canada regarding the collection of data about the charitable and non-profit sector by the federal government, specifically re-instatement of the Satellite Account of the charitable and non-profit sector, and a successor to the National Survey of Nonprofit and Voluntary Organizations.

Explore funding opportunities through Canadian Heritage's Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, ACOA and Infrastructure Canada to fund the revitalization and renovation of the Confederation Centre of the Arts. Seeking increased funding for the Centre through the Canada Arts Presentation Fund.

Examining funding opportunities for capital projects under the new Building Communities Strong Fund

Examination of Funding programs to support adult literacy

Support for Theatres in both the Canadian Arts Training Fund and the Canadian Arts Presentation Fund

Amendments to the Copyright Modernization Act. Amending sections (old section 21) to limit fair dealing exemption for education. Maintain Funding for all programs that support writing and publishing in Canada Operating grant, contributions to projects in technology development, research, marketing, professional development

Increased funding for the Canada Cultural Investment Fund Pursue infrastructure funding through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund for the redevelopment of the Canadian Opera Company's Front Street, Toronto location. Seeking investment into the Canada Council for the Arts

New funding programs created by Canada Council for the Arts Changes to the Endowment Incentives Program of the Canada Cultural Investment Fund related to the cap on maximum funding

Government funding for the orchestra sector, notably through the Canada Council for the Arts, Department of Canadian Heritage, and Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.