Canadian Coalition against Media Pornography : The Canadian Coalition Against Media Pornography (CCAMP) was established in 1983. It grew out of the demonstrations and other protests directed against the plans by the new "First Choice" pay-television channel to broadcast "Playboy" programs and other soft-core pornographic movies. An Ottawa-based feminist, Maude Barlow, who was then an advisor on women's issues to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, figured prominently in the agitation. Barlow organized a nation-wide protest against the "Playboy" programming on January 18, 1983. She subsequently established CCAMP and became its first President.
One of the Coalition's aims was to increase public awareness of the negative images inherent in pornography. In addition to opposing pornography on pay-TV, CCAMP attempted to sensitize the public to the danger of the proliferation of violent and degrading pornography, especially child pornography. CCAMP favoured tough laws to regulate pornography, arguing that it was not simply a women's issue but a "human rights" issue.
During its seven-year existence, CCAMP had two major activities: lobbying and education. Through letters and postcards, CCAMP members lobbied various levels of government, particularly federal Cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, and officials of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. The Coalition issued briefs and made appearances before a number of committee hearings and took an active role in commenting on the federal government's anti-pornography legislation in 1986 and 1987 (which was never enacted).
The second major activity was educating the public about the negative aspects of pornography and its relationship to sexual violence. CCAMP disseminated a newsletter about its activities, answered numerous requests for information, and was kept informed about the anti-pornography efforts of other organizations and individuals across Canada.
CCAMP was an informal organization and did not have its own board of directors. It was run by a small group of activists including Maude Barlow, Rose Potvin, an Ottawa-based feminist and former CRTC policy analyst, Cynthia Wiggins and Bonnie Diamond, all of whom served on the executive of CCAMP. At its peak, CCAMP had a membership of about 700, about half of which was comprised of other organizations located across Canada. CCAMP had frequent contacts with feminists and individuals who conducted their own campaigns against pornography in local communities and was affiliated with other regional anti-porn organizations such as "Resources Against Pornography."
The Coalition did not hold formal events such as annual general meetings or conferences but served as co-organizer of a national conference on broadcasting policy entitled "Adjusting the Image". The Coalition received annual membership dues, donations, and funding from the Secretary of State Women's Program. CCAMP was disbanded in 1989.
