BioWare fans have succeeded in advancing an initiative calling on the Canadian government to help former studio employees regain the studio’s independence.
According to House of Commons rules, at least 500 verified signatures from Canadian citizens and residents are required for such a petition to be officially considered. The initiative has already surpassed this threshold, so it will be presented in parliament. This also means that the government will have to provide an official response to the petition.
The initiative was supported by Member of Parliament Don Davies, who sponsored the petition. The document refers to BioWare as one of Canada’s most important cultural exports and characterizes the closure of the studio by the American corporation Electronic Arts as a serious loss for the country’s cultural heritage.
The authors of the petition urge the Canadian government to:
- Provide BioWare with the necessary funds to gain independence from Electronic Arts, including obtaining control over its own intellectual property, and resume operations as a Canadian company
- Protect Canadian businesses and cultural institutions from the dictates of America and foreign corporations
- Preserve BioWare’s contribution to the global entertainment industry while upholding the values of inclusivity, tolerance, democracy, justice, and civil rights