No Culture Clash?: Heritage Canada OKs Amazon.ca

By Leah Eichler, PW Daily for Booksellers -- Publishers Weekly, 7/10/2002

Amazon.com's launch of Amazon.ca on June 25 sparked a flurry of protests by booksellers who claimed that Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos was in violation of Canada's investment laws. But while in Toronto for Amazon.ca 's launch, Bezos insisted that Canada's cultural investment laws do not apply to the company.

It turns out, he's right. The Department of Canadian Heritage has determined that Amazon.ca is not subject to the Investment Canada Act, allowing Amazon.com to continue operating Amazon.ca.

In order for the act to apply to an investment by a non-Canadian, the investment must involve the establishment of a new Canadian business or the acquisition or control of an existing Canadian business, according to Canadian Heritage. Amazon.com does not maintain an office or any staff in Canada.

The decision is certain to draw the ire of Canadian booksellers.