The Canadian government ratifies the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) which extends "most favoured nation" status to trading partners covered by the agreement. Article IV of the agreement exempts the use of quotas for film production from "most favoured nation" treatment.

The federal government appoints the Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences (the Massey-Lévesque Commission) to make recommendations on the arts in the "national interest." The Right Honourable Vincent Massey is appointed Chair.