Quebec culture minister pens open letter to Netflix about Lac-Megantic footage

After Netflix rejected a request from Lac-Megantic, Que. mayor Julie Morin to remove footage of a devastating explosion from its popular film Bird Box, another Quebec has added their voice to the conversation.

Quebec’s culture minister, Nathalie Roy, has penned an open letter to Netflix CEO, Reed Hastings, questioning how the streaming service could have decided it was appropriate to use image of the disaster for entertainment purposes.

The explosion in 2013 killed 47 people and destroyed roughly half of the downtown area after an unattended 74-car freight train carrying crude oil derailed and rolled downhill.

Roy said she believed the footage from the event should be removed and should only be used for documentary purposes, and suggested the film and TV industry should explore implementing a code of ethics that would prevent similar problems from arising in the future.

Utilisation d’images de la tragédie de @VLacMegantic par @Netflix et ses partenaires: voici l’intégralité de la lettre que j’ai envoyée hier à son PDG @ReedHastings.@Netflix_CA #Netflix #LacMegantic #MCC #PolQc #AssNat pic.twitter.com/jaWRbdhRuZ

— Nathalie Roy (@NathalieRoyCAQ) January 19, 2019

At least two dramas currently on Netflix’s Canadian platform, including the hit “Bird Box,” briefly use stock footage of the tragedy.

Netflix has thus far refused to remove the footage from its hit movie, despite an appeal from Lac-Megantic’s mayor, who was told that the company would ensure the images wouldn’t be used in any future productions.

-With files from The Canadian Press