Formally called the Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences, the Massey Commission has become widely celebrated as the watershed event in Canadian Cultural History. It was formed in 1949, two years later made its first recommendations. From these recommendations came much of Canada's current government support system for culture, including the Canada Council.
The Massey Commission's report issued the first clear warning about the dangers of dependence upon American culture in the post-war world and proposed a deliberate and coordinated strategy for state-sponsored Canadian cultural development. The Commission is named for its chairman, Vincent Massey.