A formal parliamentary petition in Canada advocating for BioWare's independence has garnered over 500 valid citizen signatures, reaching the threshold required for submission to the House of Commons and receiving an official government response. The petition calls for the government to provide the necessary capital to help the studio and its intellectual property separate from Electronic Arts and operate again as an independent Canadian company.
This petition is sponsored and supported by NDP MP Don Davies and follows the formal petition process within Canada's political system, rather than being a standard online campaign on Change.org. The petition text describes BioWare as a significant cultural export for Canada and calls on the government to protect domestic companies and cultural institutions from being dominated by foreign corporate interests.
However, reaching the signature threshold only means the petition can be formally presented and receive a government response; it does not mean the government has agreed to provide funding, make an acquisition, or initiate negotiations. BioWare and its related intellectual property are currently still owned by EA. Any sale, divestiture, or independence plan would require EA's consent and cooperation, and EA has not frequently sold off its intellectual properties or studios in the past.
Therefore, the current actual progress is that the petition has entered the parliamentary processing stage; it does not mean BioWare is about to be bought back by the Canadian government. The next steps will depend on when the petition is formally presented in the House of Commons, how the government responds, and whether EA issues a statement.