CCA Bulletin 26/07

Ottawa, Tuesday July 24, 2007

Canadian Heritage Minister, the honourable Beverly J. Oda has announced a recurring $30 million dollar increase to the Canada Council for the Arts

Canadian Heritage Minister, the honourable Bev Oda announced in Toronto on Friday, July 20, 2007 that the Canada Council for the Arts will receive an additional $30 million annually in funding. This sum will raise the total annual budget of the Canada Council for the Arts to a little over $180 million. Moreover, the Minister indicated that this announcement was meant by the government to highlight the 50th anniversary of the institution.

During the budget announcement for 2006, the conservative government had announced the allocation of $50 million over a period of two years to the Canada Council for the Arts, more specifically $20 million for the fiscal year 2006-2007 and $30 million for 2007-2008. The budget increase coming to term at the end of the current fiscal year, the entire arts and culture community was waiting to know whether the amount would be renewed in the next federal budget. The CCA already planned to make it one of its recommendations during the pre-budget consultations scheduled for this autumn.

It is with great satisfaction then that the CCA welcomes the Minister’s announcement. Robert Spickler, president of the CCA Board of Governors comments that: “this is excellent news for the whole arts and culture sector in Canada whose viability greatly depends on federal investments. The decision to increase financial aid to the arts represents an acknowledgment on behalf of the government of Canada that the creation and production of works of art are sources of inspiration from which Canadians obtain enrichment for their lives and a desire for collective achievement.

This annual budget increase to the Canada Council for the Arts comes at a good time, seeing as the Council is currently engaged in the process of elaborating its strategic plan for the next three years. The CCA has contributed to the consultation process in this effect and will make its brief to the Council public in the next few days.