CCA Bulletin 48/08 - They’re Baaaaaack ! Canada’s 40th Parliament Gets To Work

November 20, 2008

Just the Facts

On November 18, Canada’s 40th Parliament began its work with the re-election of Speaker of the House, Hon. Peter Milliken. November 19th saw the Governor General lay out the plans of the government in the Speech from the Throne delivered in the Senate chambers.

There are a few elements which are of specific interest to the arts and culture sector.

      “Cultural creativity and innovation are vital not only to a lively Canadian cultural life, but also to Canada’s economic future. Our Government will proceed with legislation to modernize Canada’s copyright laws and ensure stronger protection for intellectual property.”

But for those who thought the scrutiny of grants programs was over, the Governor General has this to say;

      “Hard decisions will be needed to keep federal spending under control and focused on results. Grants, contributions and capital expenditures will be placed under the       microscope of responsible spending. Departments will have the funding they need to deliver essential programs and services, and no more. Our Government will engage   Parliament and encourage members to take a more active role in scrutinizing spending and suggesting areas for restraint. Our Government will pursue innovative reforms to the administration of programs and services, drawing on the successful experiences of other governments around the world. It will build partnerships with third parties and the private sector to deliver better services at a lower overall cost. (…)

      Our Government will review all program spending carefully to make sure that spending is as effective as possible and aligned with Canadians’ priorities.

 

Our Government will cut the red tape faced by the private and not-for-profit sectors when doing business with the government.”

 

The Speech also included a reference to new opportunities for economic growth, but in a way which may leave some scratching their heads.

“Canada’s prosperity depends not just on meeting the challenges of today, but on building the dynamic economy that will create opportunities and better jobs for Canadians in the future. As one of our greatest hockey legends has observed, we need to skate to where the puck is going to be, not to where it has been.”

This statement would suggest that the government is prepared to foster the creative economy. However, coupled with the following statement, one is left to wonder if the attention is not still over focused on where the puck was:

“The Canadian manufacturing sector, particularly the automotive and aerospace industries, has been under increasing strain. Our Government will provide further support for these industries. Canada’s traditional industries, such as fisheries, mining and forestry, sustain the economic well-being of many regions and communities. Our Government will continue to assist these industries through measures aimed at marketing Canadian products abroad and helping businesses to innovate. “

Such a statement suggests that the recognition of an emerging economic powerhouse may escape the notice of the government. As the Ottawa prepares to consider loan guarantees to the automotive industry, it would appear that the vision outlined in the Speech is still fixed more on a reflection of past glories rather than future opportunities.

Tell Me More

Next week the Minister of Finance, the Hon. James Flaherty, will deliver the Economic Update. One does not have to read between the lines to see that a short-term deficit is on the horizon. Indeed, Her Excellency had these comments:

“Ongoing, unsustainable deficits are quite rightly unacceptable to Canadians. These structural deficits must never return. At the same time, in a historic global downturn, it would be misguided to commit to a balanced budget in the short term at any cost, because that cost would ultimately be borne by Canadian families.”

It would also seem that some of the commitments that the government laid out in November 2006 in Advantage Canada are being taken a large step further. In that document the government indicated that it would cease incursions into areas of exclusive provincial jurisdiction. This commitment was repeated in the Speech from the Throne;

“Our Government will also take steps to strengthen the Canadian confederation. It will respect the jurisdiction of the provinces and territories and will enshrine its principles of federalism in a Charter of Open Federalism. The federal spending power will be constrained so that any new shared-cost program in an area of exclusive provincial responsibility will require the consent of the majority of the provinces to proceed, and that non-participating provinces can opt out with compensation, provided that they implement compatible programs or initiatives.”

The CCA will be following the Economic Update Statement next week and will keep an eye on the Order Paper to determine how quickly the government intends to implement the agenda articulated by Her Excellency.