CCA BULLETIN / BULLETIN DE LA CCA

GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT

2004 pre-Budget consultations

Ottawa , June 2nd 2004 - The Standing Committee on Finance has released information about this year's public hearings for the 2004 pre-Budget consultations.

The questions for this year's consultations are

• Is ongoing expenditure review a useful exercise?
• What should be the program spending, taxation and other priorities of the federal government in the next Budget?
• What is(are) the estimated cost(s) of your proposal(s)?
• If program spending reductions and/or tax changes were required to finance the cost of your proposal(s), which programs should have their funding reduced and/or what tax changes would you suggest?

These themes depart from the usual questions posed in advance of the consultations, and are considerably more detailed than in past years.   Bullet 3, in particular, requires the expertise of an economist in order to make a complete submission, something that is beyond the reach of most non-profit organizations.  

However, CCA contacted the Clerk's office and has been assured that this is not a pre-requisite.   No organization will be prevented from making a presentation due to lack of said expertise.

It is interesting to note that only the second bullet is similar to consultations carried out in past years.   The first bullet seems to act as a poll on the previous government's plan to continue expenditure review in perpetuity, and the final two are, in effect, doing the government's work for it.

CCA will be planning its pre-Budget submission over the summer months, and invites its members to also submit on behalf of their constituents.   The more frequently the Committee hears about the lack of funding in the cultural sector, and of the difficulties of making a living as an artist, the better .   We would also welcome groups who might want to organize their presentations to coincide with the CCA 's.  

CCA also invites all members to send in their suggestions and comments for inclusion   in our submission.   Please contact Philippa Borgal at (613) 238 3561 ext.19 ( philippa.borgal@ccarts.ca ) before the end of June.

Schedule for consultations:

Ottawa                  Monday September 27 - Friday October 8 and Monday November 1 - Friday November 5

Victoria               Monday October 18 and Tuesday October 19

Calgary               Wednesday October 20

Saskatoon           Thursday October 31 (NB: Town Hall public meeting in the morning)

Winnipeg            Friday October 22

St John 's             Monday October 25 (NB: Town Hall public meeting in the morning)

Fredericton         Tuesday October 26

Montreal             Wednesday October 27

Toronto               Thursday October 28 and Friday October 29

(The two Town Hall public meetings are pilot projects; further details will be available in due course.   The Town Hall proceedings will be televised on CPAC.)

For further information on the consultations, contact Richard Dupuis, Clerk of the Standing Committee on Finance at 613 992 9753, or check for information on www.parl.gc.ca/FINA-e .

HELL AND HIGH WATER

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives has published a record of Paul Martin's policies to date, entitled HELL AND HIGH WATER: An Assessment of Paul Martin's Record and Implications for the Future .   Produced as part of the Alternative Federal Budget 2004 initiative (of which CCA was a participant), this book could assist members when weighing their election alternatives.   The book is available from www.policyalternatives.ca at a cost of $19.95 per copy; there is a 40% discount for orders of 15 or more.

New appointment

Don Stephenson, who has been the Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet in the Privy Council Office for the past 2 years, has just been appointed Canada 's Ambassador to the World Trade Organization.   Mr Stephenson will succeed Sergio Marchi who currently occupies the post in Geneva .   Characterizing himself as a friend to the arts, Don Stephenson has held positions with DFAIT and Canadian Heritage.   CCA and INCD st af f will discuss the issues of trade and culture with Mr Stephenson before he leaves for Europe .

Moving On

The Greater Vancouver Alliance for Arts and Culture announced last week that they are bidding a fond farewell to their Executive Director Lori Baxter . Ms. Baxter, an active member of the CCA 's Board of Governors, is leaving to work on the arts component of the non-profit society 2010 LegaciesNow, an initiative organized in conjunction with the 2010 Vancouver-Whistler Olympic Games. Good luck Lori!

For more information:

Kevin Desjardins

Communications and Public Relations Manager

(613) 238 3561 ext.11

Fax (613) 238 4849

info@ccarts.ca

www.ccarts.ca

26/04

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