CCA Bulletin 23/09
September 21, 2009
The CCA in front of the Finance Committee:
First priority, market development!
Just the facts
Last Thursday, the Canadian Conference of the Arts (CCA) appeared in front of the Standing Committee on Finance to present and defend its 2010 pre-budget submission.
The rules guiding the submissions to this annual consultation are quite restrictive, with each brief limited to five pages, comprising no more than three recommendations. Given the unique breadth of the CCA mandate, in our written submission, we grouped a series of specific recommendations under three broad headings. In oral presentations in front of the Committee, witnesses are limited to a five minute presentation, as are Committee members with their questions, so only the most important elements of our submission were highlighted. We were part of a panel of eight organizations which included only one other cultural group, the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA). It is fair to say that CCA’s presentation caught the attention of committee members and provoked some questions. The following is a brief look at the CCA’s presentation.
Tell me more
Investing in market development and in cultural diplomacy
Canada is blessed with a very high proportion of artists, creators, cultural institutions, and industries, but is greatly handicapped by its small internal market and immense territory. In order to survive and flourish, our cultural sector must develop markets both internally and externally. Despite several small international programs within the Canadian Heritage portfolio agencies, there is currently no coordinated pan-governmental strategy for the promotion of Canadian artists and cultural works to national and international audiences and markets.
Accordingly, the CCA recommends that the federal government invest an additional $ 40 million per year into the expansion of the capacity of the Canada Council for the Arts to increase its capacity to support market development both at home and abroad. As well, the CCA encourages the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to collaborate with the Canada Council for the Arts on its cultural initiatives abroad. The integration of a diplomatic strategy prioritizing cultural relations and trade would yield both economic and diplomatic benefits for Canada.
Given the importance of investing in artists and creators who are at the vanguard of the creative economy, the CCA also invites the Committee to recommend to the Minister of Finance that the 2010 federal budget make an additional recurrent increase of $ 20 million a year to the Canada Council base budget for a period of four years starting in 2011, with a view to eventually making its annual budget reach $300 million by 2014. Finally, the CCA urges that the Council be allowed to keep the $ 9 million it has been asked to identify for redirections through the current Strategic Review.
The public broadcaster
The CCA supports the Standing Committee on Heritage’s recommendation that the Government establish a long-term Memorandum of Understanding with the CBC. The Committee further states that the additional $ 60 million the CBC has received annually since 2002 be permanently added to the Corporation’s base budget and that “its core funding be increased to an amount equivalent to at least $ 40 per capita.”
The CCA strongly urged the Committee to recommend to the Government that the CBC be allowed to keep the $ 50 million it was asked to identify as part of this year’s Strategic Review, a recommendation which the CCA also extends to the National Film Board.
Providing the sector with the tools it needs
All sectors of the economy and the government need reliable and comparable statistics in order to develop policies and evaluate their impact. In the new post-industrial economy, it is of utmost importance both for the cultural sector and for the government to have access to timely and reliable data on labour markets, export activity, new forms of cultural activity, and contribution to the quality of life of Canadians.
The CCA recommends that the government allocate to Statistics Canada and to the Department of Canadian Heritage a minimum of $1 million a year to provide the cultural sector with the basic information required for its development and for the assessment of programs supporting it.
Investing in infrastructure
Much of the cultural infrastructure built around Canada’s 1967 centennial celebration is in need of repair and upgrading. Cultural spaces within Canada often have uneven distribution within communities, resulting in a lack of affordable and sustainable rental spaces in many regions of the country. It would be fitting to mark Canada’s 150th anniversary by addressing this issue.
The CCA supports the recommendation of the Creative Cities Network for the creation of a special multi-year capital program to address the huge deficit in funding for cultural and recreational facilities across Canada.
While the CCA rejoices in the fact that the government recently renewed the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund for five years, with a one-time increase of $ 30 million this year, we submit that the annual base budget of $ 30 million is grossly inadequate given the established needs for investment in cultural infrastructure. We press the government to raise the base budget for the Cultural Spaces Fund to $60 million annually.
Preserving our heritage
As we plan for sustainable growth for our economy, environment, and our industries, so too must we do for our national heritage. Over the years, the CCA has called for a renewed National Museum Policy, not only for predictable funding, but for also a firm policy commitment to protect and project our national heritage to Canadians and foreign visitors.
Despite the broad consensus achieved in 2005 on this front between all political parties, the past three years have seen significant cuts made to the museum community.
Accordingly, the CCA renews its recommendation that the government commit $50 million to implement a long overdue national museum policy.
What can I do?
Don’t miss an opportunity to press these points with federal politicians either in meetings or by sending them an email. Do not hesitate to communicate with us if you require assistance info@ccarts.ca
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