Federal Election 2011 – The party platforms: what about culture?
CCA Bulletin 15/11
April 15, 2011
The Canadian Conference of the Arts (CCA) has taken the platforms available from the five major federal political parties and broken them down for you. Below, you will find all pertinent elements of the party platforms divided into different priorities identified by the CCA. These priorities are areas of focus for the arts, culture and heritage sector in terms of public investments in culture, cultural policies, regulation and taxation. We have not edited any elements of the platforms: we have simply divided them into relevant categories. We also have not omitted information in any of the sections below. Empty columns indicate that we did not find any relevant information on that particular topic in the respective party’s platform. As a final note, with regards to the Bloc Québécois’ platform, we ourselves completed the French to English translation.
Next week, we will complete our analysis of the political parties’ platforms from the cultural perspective by publishing their responses to the questionnaires we sent them on April 5.
Comparison of political party platforms from the
arts, culture and heritage perspective
Public investments in culture
Bloc Québécois |
The Bloc Québécois is asking that Quebec be able to opt out of all federal programs designed to invest in the cultural field, with full compensation, and that all corresponding taxes be repaid to the Quebec government.
The Bloc Québécois is asking that the annual budget of the Canada Council for the Arts be increased to $300 million. Furthermore, the Bloc Québécois is asking for the creation of a fund for creators working in new media production.
The Bloc Québécois is asking for a $50 million funding increase to the Canada Feature Film Fund, with $20 million designated to the Quebec film industry.
The Bloc Québécois is asking for the establishment of a fund for documentary feature films and Imax movies. It is also important that the amount of money allocated to the Quebec film industry is a reflection of Quebec’s level of cultural consumption.
Until Quebec gains full control of its own culture, the Bloc Québécois is asking the federal government to introduce a new museum policy in line with the current needs of museums in Quebec and Canada. Furthermore, in 1982, the federal government promised that the Canadian Museum of Science and Technology would be permanently relocated to Gatineau. The Bloc Québécois will pressure the government until this promise is met.
The Bloc Québécois proposes the establishment of an incentives program to promote the dissemination and recognition of regional cultural works and emerging talent. The Bloc Québécois believes that these measures must grant local artists access to a minimum of 10% of media space devoted to culture.
The Bloc Québécois will promote and preserve the architectural, religious and historic heritage sites in Quebec which have been identified by the Government of Quebec. |
Conservative Party
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Stephen Harper’s Government has provided strong support for culture and the arts. Among other things we have:
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Green Party |
Green Party MPs will:
We will establish the equivalent of the Japanese National Treasure Program where outstanding individual artists are supported to perfect their crafts. |
Liberal Party |
The Canada Council for the Arts is a major force in supporting working artists. A Liberal government will significantly increase support for Canadian artists and creators bydoubling the annual budget of the Canada Council for theArts, from $180 million to $360 million over the next four years. |
NDP |
We will increase public funding for the Canada Council.
We will implement a matching grant for Canadian museums, historic buildings and heritage lighthouses.
We will provide sustained funding for the Canada Media Fund and Telefilm Canada, enhance federal film incentives and develop a targeted strategy for the promotion of domestic films in Canada. |
On Canadian media
Bloc Québécois |
The Bloc Québécois proposes that an administrative arrangement be granted that gives Quebec full control of its culture and any regulatory tools for telecommunications and broadcasting used in the province.
The Bloc Québécois will introduce a bill that recognizes Quebec’s national film industry. |
Conservative Party |
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Green Party MPs will:
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Liberal Party |
Flourishing Canadian Content, Culture and Identity in Digital Media. Canadians should continue to have access to ever more Canadian stories and Canadian content in the Digital Canada of the future. New media should provide vibrant and rewarding new avenues for expression by Canadian artists. The public broadcasters, Radio Canada and the CBC have crucial roles to play in achieving these objectives. |
NDP |
We will ensure Canadian TV and telecom networks remain Canadian-owned by maintaining effective regulations on foreign ownership.
We will re-focus the mandate of the CRTC to promote and protect Canadian cultural industries.
We will reform the CRTC and also ensure it better reflects Quebec’s cultural and linguistic reality and that of the francophone community.
We will set license requirements for broadcasters based on clear, binding and enforced performance standards for broadcasters, including increased Canadian drama.
We will promote the production and broadcast of Canadian content on Canadian television and in Canadian theatre.
We will develop a digital on-line culture service to broaden access to Canadian content. |
On the CBC
Bloc Québécois |
The Bloc Québécois is calling for increased funding and a better representation of Quebec culture at Radio-Canada, an important outreach tool for francophone and Quebec culture. |
Conservative Party |
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Green Party |
The full Green Party platform and budget, to be released April 11, will include a three-year investment in the CBC: $100 million in 2011–2012, $150 million in 2012–2013, and $200 million in 2013–2014. The investment will provide the CBC with stable base funding so it can continue to provide quality Canadian content television and radio programming in both official languages. |
Liberal Party |
A Liberal government will provide the CBC and Radio-Canada with stable and predictable funding in support of their unique and crucial role. |
NDP |
We will strengthen public broadcasting with long-term stable funding for CBC, Radio-Canada and other public broadcasters, including capacity to deliver superior regional production and internet services. |
On the digital economy
Bloc Québécois |
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Conservative Party |
In 2007 Stephen Harper’s Government announced the Science and Technology Strategy.
The Strategy is designed to build on Canada’s advantages in the global economy by encouraging private-sector investment in research and development and enrolment in university science and engineering programs – with the goal of creating good new jobs and a higher quality of life for Canadians.
In 2010 we consulted experts and businesspeople on positioning Canada to seize the opportunities presented by new information and communications technologies. Our purpose is to build on our actions so far in this area. For example:
Later this spring, a re-elected Stephen Harper Government will , focused on five priorities:
To achieve these goals, among other specific actions we will:
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Green Party |
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Liberal Party |
Access to Broadband for All Canadians. Liberals consider access to a high-speed broadband Internet connection essential infrastructure, just as the electricity grid and the telephone network were over a century ago. A Liberal government will publicly tender contracts for private companies to install broadband capacity for the hundreds of thousands of Canadians in rural, remote or northern areas who do not currently have access. To make those contracts economical for private investment, we will provide $500 million in support, allowing Canada to achieve basic high-speed Internet access for all Canadian households within three years. The source of that investment will be the next spectrum auction for wireless licensing rights.
. Research shows that Internet skills lead to real economic benefits, including lower prices for consumers and more competitive small business. A Liberal government will work with all partners to promote digital life skills and training, in particular for older Canadians and lower income families. |
NDP |
We will apply the proceeds from the advanced wireless spectrum auction to ensure all Canadians, no matter where they live, will have quality high-speed broadband internet access.
We will expect the major internet carriers to contribute financially to this goal.
We will rescind the 2006 Conservative industry-oriented directive to the CRTC and direct the regulator to stand up for the public interest, not just the major telecommunications companies.
We will enshrine “net neutrality” in law, end price gouging and “net throttling,” with clear rules for Internet Service Providers (ISPs), enforced by the CRTC.
We will prohibit all forms of usage-based billing (UBB) by Internet Service Providers (ISPs). |
On foreign policy, trade and the arts
Bloc Québécois |
Tradewiththe European Union:for a fair partnership
The Bloc Québécois believes that UNESCO’s Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and the principle of cultural inclusion must be respected. |
Conservative Party |
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Green Party |
Green Party MPs will:
We will reverse the funding cuts of the Harper government for the exchange of artists and the performance of Canadian arts abroad, as they are a vital aspect of effective diplomacy and artistic expression. |
Liberal Party |
A Liberal government will alsorestore the Promart and Trade Routescultural promotion programs, increasing their funding to $25 million. These programs play an important role in bringing Canadian culture to the world and increasing our exports. The new annual funding will help to create a domestic tours program as well. |
NDP |
We will explore the creation of a new international arts touring fund to replace the now-defunct Trade Routes and PromArt programs. |
On intellectual property
Bloc Québécois |
The Bloc Québécois will ensure that the new copyright law is fair to both creators and consumers. This balance must be achieved, most notably through: an upgraded system for private copying, applying to mp3 players and other digital music players; reasonable royalties to artists for redistribution of their works; the abolition of the education exemption and fair recognition of the resale rights of visual artists.
The Bloc Québécois is committed to creating a system that requires ISPs to pay royalties to a fund that will be used to compensate creators in Quebec who have faced the adverse effects of illegal downloading of artistic products.
The Bloc Québécois is asking the federal government to introduce a tax exemption on copyright and public lending rights, and is also asking for enhanced public lending rights. |
Conservative Party |
A Stephen Harper-led majority Government will also reintroduce andpass the Copyright Modernization Act, a key pillar in our commitment to make Canada a leader in the global digital economy. This balanced, commonsense legislation recognizes the practical priorities of teachers, students, artists, families, and technology companies, among others, while aligning Canada with international standards. It respects both the rights of creators and the interests of consumers.
It will ensure that Canada’s copyright law will be responsive in a fast changing digital world, while protecting and creating jobs, promoting innovation, and attracting investment to Canada. |
Green Party |
Green Party MPs will:
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Liberal Party |
Fair balance Between Creators and Consumers. Digital technology offers many new opportunities, but enjoying content without compensating its creators shouldn’t be among them. At the same time, consumers should have freedom for personal use of digital content they rightfully possess. Liberals have worked to pass effective copyright legislation, including a private copying compensation fund instead of any new tax on consumers. |
NDP |
We will introduce a bill on copyright reform to ensure that Canada complies with its international treaty obligations, while balancing consumers’ and creators’ rights. |
On the economic status of artists
Bloc Québécois |
The Bloc Québécois intends to introduce a bill that permits artists’ incomes to be spread out over a five-year period. Such a measure would take into consideration fluctuating incomes and would better account for how artists are paid. |
Conservative Party |
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Green Party |
Green Party MPs will:
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Liberal Party |
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NDP |
We will implement tax averaging for artists and cultural workers. |
On taxation and the arts
Bloc Québécois
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The Bloc Québécois believes that it is essential to establish a tax credit for films shot and produced outside the metropolitan area in order to encourage the development of the film industry across the province. The Government of Québec has already established such a credit with the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC).
The Bloc Québécois is asking that the federal government abolish the GST on books, whatever the medium used. |
Conservative Party |
For so many Canadian children, involvement in the arts is a big part of growing up. One child thrives at art camp: another finds her calling on the stage; another learns about the language and heritage of his family background.
All of them find a great opportunity to make friends and to develop their creativity. But the fees and other costs involved can be beyond the reach of some families.
To help families in providing these important opportunities for their children, we will establish a Children’s Arts Tax Credit, to cover up to $500 per child in qualifying expenses for eligible arts or cultural activities. |
Green Party |
Revenue neutral tax shifting taxes what society does not want, such as pollution, and removes taxes from what society does want, such as employment and creativity. The Green Party of Canada will redistribute funds in a revenue neutral manner, allowing the tax system to favour non-polluting, high-employment, highly creative, knowledge-based economic activities without increasing personal income taxes. For example, the Green Party of Canada will remove the GST from arts and culture products and services while imposing a carbon tax on burning hydrocarbons and releasing their by-products into the atmosphere.
Resource taxes such as carbon taxes are refunded to taxpayers by reducing income tax. Those with low income who do not pay income tax will be compensated through a formula and mechanism similar to the way the Goods and Services Tax is refunded by quarterly payments. |
Liberal Party |
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NDP |
We will introduce tax incentives to ensure the restoration and preservation of historic buildings. |