Canada's arts and cultural community is putting a positive face on what few details emerged from the federal budget for their sector.
While he didn't come close to the $150-million more over three years promised the Canada Council for the Arts by the previous Liberal government last November, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty did promise $50-million in extra funding over two years.
Now, with annual base funding of $150-million, the council will have $20-million more in its coffers in the first year, and $30-million extra in the second.
“At least it's an indication there is a level of support for the arts,” said Bob McPhee, a spokesman for the Canadian Arts Coalition, a consortium of artists, arts organizations and business leaders formed to press for more funding from government.
“It's not where we want to end up but it was honestly a surprise and a welcome surprise.”
Mr. McPhee, general director and CEO of the Calgary Opera, said there have been indications from the new heritage minister, Bev Oda, that more will come in the next budget round.
“Do I wish it was $150-million? Absolutely. I wish it was $350-million. But at least we know the door is open. I think there was a fear within the arts community right across the country that that was not the case.”
The coalition had proposed an increase in public arts funding by $5 per Canadian, to be delivered through the Canada Council. An election campaign survey, it said, showed that all four major political parties were committed to this goal if elected.
The council, a national arm's-length agency which fosters the development of the arts through grants, services and awards, reports to Parliament through the heritage minister. It is overseen by an 11-member board appointed by the government.
Meanwhile, the union representing Canada's TV and film actors was less charitable.
“Different cast, same script,” is how ACTRA put the absence in the budget speech of any increased funding for their industry, specifically for the CBC, Telefilm Canada and the Canadian Television Fund.
“Our culture defines us as an independent nation,” said Stephen Waddell, ACTRA national executive director, referring to seven lines devoted to arts matters in a 302-page document. “So it's troubling that it is barely on this government's radar.”
Waddell said the Canadian voice is being drowned by a flood of American entertainment content.
Producers and broadcasters especially wanted a five-year plan to allow them to commit to program content that would tell Canadian stories to Canadian viewers. Others more specifically wanted a significant federal commitment to the CBC.
Karen Wirsig, a spokeswoman for the Canadian Media Guild, said it's basically the status quo for the CBC, which is not great because it invariably means cuts in programming.
In the estimates, she said the CBC was getting some extra money for wage increases negotiated with its employees, plus another renewal of a $60-million annual radio and TV programming increment that has been repeated several years in a row now.
“Overall this is not the end of the world,” says Ms. Wirsig. “It's not good. It's status quo.”
A CBC spokesman was not immediately available for comment.
