Premier 'pressures' Harper on arts funding by Elissa Barnard
Source : Halifax Chronicle Herald
MacDonald writes PM to reconsider $45 million in cuts
September 3, 2008
Premier Rodney MacDonald slammed the federal government Tuesday for planned funding cuts totalling $45 million that he says will damage the province's cultural industry.
The premier asked Prime Minister Stephen Harper in a letter "to reconsider these cuts," many of which are "critical to the development of our culture sector."
Mr. MacDonald told reporters Tuesday he sent the letter because of the negative impact that slashing millions of dollars in federal funding would have on the sector's growth and export potential and on Nova Scotia artists.
In the letter, dated Aug. 29, he cites the planned elimination of the $4.7-million PromArt program subsidizing the promotion of Canadian artists touring abroad and the $9-million Trade Routes program for the export of Canadian arts and culture products, as well as cuts to funding for independent film and video, new media and book publishing.
"We want to make sure the federal government is not stepping back as we're investing," he said, adding that his government's commitment to double provincial cultural funding to $16.4 million by 2010-11 is "the most aggressive commitment of any province in the country."
"We want to do more, not less."
The culture sector in Nova Scotia creates direct and indirect employment for 28,000 people and generates more than $1.2 billion in gross domestic product, the province says.
"We have to pressure Ottawa to do the right thing and invest more in Nova Scotia," the premier said.
While programs in Nova Scotia would "in some cases" make up for the cuts, he wants to see growth in the industry.
"I'm not interested in filling the holes left by the federal government."
Mr. MacDonald did not go as far as Premier Danny Williams, who has promised to "cover the financial gap" that would affect artists from Newfoundland and Labrador.
In his letter, Mr. MacDonald said: "I sincerely hope these cuts do not represent the level of importance that the Government of Canada places on the value of the sector to the Canadian economy, to our provincial and our Canadian identity."
The premier said he wants Nova Scotia artists to know where he stands. When asked by a CBC reporter whether his timing was linked to the festive launch today of the province's first Fall for the Arts program, the premier said that suggestion was "ridiculous."
NDP Leader Darrell Dexter welcomed the premier's stand.
"The question is, really: Will he follow through, and when the prime minister is in town campaigning, will he continue to speak out vociferously against these cuts?"
© Halifax Chronicle Herald
The premier asked Prime Minister Stephen Harper in a letter "to reconsider these cuts," many of which are "critical to the development of our culture sector."
Mr. MacDonald told reporters Tuesday he sent the letter because of the negative impact that slashing millions of dollars in federal funding would have on the sector's growth and export potential and on Nova Scotia artists.
In the letter, dated Aug. 29, he cites the planned elimination of the $4.7-million PromArt program subsidizing the promotion of Canadian artists touring abroad and the $9-million Trade Routes program for the export of Canadian arts and culture products, as well as cuts to funding for independent film and video, new media and book publishing.
"We want to make sure the federal government is not stepping back as we're investing," he said, adding that his government's commitment to double provincial cultural funding to $16.4 million by 2010-11 is "the most aggressive commitment of any province in the country."
"We want to do more, not less."
The culture sector in Nova Scotia creates direct and indirect employment for 28,000 people and generates more than $1.2 billion in gross domestic product, the province says.
"We have to pressure Ottawa to do the right thing and invest more in Nova Scotia," the premier said.
While programs in Nova Scotia would "in some cases" make up for the cuts, he wants to see growth in the industry.
"I'm not interested in filling the holes left by the federal government."
Mr. MacDonald did not go as far as Premier Danny Williams, who has promised to "cover the financial gap" that would affect artists from Newfoundland and Labrador.
In his letter, Mr. MacDonald said: "I sincerely hope these cuts do not represent the level of importance that the Government of Canada places on the value of the sector to the Canadian economy, to our provincial and our Canadian identity."
The premier said he wants Nova Scotia artists to know where he stands. When asked by a CBC reporter whether his timing was linked to the festive launch today of the province's first Fall for the Arts program, the premier said that suggestion was "ridiculous."
NDP Leader Darrell Dexter welcomed the premier's stand.
"The question is, really: Will he follow through, and when the prime minister is in town campaigning, will he continue to speak out vociferously against these cuts?"
© Halifax Chronicle Herald
