The Honourable James Moore

Promoting Canadian Culture Abroad

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Issue

Arts community concerns about the cancellation of programs to promote Canadian culture abroad—Trade Routes and PromArt—reported in the media.

Facts

• Our Government recognizes the importance of supporting Canadian culture both at home and abroad.

It also understands the challenges facing Canadian artists and the Canadian cultural industry in these difficult times. This is why the Government has acted quickly to make key investments in this area.

Our Government made a commitment to invest more than half a billion dollars over the next two years to support Canadian culture at home and abroad. More than half of this investment is new funding for the arts, culture, and heritage.

This investment, included in our 2009 Economic Action Plan, clearly demonstrates our Government’s commitment to the arts, culture, and heritage.

This investment also aims to provide our cultural organizations with as much stability as possible, while providing Canadians with better access to their culture.

In addition, in 2008–2009, our Government invested close to $22 million to support efforts to export and promote Canadian culture on the international stage through such organizations as the Canada Council for the Arts, Telefilm Canada, the Association for the Export of Canadian Books, and the National Film Board, as well as FACTOR and MusicAction.

These organizations play a leading role in showcasing the achievements of our Canadian creators internationally and supporting our cultural industries.

In July 2007, our Government raised the annual budget of the Canada Council for the Arts by $30 million. In addition, as recently as June 26, 2009, the Government renewed funding for the Canada Council for the next five years, bringing its total investment to $181 million a year—the highest amount in its history. In 2008–2009, the Canada Council will have provided $12 million in touring grants.

Our Government is determined to ensure that our creators receive as much as support as possible, as well as to manage taxpayer dollars wisely.