The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The Canadian identity has always been tied to culture. The cultural products we watch, listen to and read are seen by millions here in Canada and abroad, where many of our artists are recognized has leaders. To most people, itÕs obvious that our cultural community deserves to be supported. These same people would be shocked by the recent cancellation of no less than 12 cultural programs, amounting to $40 million, in the middle of the summer. What would be less of a surprise is the fact that the Harper Conservatives killed the programs purely for ideological reasons. The prime ministerÕs own director of communication was very clear when he said that the government did not want to support artists they considered ÒmarginalÓ or Òoffensive.Ó This governmentÕs pattern of cutting programs without giving a rational explanation should be worrisome for every group and organization that depends on federal support. The Conservative Heritage Minister, after days of silence, said only that some programs would be replaced because theyÕre not efficient. When, how and what would be the goals and the envelope of the new programs? No details were given. Why did the government cancel the programs before putting forward new alternatives? Silence again. The situation speaks of a government that considers culture as an afterthought or, worse, a nuisance. Eliminating cultural programs the way they did, the Conservatives demonstrate that they misunderstood not only their social value but also their economic potential. Arts and culture create jobs, stimulate tourism, foster private investment and provide inspiration to future generations of homegrown talent. A July 2008 study by the Conference Board of Canada confirmed that CanadaÕs cultural sector left an economic imprint of $84.6 billion in 2007, or 7.4 per cent of our GDP. The governmentÕs own 2006 review of the efficiency of the Promart program recommended that its budget be increased. At the end of the day we must also ask ourselves whether we want a government that doesnÕt understand the real value of culture, that appoints itself as guardian of public morality, and puts the act of artistic creation at the mercy of a narrow right-wing ideology. Our culture is our voice, and that voice must be defended. Freedom of expression, freedom to create and the promotion of our cultural treasures abroad are paramount to CanadaÕs development. We must never let the curtain fall on these values.
