NEWS RELEASE: Harper Government Continues to Cut Important Arts and Cultural Programs

August 11, 2008 

Harper Government Continues to Cut Important Arts and Cultural Programs

Vancouver – Hon. Hedy Fry, chair of the Federal Liberal Caucus Sub-Committee on Arts and Culture, expressed her outrage today at the Harper government's axing of the PromArt and Trade Routes from the International Arts Promotion Program.

"I guess we should have seen the writing on the wall when Harper's government cut funding to these programs a year ago," said Dr Fry.  "Not only does this government fail to understand the value of cultural promotion to tourism and trade, but they also have no idea that cultural expressions are an effective way of spreading Canadian values abroad.  This is exactly the kind of tunnel vision Canadians have come to expect from this government."

In response to the 2007 funding cuts, Liberal leader Stéphane Dion pledged to renew and expand the funding of the International Arts Promotion Program to $22-million dollars.

"Liberal governments have been strong advocates for Arts and Culture, initiating Tomorrow Starts Today, Cultural Spaces, and expanding the international programs," said Fry.  "We understand the value of Canadian culture in promoting social cohesion and a sense of shared identity.  However we also know that the 21st century is an era where creativity and innovation is essential to Canada's productivity and global competitiveness.  Obviously the Harper government fails to understand this and Canada will be the poorer for it". 

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Related: Tories to Axe five more arts and culture programs (The Globe & Mail - opens in a new window)

To read my most recent 'Hedz Sez' blog on Mr. Harper's dysfuntional Parliament, click here.

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