OTTAWA – Those expecting the first Conservative budget in 14 years to throw any more money at the Canadian culture sector came away from today’s federal budget disappointed.
Then again, nothing was taken away, either.
Just a few lines of the budget made mention of culture, when the government committed $50 million more over two years to the Canada Council.
It was silent on Telefilm, the Canadian Television Fund and the CBC, for example.
ACTRA, the performers union, offered up typical criticism, calling it a "different cast, same script," in its press release.
"Our culture defines us as an independent nation, so it’s troubling that it is barely on this government’s radar," said ACTRA president Stephen Waddell. "They didn’t talk about culture during the election. They failed to speak of it in the throne speech, and now in their first budget – they dedicate seven lines to the arts out of a 302 page document.
"Our voices are increasingly being drowned out by a flood of U.S. content, threatening our cultural sovereignty," Waddell continued… "(t)his budget does nothing to allay those fears."
However, the federal government’s plans for the TV and film industry will probably be fleshed out over the coming months – which may stoke fear in some. While the budget announced hundreds of millions in tax cuts (yay!) for all Canadians, opposition parties (like Liberal leader Bill Graham on CBC) said it is silent on the details how those cuts will be achieved. Many government programs and departments will be looked at during the summer, as the government searches for efficiencies.
