Minister slams cuts to cultural programs

Cultural Affairs Minister Carolyn Bertram expressed concerns today about recent federal announcements indicating reduced support or elimination of several cultural programs.

Ottawa has made several announcements in the past few weeks indicating that funding for cultural programs has been eliminated. Funding cuts include the Trade Routes and PromArt programs which have been used to develop international markets for Canadian cultural products. A number of programs to encourage and support digitization and other new media have also seen reductions.

These cuts are harmful to all artists but they really hurt our developing music industry, said Minister Bertram. We have been working closely with Music P.E.I. and the East Coast Music Association to increase market readiness for Island performers and have relied on the federal programs for significant assistance in the export market. If we have to re-direct provincial cultural dollars to fill gaps left by federal cuts it will have an impact on our ability to help develop entry-level artists.

To cite one example of how these programs benefit Islanders Rob Oakie, Music P.E.I.'s executive director, pointed to a trade delegation from Japan who will be visiting the province in September to develop music contacts for Island performers.

Without the financial involvement of Foreign Affairs we would not have been able to create this opportunity, said Mr. Oakie.

The federal government has attempted to defend the cuts by stating overall spending for culture has increased but that has not impressed Bertram.

More dollars for national museums and activities in Ottawa provides little benefit for the artists and people of Prince Edward Island. We need the resources directed to regional programs and to individuals who live and work here if we are to obtain the social and economic benefits which come from the arts.

Bertram noted that the province had previously enjoyed a collaborative cultural relationship with federal departments such as Canadian Heritage and Foreign Affairs, and artists had benefited from the leveraging effects of investment from the several layers of government. We would have been willing to work with Ottawa to develop programs which address the cultural needs of our artists, and I am disappointed that there has been no consultation with the provinces in regard to these cuts.

I will be raising this issue with federal Heritage Minister Josée Verner and my counterparts at upcoming national meetings in September, said Bertram.

While I respect the right for administrations to modify programs, I believe that the recent announcements signal an abandonment of support for culture which is damaging to our province and country. Several jurisdictions, including P.E.I., are asking that the issue of the cuts be added to the agenda of a Federal Provincial Ministers of Culture conference to be held late in September.