Federal Election, October 14, 2008

What are you voting for?

It may be the first time that support for Canadian art and artists has become an issue in a federal election.

• Is it because the Conference Board of Canada recently released research demonstrating that the economic footprint of arts and culture in Canada was $84.6 billion in 2007 (7.4% of Canada’s GDP) and that culture sector accounted for 1.1 million jobs in 2007? Valuing Culture: Measuring and Understanding Canada’s Creative Economy
• Is it because of recent cuts to federal support for the arts? See here for list of funding cuts.
• Is it because Canada’s artists and celebrities are speaking out?
  • Toronto’s cultural community speaks out about recent arts cuts
  • Michel Rivard, Culture en peril
• Or is it because "To Be Creative is, in fact, Canadian"

What can you do to keep the arts at the top of the election agenda?

• Click on the I Vote For Culture icon above to add your vote to the national tally of Canadian arts supporters
• When your candidates come to the door, tell them you support Canadian arts; or, better yet, phone or email them directly to let them know (full list of Toronto candidates here)
• On October 14, vote for culture.

Each of the political party’s positions on arts and culture are outlined here:

Conservative Party of Canada
Green Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
New Democratic Party

Toronto candidates and contact information is here:

Study reveals erosion in arts funding, James Bradshaw, Globe and Mail
Why public funding of arts matters to all of us, Jian Ghomeshi, National Post
Make Arts Funding an Election Issue – Toronto Star Editorial
Arts and culture funding: An issue for party leaders, James Fleck, Toronto Star

Election toolkits and resources:

Canadian Arts Coalition
Canadian Conference of the Arts

Department of Culture