Green Party
Matthew Pollesel
mpollesel@greenparty.ca
Website
1-866-868-3447
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1. What role do the arts play in your life?
The arts, particularly music, play a very large role in my
life. I may be going to McMaster University in the fall to
study for an MA in Music Criticism (I’m currently awaiting
notice of whether I’ve been accepted into the program),
and I’m a volunteer staff writer for Splendid Magazine,
an American music website specializing in independent music.
Further, I spend a very large portion of my disposable income
on buying CDs and attending concerts. I’m also an avid
reader, and whenever the opportunity arises to attend a live
theatre performance I take advantage of it.
2. What role do the arts play in keeping people healthy?
The arts play a crucial role in keeping people healthy. People
engaged by the arts are improving themselves intellectually
and emotionally (and thus physically, if statistics that find
educated people are also healthier are a proper guide).
3. Why is it important that Toronto have a healthy arts
sector?
A healthy arts sector is important for Toronto as the arts
are a good measure of a city’s quality. It shows that
the city is able to focus on more than simply providing its
citizens with basic amenities. A healthy, vibrant arts sector
is one of the most important indicators of whether a city
truly is world-class, and Toronto, as a one of the best cities
in the world, needs to ensure that it gives the sector the
right amount of funding.
4. Does your party believe that Canadian content and
ownership should be protected in our broadcasting industry?
The Green Party believes that worthwhile Canadian content
is best provided to Canadians by Canadians. Our policies in
government would be to shape a media industry that accurately
mirrors the intelligence, diversity, creativity and decency
of the Canadian people.
5. Our artists help make our society prosperous, yet many
of them work and live in relative poverty. How can the Federal
Government assist in returning some of that prosperity to
our artists?
The Federal Government can ensure that artists share in the
prosperity they create by targeting arts funding towards building
and sustaining community arts programs and facilities. This
creates a more vibrant local community, and ensures that artists
will have an audience for what they create.
6. Do you support federal investment in Canada’s
arts sector?
I wholly support federal investment in Canada’s arts
sector. A Green Party government will expand arts funding
mechanisms to include smaller, community-based, participatory
arts programs
a. Does investment in the arts produce a health dividend?
An educational dividend? A public safety dividend?
The arts very clearly provide health, education and public
safety dividends. People engaged by the arts improve themselves
intellectually and emotionally (and thus physically, given
the studies that find educated people are also healthier).
Further, if people are engaged in acts of creativity, they’re
much less likely to focus their energies on unproductive or
illegal actions (particularly if they’re from groups
at risk of turning to unproductive or illegal activities).
b. If elected, would you vote to increase funding to the
arts sector through The Canada Council? Through Department
of Canadian Heritage?
I would definitely vote in favour of increasing funding to
the arts sector through both the Canada Council and the Department
of Canadian Heritage.
c. Do you support provision of stable, adequate, multi-year
arts funding?
As in all other areas of society, true progress can only be
achieved and sustained with stability. A Green Party government
would provide adequate, multi-year arts funding, focused on
long-term, community development rather than short-term commercial
gains. |
NDP Party
Gary Dale
garydale@ndp.ca
Website
416-505-1483
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1. What role do the arts play in your
life?
I'm a long time music lover with an extensive collection of
LPs and CDs. For several years I helped local bands by working
the sound system. I even did the sound for a large concert
featuring some of Toronto's top bands at the time. I also
love dance and have attended many performances at Harbourfront
and other dance venues. I'm on the mailing list of many dance
groups. I'm a fan of both opera and theatre and have attended
many major and local performances. I helped amateur theatre
groups with sound and sound effects.
2. What role do the arts play in keeping people healthy?
They help us laugh and cry. They help us to look at the commonplace
in new ways. They show us how to relate. We cannot be physically
healthy without these things. Of course, it also gives us
an alternative to smoke filled bars.
3. Why is it important that Toronto have a healthy arts
sector?
It gives us a sense of who we are. Even without the effects
of a vibrant arts community on attracting tourists and businesses
to Toronto, it gives us a focus and an energy to help us excel
in our own endeavours. It also provides both direct and indirect
employment to large numbers of people. And it shows the world
what we are capable of.
4. Does your party believe that Canadian content and
ownership should be protected in our broadcasting industry?
Definitely. I'm a proud supporter of Friends of the CBC.
5. Our artists help make our society prosperous, yet
many of them work and live in relative poverty. How can the
Federal Government assist in returning some of that prosperity
to our artists?
Canadian content requirements, endowments, purchases, promotion
abroad, tax incentives, creating facilities as part of the
national
infrastructure. Ensuring that royalties collected on sales
are
distributed to the artist.
6. Do you support federal investment in Canada’s
arts sector? Does investment in the arts produce a health
dividend? An educational dividend? A public safety dividend?
If elected, would you vote to increase funding to the arts
sector through The Canada Council? Through Department of Canadian
Heritage? Do you support provision of stable, adequate, multi-year
arts funding?
Yes on all counts!
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