David Robertson - NDP
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the Toronto Arts
Council's election questionnaire. I, like the NDP, feel very strongly
about the value of the Arts in our communities. I have included
my answers to your questions below.
1) Will your party commit to upholding the November 2005 federal
commitment to a $342 million increase to arts funding over three
years?
Response:
The NDP feels strongly about our commitment to the Arts in our
communities. Because of this commitment, our platform includes
funding of $600 million over four years in support of artists
and the arts. We believe that the need is obvious for our funding
for art and artists to remain stable and accessible.
2) Given the positive affect of arts programming on many aspects
of Toronto's daily life including community volunteerism, youth
engagement,economic development, employment, tourism and overall
quality of life, conjoined with the fact that Toronto's artists
fall in the top 25% of education levels and the bottom 25% of income
levels, can you offer any concrete commitment from your party that
will improve the environment for the City's artists.
Response:
The NDP believes that our arts, culture and media are vital to
preserving our cultural sovereignty and independence as a nation.
We will continue to fight for the development of arts and culture
policies that nurture this sector as a vital economic engine for
Canada, our cities and communities. Our commitment to the Arts
begins with our platform.
The NDP platform gets results for arts and artists by:
-Introducing fair tax treatment for artists through tax averaging
and exemption of the first $30,000 copyright and certain royalty
income.
-Providing increased funding for the Canada Council for the
support of artists.
-Directing the CRTC to require clear, binding, monitored and
enforced performance standards for broadcasters, including a
significant increase in the production and broadcast of Canadian
drama.
-Ensuring that Canadian television networks remain Canadian
owned.
-Providing sustained funding for the Canadian Television Fund
and Telefilm Canada.
-Enhancing federal film incentives to encourage film and television
production and working with film distributors on a strategy
to increase distribution of Canadian films.
Our plan is about focused, targeted steps to support creative people
and to make sure Canadians see themselves in our culture.
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