Tony Ianno - Liberal

Thank you for taking the time to write on this very important issue.

On November 23, 2005, the Government made an announcement to strengthen our commitment to artistic excellence. If re-elected, a Liberal government will ensure that that commitment is delivered and that the full $306.5 million is delivered through until 2009.

This investment in the arts will double the Canada Council for the Arts' funding by 2008 and will provide the arts sector with much improved financial stability.

These new resources will enable the Council to significantly increase its support for artistic creation, national and international touring, and the Public Lending Right Program, which compensates authors for access to their works provided by public libraries

With these new resources, the Canada Council for the Arts will be able to:

• better support our most creative arts organizations of all sizes in all regions
  greatly increase resources for domestic and international touring
• expand support for the work of individual artists in more communities across the country
• increase the resources of the Public Lending Right Program, which compensates authors for access to their works provided by public libraries
• better honour the highest achievements of Canadian artists

Canada's arts sector enriches our communities and projects an image of a creative and innovative country to audiences around the world. This investment will play a key role in building and stabilizing Canada's arts sector, enabling it to invest in the creative activity essential for artistic excellence.

Thank you again for writing and sharing your concerns and views.

Tony Ianno campaign

www.tonyianno.ca