Welcome to the Coalition News page.

Here you will find the latest information on upcoming Coalition events, news on recruitment activities and more.

July 3, 2008

New Copyright Bill tabled

Bill C61, An Act to Amend the Copyright Act, has been tabled in the House of Commons on June 12. As a Government Bill, it was introduced by the Industry Minister Jim Prentice and is likely to be debated at the next Parliamentary session which is scheduled to begin on September 15, 2008.

Have you had a chance to examine the Bill? Has your organization issued a statement on it? How will the Bill, if it becomes the Law, affect your artistic practice, audience relations or revenue? We urge you to contact your MP (Find your MP using your postal code) and let your voice be heard.

Read full text of the bill here

To contact Industry Minister: Prentice.J@parl.gc.ca
To contact Prime Minister’s Office: pm@pm.gc.ca

Some of the press coverage:

Not all sides are represented in debate on copyright bill (The Star)

Canadians divided on copyright bill: Survey (Cbc.ca)

Tories' digital mashup (Now Magazine)

Prentice's copywrong (Eye Weekly)

Canada's new copyright bill (National Post)

Tories to unveil new copyright bill (Canada.com/Financial Post)

Uncle Sam's fingers all over the Canadian copyright bill (Michael Geist on Canada.com)

June 5, 2008

Summer 2008 Festival Guide

March 31, 2008

The 2008 City of Toronto Operating Budget was approved by City Council on March 31, 2008. The Budget includes an increase of $597,000 to TAC's grants budget which fulfils the 2003 City Culture Plan commitment. For more information, consult the City’s official budget page at http://www.toronto.ca/budget2008/index.htm

February 25, 2008

Toronto's Budget Committee made its final recommendations regarding Toronto Arts Council's grants budget. In large part due to the overwhelming response from the public, the Committee's recommendation is that TAC's grants budget receive an increase of $597,000. This is the full amount requested by TAC and the final amount remaining from the 2003 City Culture Plan commitment. Although the budget won't be finalized until March 31, it looks very likely this recommendation will hold.

This increase will augment TAC’s ability to invest in Toronto’s artists and organizations by 6.2% . In 2007 TAC funded 665 arts organizations and individual artists across a broad range of arts disciplines and activities, with an estimated attendance of 7.5 million people.

An increase of $400,000 to Major Cultural Organizations was also recommended, also in line with the Culture Plan, and an increase of $85,000 for the Local Arts Service Organizations.

Every artist, arts worker, patron and citizen who came to city hall, wrote the Mayor or their Councillor and/or made a deputation deserves congratulations for this decision.

This is an important step forward, in a long journey ahead, to strengthen Toronto’s arts community.

Claire Hopkinson, Executive Director

February 5th 2008

Budget Deputations

TAC Executive Director and 36 other representatives of Toronto’s arts and culture world submitted deputations to the City’s Budget Committee. For Executive Director Claire Hopkinson’s full speech, click here.

Curtis Barlow, CEO of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship; Dae-Tong Huh, President of the Korean-Canadian Literary Forum-21 Press; Kristen Fahrig, visual artist; Richard Marsella, Ontario Regional Director for the Canadian Music Centre; John Van Burek, Artistic Director of the Pleiades Theatre and Jacoba Knaapen, Executive Director of The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) were also among the deputants.

January 29, 2008

Executive Director's Deputation to Provincial Budget Committee

On Monday January 28 2008, Executive Director Claire Hopkinson presented a deputation to the Provincial Budget Committee on behalf of the Fair Deal for Our City Coalition.

Click here for the text.

City of Toronto 2008 Budget

“We must put creativity at the heart of Toronto’s economic development strategy.” Mayor David Miller, Agenda for Prosperity

The City of Toronto is currently finalizing its operating budget.

Toronto Arts Council is requesting that its Grants Program budget be increased by $597,000. This is the final installment required to fulfill the Culture Plan commitment passed by City Council in 2003.

The City Budget Committee will be hearing public deputations about the budget at City Hall on Tuesday, February 5. Toronto Arts Council will be there along with many members of the arts community.

Key speeches presented to the Budget Committee will be posted in this space on February 5.

All are welcome to come to City Hall on February 5.