|
Minister discusses cultural investment with federal, provincial and territorial counterparts Tourism, Culture and Recreation
Minister Paul Shelley joined fellow culture and heritage ministers from
across the country last weekend to discuss issues around cultural
investment. The federal, provincial and territorial ministers� meeting,
held in Halifax, Nova Scotia on Saturday, October 30, centred on - Investing
in creativity: the role of arts, culture, cultural industries and heritage
in strengthening social and economic growth at the community level.
Key issues brought forward
during the meeting included the need for ongoing support for the work of
artists and arts and heritage organizations, protection of cultural
industries in the global marketplace and the role of culture in communities.
Minister Shelley supported a
resolution requesting that the Government of Canada extend the federal
Tomorrow Starts Today Program, which supports the work of artists and arts
and heritage organizations. "This program is due to expire at the end
of March," said Minister Shelley. "Unless it is extended, there
will be great hardship in the cultural community. What cultural industries
workers need, and what we all need in this country, is renewed federal
commitment to long-term funding for cultural industries."
Minister Shelley also expressed
support for the Government of Canada�s efforts to protect cultural
industries within the context of international trade agreements. "The
protection of cultural industries is essential to maintaining global
cultural diversity," said the minister. "Industries that foster
our world�s many and varied cultures - including that of Newfoundland and
Labrador - require special consideration. The Government of Newfoundland and
Labrador is strongly behind Canada�s support for the draft UNESCO
convention on trade in cultural products." The draft United Nations
Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) convention seeks
to establish rules and protocols, outside those negotiated by the World
Trade Organization, for trading cultural products.
The meeting also acknowledged
the important role that culture plays in our communities, not only in
creating works of art and heritage displays that stimulate thought and
imagination, but also in expressing and communicating our societies�
identities. Expressions of culture help all citizens feel at home in
society, help transmit our values to our children and to new immigrants, and
help communities in difficulty overcome their challenges.
Minister Shelley said: "In
this time of rapid change and great uncertainty, culture is the touchstone
that grounds us in our past and gives us confidence to face the future. I
wish to thank all artists and tradition-bearers, who play such an important
role in our society.
"I was very impressed with
what Quebec has accomplished regarding the status of the artist, through
many years of patient and dedicated effort. I look forward to working with
my cabinet colleagues and with the arts community to explore options for
advancing a similar agenda here in Newfoundland and Labrador."
Cultural industries, including
the work of museums and libraries, as well as publishing, television, film,
visual arts, theatre and music, creates almost three-quarters of a million
jobs in Canada and generates over $26 billion in revenues.
"Canadian Heritage Minister
Liza Frulla, as a former Minister of Culture and Communications in the
Province of Quebec, understands and sympathizes with the concerns of
provincial and territorial ministers," said Minister Shelley. "I
am confident that she will be a strong advocate and supporter of her
provincial and territorial colleagues within the federal cabinet."
Media contact: Deirdre Robinson
Greene, Communications, (709) 729-0084; (709) 685-7678
2004 11 02 2:25 p.m. |
||
|
