Mr. Speaker, today we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Canada Council for the Arts, Canada's national arts funding agency.
The Canada Council has given Canadians access to their own stories through the imagination and creativity of artisan creators across the country.
Canada's new government recognizes the vital role that arts play in enriching the lives of Canadians and their communities. That is why in our very first budget the government was proud to include $50 million in additional funding over two years for the Canada Council for the Arts. We believe in the contribution that our artists and creators make to our country and want to ensure that adequate support for the arts is realized through both private and public collaboration.
The Canada Council has been a real success story, one that Canada's new government will continue to champion and support.
I ask all members to please join me in congratulating the Canada Council for the Arts on reaching this important milestone.