In the room with us today are many people from across Canada, but a lot of people here are involved in the small museums in Ottawa. About a year ago, the City of Ottawa threatened to cut down and close many of these institutions, similar to Abbotsford. Citizens spoke out, with rallies and demonstrations and petitions and all of that.
That's part of a process by which politicians start appreciating that culture is not a frill. It is not something that can be dispensed with. It is not an asset that can be auctioned off. It's something we have and we're going to lose.
I think there's an important message there. We've had the same thing happen in London, Ontario, and many other places. Our sector has simply been neglected. In other areas there have been investments in the performing arts, which are wonderful things. There have been investments in infrastructure and bridges and so on. But the area of culture and heritage is fundamental, is part of our daily lives, and we as a society need to start giving it just a little bit more. We're being very modest in what we're asking for, and we've been asking for quite a long time.