First and foremost, let me say that arts and culture in Canada really do contribute to how we feel about being Canadian. We are proud to be Canadian, because we have arts and culture that is very different from that of other countries in the world. It actually makes our country the absolute best country in the world.
We have a variety of programs to assist in celebrating arts and culture. I know that many of you are familiar with some of them. But let me remind the committee of some of the ones I am particularly proud of.
For example, we support festivals across the country. In fact, I'm sure many of you are familiar with the festivals in your own ridings. I look to Monsieur Nantel, who has the Marché de Noël & des Traditions de Longueuil, 2013, qui s'en vient. Festivals really do allow us, at the local level, to celebrate our local culture. They allow us to bring our local artists to the forefront and celebrate their talents.
We also, of course, have a number of other programs in the way of grants. We provide almost 9,000 grants and contributions through the Department of Canadian Heritage, and we get probably 15,000 requests every year.
The Canada Council for the Arts, as well, does a fantastic job as creators and as experts. They choose the artists who they sponsor and provide funding to. They, themselves, have been able to provide approximately 6,000 different grants through the $180 million that we provide them each and every year. I might add that this $180 million is the highest level of funding the Canada Council for the Arts has ever seen. So we're very proud that we have maintained that. Even through a very tough and fragile economic time, we are in fact the only G-7 country that was able to maintain direct funding, like the funding we provide through the Canada Council for the Arts, to artists.
The literary awards were also held yesterday. I'm particularly proud of the 14 recipients. The Canada book fund, actually, provided funding to 10 of the 14 literary award winners yesterday.
We are making a difference. We are able to contribute in a meaningful way to arts and culture so that we can celebrate this wonderful country. I hope to continue the work of Minister Moore, who did a very, very good job before I arrived. I'll need your help, so I appreciate that.