Thank you very much for the question.
Our government made a clear choice, which was to invest in arts and culture, and it did so for several reasons.
First of all, in my opening remarks, I noted the sector’s importance for Canada’s economy. In fact, the economic spinoffs are more significant for the country than agriculture and the entire oil sector combined. We’re talking about hundreds of thousands of jobs all over the country. They are good jobs. They help families feed and house themselves. It’s one of the reasons why the government is investing in the arts and culture sector.
However, on a more fundamental level, we know full well that stories are, among other things, what connect communities and create social cohesion throughout our country. It’s what we tell ourselves about ourselves and for ourselves.
It’s fundamental for a democratic country. It’s essential not only to have information and news, but also to be able to count on a strong cultural sector that helps communities come together and share who they are. It’s important to be aware of that, especially in a digital universe where competition is ever more fierce, and where people have access, more often than not, to English-language content from the United States, our neighbour to the south.
It is even more important for a country that believes in itself, that has confidence in itself, to invest in its artisans, in its stories, in art and in culture.