Good afternoon.
On behalf of the Fédération nationale des communications et de la culture, which is a Quebec organization, I am very pleased to accept this invitation to speak about the recovery of the culture sector.
The first thing we can say about the impact of the pandemic on the arts and culture sector is that it has been—and still is—among the most heavily impacted sectors. By November 2021, economic activity in that sector in Canada was 23% lower than it was before the pandemic. In contrast, other economic sectors have surpassed their February 2020 levels.
We can only conclude that, despite coming out of lockdown over the summer and fall, it has been very difficult for the sector to get back on its feet despite favourable macroeconomic conditions. Workers and artists in these fields are in such a state of uncertainty financially and about their future prospects that many are simply dropping out and disengaging. It is very important to remember this.
This environment may seem appealing to the uninitiated, but in reality, approximately 80% of artists and craftspeople in the arts and culture sectors were living below the low-income cut-off for a single person in Quebec in 2019. We are talking about $24,200 and about $21,500 for artists, according to Statistics Canada.
Imagine now what the conditions generated by the pandemic and the almost complete shutdown of activities in some of these sectors could have done to these workers, whose precarious situation is clearly evident. This is one of the sectors where the social net is particularly light, if not non-existent. We are talking about limited employment insurance rights, random pension funds and minimal group insurance. The waves of lockdown have reduced the living arts of theatre, dance, concerts and popular music to a trickle. They have also put a strain on venues, festivals and the entire ecosystem that goes with them.
Other creators, such as male and female writers, who derive a significant portion of their income from participation in book fairs, have been deprived of this income. Screenwriters have seen some of their projects put on hold. Musicians have lost access to the important source of income from conventions and other corporate events that are held in their presence.
A study that we launched in March 2021 among the main artists' associations in Quebec also shows, without question, according to recognized markers, that the proportion of artists and creators who display high and very high levels of psychological distress is greater than in the general Quebec population. In addition, for 72% of respondents, this psychological distress is entirely or partially associated with the pandemic.
Many cultural workers have left their field of practice in the past two years. At the time of our survey in March 2021, 41% had considered or were considering leaving their careers. They were out of breath and out of resources.
In short, the culture sector has been hit hard by the pandemic. To recover, it will need special attention and a strong will, including a strong political will.
It is clear that the recovery will not be easy, as it will require work on several fronts.
We must first undertake important work to revalue these sectors. First and foremost, we must enhance the image and value of the work of artists, craftspeople and creators, who are the raw material of all culture, before the industry itself; we must restore a taste for practice; we must create better conditions and protections—governments must send a clear message to this effect; and we must let it be known that they are one of our society's most precious assets, because they make us different and unique, enrich us collectively and are the most faithful mirror of our aspirations.
They need to be supported as individuals and as a distinctive sector within specific, well-promoted programs, which is very important, and to have easy access to these programs, which is doubly important. This must be done through consistent accountability that ensures that the public funds invested reach the creators' pockets, which is not always the case.
In 2021, the government announced the establishment of the Recovery Fund for Arts, Culture, Heritage, and Sport Sectors. The $300 million in funding for this program was allocated through existing organizations and programs.
We believe that these initiatives must continue and that massive funding must be injected into them. We are talking about the Telefilm Canada Recovery Fund and Re-opening Fund; the Canada Arts Presentation Fund; the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage Program; the Museums Assistance Program; the Support for Workers in Live Arts and Music Sectors Fund; and the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit.
In fact, cultural workers need...