Thank you very much. It's a pleasure, Mr. Chair, and all the honourable members.
One of the distinct features of Canada is that we are not focused solely on material gain but on quality of life for both our own citizens and those in other countries. We are a reflective people who embrace understanding. This understanding of ourselves and our world comes from an understanding and respect for culture and how that shapes the individual and society.
The difficulty that has arisen in identifying ways to support this industry has come from trying to look at it through the lens of for-profit business. Profit is not what drives culture. It is necessary to make that shift in focus in order to build a support network that will address the needs of the citizens who work in this industry. Our culture is a growing industry, both within the country and abroad. As the nation continues to grow both in population and richness of culture, it's important to make sure this growth is supported and nurtured wisely.
The very nature of culture is that it's not fixed in stone. Therefore, when you look to citizens who are ready, willing, and able to adapt to growth and change, you need only look at the artists and cultural workers of our country. They have much experience and understanding about being proactive, flexible, and dedicated. Now they are looking to the federal government to think proactively and flexibly to enable them to reach their full potential, a potential that will affect not only each of them but all Canadians everywhere.
We would like to take this opportunity to encourage the federal government to consider and implement federal programs and tax incentives that support the growth of the social economy. Status of the artist legislation is something that the federal government is currently addressing, but immediate action can be taken through tax benefits for those citizens.
Furthermore, we would like to request that the federal government work specifically to address funding programs that would provide core support for the not-for-profit grassroots associations, which are the main infrastructure of the cultural industry.
Thank you very much.