Absolutely.
Originally the program was supposed to last two years, but actually it took almost a year to set up and six or eight months for responses to be provided. So for events and festivals, there is only one edition left. What we are asking you to do is to extend the program by one year, which can be done at zero cost. Of course, if you can add resources and extend it financially, we suggest that you do so. You could also make the program more accessible and thereby significantly increase its impact.
Generally speaking, I hear people calling for an end to income support measures. I've heard that here too. I want to stress the importance of supporting the cultural and tourism sectors and the people who work in them. This support is essential. There is no magic wand that turns directors and actors into nurses or personal support workers. It doesn't happen overnight.
I therefore stress the importance of these measures and the importance, by the same token, of retaining expertise in the performing arts sectors, because once the pandemic is over, we're going to want to have resources and trained people so that we can finally return to a normal cultural life in Canada.