Mr. Speaker, on March 31 the minister of public works announced federal financial support for the Harbourfront Centre would be $6 million for the current fiscal year. He made no further commitments for subsequent years. In light of this announcement the Harbourfront board decided to close the facility on September 15.
Greater Toronto area MPs met on Tuesday night and reaffirmed their commitment to the centre, which is a vital cultural asset benefiting the region.
Area MPs are united in their determination to work for stable, multi-year base funding or identify alternative funding sources to secure Harbourfront's future. Area MPs have worked to obtain a significant level of funding for this year, in spite of tight fiscal constraints, and we will continue to work for the centre's future.
We regret the board's decision to close on the 15th. We had hoped it would have taken more time to explore other funding sources or secured the participation of new directors prepared to keep the centre open on a reduced budget.
The people of Canada would be poorer for the demise of centres like Harbourfront, but the people of Canada have also demanded that we get our fiscal house in order. Regrettably this means that Harbourfront and other important institutions and programs will have to learn to live with less financial support than in the past.