Mr. Speaker, it is fair to say that yesterday's budget is uncultured. The minister made no effort to even pretend Canadian culture is a priority. In fact the budget hurts arts in the country.
By not renewing $60 million in CBC funding, our national public broadcaster will have to cut television and radio production in both official languages. Fewer Canadian stories will be told because the CBC is the primary producer of distinctly Canadian television and radio.
By reducing the federal commitment to the Canadian television fund while increasing the film and video tax credit for foreign production, he is shifting public support from Canadian stories to Hollywood productions.
The promise of only $10 million per year to preserve our thousands of historic properties is a travesty and an insult. Our nation's soul needs a strong public broadcaster and well funded culture support to flourish.
The budget reaches a new low in Liberal cultural policies. We now not only see a policy of indifference but one of active neglect. Our nation and our creators deserve better.