Mr. Chair, the government claims to be a strong supporter of the arts. The minister is in control of the budget for this industry and this ministry. In light of the $9 billion surplus that the government has accumulated this year, why can the minister not protect the arts and creators from 5% funding cuts?
Just this weekend in Montreal the minister confirmed that the federal government will be asking all of the main cultural agencies to look at ways of reducing their budgets by 5%, including the CBC, Telefilm and the National Film Board.
It is time for the minister to do more for the arts community than tour around the country professing support for the arts. It is time for her to work to protect this important segment of our country from 5% cuts across the board. Actions do speak louder than words. If the government really supports the arts, these agencies should be exempt and I ask the minister, why are they not?