Mr. Speaker, it would be better if the member at least pretended he believed in what he was reading. That way we could perhaps all feel a little more enthusiastic than we do.
To say that the tax exemption provided in the budget or to try to indicate that it would be directed to arts is rather misleading. There are 160,000 charities and non-profit organizations that could benefit from that. It is very obvious that it is not all going to go to the arts and the government is walking away.
As a matter of fact, to continue on this, Richard Bradshaw of the Canadian Opera Company said:
This is a scandal...They've shrunk $300 million to $50 million. When will Canada grow up and realize that the arts are central to the health of the whole society?
We have only $50 million for the Canada Council, instead of the $300 million that was insinuated during the campaign. We have $250 million for prisons and a billion dollars to arm border agents. There is no additional money for the CBC/Société Radio-Canada, nothing for the Canadian Television Fund and the government has shrunk $300 million to $50 million only for the Canada Arts Council. That is not being very supportive of the arts.