Finance committee  We're speaking on behalf of our members and artists, but we would not object to that happening generally.

Finance committee  Sure, and I think that's a bit of a challenge for us, even, when we're trying to define our membership and that kind of thing. One of the suggestions we have is a study that would look at the benefits and the costs of tax reform, and I think one of the criteria set for that is to create a definition of artist in this country.

Finance committee  Absolutely.

Finance committee  We wouldn't object to it. I think artists specifically face a bit of a challenge, especially writers. We might write an article today and submit it, and it might not get published for six months or a year. Then we might not get paid for it for 30, 60, 90 days after publication.

Finance committee  And we would absolutely support that.

Finance committee  We reference the Quebec government as an ideal example of what's already happening. As we are making budget submissions to each of the provinces in their annual budget cycle, these are issues we raise, and we again use the example of Quebec there.

Finance committee  That would apply to almost all artists in Canada these days.

Finance committee  As a former politician, I'd say there is an art to politics for sure. I would say it's people who are deriving an income and a living from arts as opposed to those who are doing it on an amateur basis.

Finance committee  Yes. It could be a standard that you need to be making a certain amount of money, or it could be that it's your primary source of income or your only source of income, but it would include visual artists, dance artists, musicians, actors.

Finance committee  We're not opposed to it being extended to other self-employed people. I think there's a challenge that exists when you are a self-employed worker and trying to survive, especially in today's economy, looking at what's happening even with—

Finance committee  Professional.

Finance committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. My name is Tanya Gulliver, and I'm the president of the Professional Writers Association of Canada. PWAC was established in 1976 and represents over 650 freelance writers and journalists across Canada. In 1982 the Applebaum-Hébert report said that “the largest subsidy to the cultural life of Canada comes not from governments, corporations or other patrons, but from the artists themselves, through their unpaid or under paid labour”.