Canadian Heritage committee  As an example on a much smaller scale, in Toronto there's an organization called “Toronto Studio Commons”. It's basically a way for organizations in our line of work to provide either studio space or visual arts space for production or for an exhibition of work. It's a way for us

Canadian Heritage committee  The recommendation we were making was actually to foster relationships among organizations that are in this line of work with cultural hubs. For instance, we're meeting these fine folks today, but without anything to really foster a relationship, or without someone taking the ini

Canadian Heritage committee  That's right.

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes.

Canadian Heritage committee  That makes sense. We're just pointing out some of the issues that we see with what has already been done.

Canadian Heritage committee  Also, as you've alluded to, there has already been some sort of backlash from other sectors. For instance, those working in social welfare have pointed it out and have said, “Hey, how can you just give this property tax break for artists and creatives and not for us and the impor

Canadian Heritage committee  I was referring to the creative co-location tax subclass, which was created at the provincial level. I'm not sure whether it was rolled out fully in Ontario, but it was in Toronto. They set it so that it began January 1. In that example, property owners who own buildings that f

Canadian Heritage committee  I don't have any specific examples, but in terms of structures that might be of interest, co-ops could be worth investigating more. That's something we've started to do on our end very recently.

Canadian Heritage committee  How can cultural hubs and organizations such as Akin be supported at the federal level? By changing the rules and focusing on leasing incentives, questioning tax benefits, and facilitating access to unused government-owned property. We have three suggestions for serious consider