Finance committee  They are, very much. Luckily, here in Newfoundland we have a very supportive premier and a very supportive government for the arts, but we don't federally. We'd love to see more federal support.

Finance committee  Tax opportunities for investment would be great. What we're looking for is tax breaks for artists. They're self-employed, and oftentimes because of the nature of their work the tax becomes quite difficult. Talk about low-income Canadians. You really have to show support.

Finance committee  Oh, it is a request for money, but it's a request for investment in the social economy. It's a huge request, because it requires a new way of thinking. There have been cuts to museums, there have been cuts left, right, and centre in the social economy and the voluntary sector. Th

Finance committee  I can't give you an exact amount, because it depends on the programs per subsector. If you wanted to look at the Canada Council for the Arts, for example, we would like to see that increased to five dollars a head per person per capita.

Finance committee  That request remains the same, absolutely. That's to be very specific. What I'm asking for is quite broad, because it's a new way of thinking. To give you an example, I've got a degree from university, a master's equivalent; I've got two national awards and have trained with th

Finance committee  I'm definitely not the only one. That's what I'm saying; I represent thousands of people in Newfoundland and across Canada. This is what I'm saying. Look at my face; I am trying to say that I'm one of so many people.

Finance committee  No.

Finance committee  That there shouldn't be a cut to the literacy program is my main comment on that.

Finance committee  In Newfoundland and Labrador we are at a time when our investments in education are growing, but our literacy rate is really low. Cutting these programs has the greatest effect on people of my generation and a bit older. The young people coming up are not as affected. They have a

Finance committee  I can only speak personally. I can't speak for my organization on that. In Newfoundland we were paying 15% with the HST, and now we're down to 14%. Why not pay 15% again to have all the programs back that we've lost and to get more?

Finance committee  That's only me, not my organization.

Finance committee  I'm not actually sure how the funding works for the libraries in Newfoundland. I speak to that because, to me, it is a symptom of a larger fear that we in the sector have of the social economy not being supported and grown as it could be. So when you have no access as a people, e

Finance committee  Actually, there aren't any for the social economy through ACOA. On their website, if you go to HRDC, which I've done, it tracks you down to go to ACOA. You go to ACOA and there's nothing there for the social economy. So that is one of the main places we'd like to see it. Furthe

Finance committee  We see it as positive, for sure. It hasn't made a big impact in Newfoundland yet. Corporate investment is really low in Newfoundland, as opposed to other provinces, especially in the arts. It's very difficult to develop those relationships.

Finance committee  Thank you very much. It's a pleasure, Mr. Chair, and all the honourable members. One of the distinct features of Canada is that we are not focused solely on material gain but on quality of life for both our own citizens and those in other countries. We are a reflective people wh