If I were more of a cynic, I’d think that Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s latest election promise today, a tax credit for children’s artistic activities, is aimed more at competing with the NDP’s latest election promise than at rectifying his recent anti-arts and culture words and deeds:
Speaking in Ottawa, Harper said the Conservatives would extend the new credit worth an estimated $150 million a year to lower-income families, along with the existing children’s fitness tax credit.
The credit will apply on up to $500 of eligible fees for children under 16 who participate in eligible arts activities, he said. ..
The move comes as the Conservatives have faced intense criticism, especially in Quebec, over a decision to cut up to $45 million in federal funding for numerous arts programs ahead of the Oct. 14 federal election. ..
“Today’s announcement shows once again, as I’ve been saying, that this government, in fact, does support culture and arts,” Harper told reporters.
“We spend a lot more on culture and arts, but we do so in a way that we ensure is an effective use of taxpayers’ money and ultimately, in this case, benefits families and all of society as well.
I suppose the lesson is to make the most of those music, drama, and drawing lessons, kids, because once you hit the age of 16, the Canadian government is no longer interested in your artistic pursuits. Better yet, keep up with those no-tax-credit French lessons and you can move to France.
Filed under: Art & Culture, Canadiana, Current Events
A great argument for funding the arts, as support to the economy can be found on Steph’s blog The Yarn Harlot: http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2008/09/28/dear_mr_harper.html
As she says, who knew the arts were an industry? Certainly not Mr. Harper. And sadly, Mr. Layton is so focused on the old heavily unionised industries like car manufacturing that I’m not sure he’s noticed either. Of course Equity is a union of some note…
(BTW, the bottom of Steph’s post has some explanation for non-Canadians.)
Thanks, JoVE, I meant to post the link at the end but got distracted (story of my life).