Federal budget watch 2011

The Ottawa ‘circus’, as many media pundits are calling it will soon be underway, with Tuesday’s federal budget being the main act. This is what The Arts Advocate Report will be watching for from the perspective of the arts and cultural sector:

The details of a new tax credit for children’s artistic activity, a measure announced last week, by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. This initiative will fulfill a promise initially made in the Conservative Party’s 2008 campaign platform.

Whether or not the government responds to any of the pre-budget requests put forward by cultural organizations in the fall. Some of the needs advanced include:

* Extension of the $50 million/year Marquee Tourism Events Program, the marketing assistance program for the country’s largest festivals and events

* Maintenance of the Canada Periodical Fund at a level of $75 million (as contrasted to what the federal government indicates is the base level of about $60 million in the latest federal expenditure estimates)

* New investments in international cultural diplomacy and the Canada Council for the Arts, as requested by the Canadian Arts Coalition

* Continued public support for Canadian content creation, as made possible through programs like the Canada Media Fund, a priority for organizations like ACTRA

* A new initiative for museums, called the Canadians Supporting Their Museums Fund, as put forward at a level of $25 million a year by the Canadian Museum Association

Expectations that any of these funding investments will be addressed are relatively low among those in the cultural sector. The PM and Finance Minister have made it extremely clear that the Economic Action Plan, as announced two years ago, is over and that fiscal restraint will be the order of the day. That said, if the government is looking to curry the favour of artists and cultural enthusiasts in a potential election this spring, the budget may include a few goodies.