Cuts to Specialized Music Grants --- PETITION

James Moore and Harper's ofice have made yet another ill-informed cut to the arts. And once again, this one cuts at the knees.

In what is becoming a trend in cultural funding decisions, this cut was made without any consultation with the cultural community to determine whether it is shortsighted, which it is. Grants for Specialized Music Sound Recording and Grants for Specialized Music Distribution fund non commercial/musically adventurous recordings made in Canada.

Art cannot always be quantified in pecuniary terms. Innovation breaks new ground, expanding the conceptual territory from which pop/commercially viable music mines its "new", and ultimately popular sounds. Non-commercial musicians lay the groundwork for the eventual norm. This exchange is centuries-old.

As is widely recognized, art makes people smarter, more efficient, more adaptable, more creative... Canada's cultural activity generates an active and fertile economy, and influences the overall economy in ways which are indisputable and extensive. These facts are fully documented. Every walk of Canadian life is enriched by the innovations of Canada's commercially "nonviable" artists, whether the masses know/appreciate it or not.

Etcetera etcetera...

I just returned from the United States of America, where I observed - first hand and in multiple contexts - the collective celebration and support of art and innovation. Who would have thought that we might find ourselves looking southward in envy.

What does Stephen "Piano Man" Harper have against artists and the making of art? What's his plan?

If our voices are loud and strong enough, we can stop the flagrant unravelling of our social fabric, the blurring of our cultural identity, the walmartification of our very Canadianness. No Culture = No Canada.

Read the petition, and sign your name if you are concerned.

http://www.petitiononlinecom/a6y3L9eR/

Thanks as always for your consideration, and for allowing this intrusion.
- RC

++++++++++++++++++

You can stop there, but if you want to know more, and/or hear what others are thinking -
RC has offers...

• a note about the cuts from Russell Kelly (head of music), and program information from the Canada Council. This explains the context in which this musical activity takes place.
• quotes from fellow signatories
• media reports

(all without permission, but with respect)

++++++++++++++++++

From the Canada Council website:

On July 31, 2009, the Department of Canadian Heritage (PCH) announced that, as of April 1, 2010, the $1.3 million administered by the Canada Council for the Arts under the Canadian Musical Diversity Component of the Canada Music Fund on behalf of PCH since 2001 will be reallocated to the redesigned Canada Music Fund. As a result, the Canada Council Grants for Specialized Music Sound Recording and Grants for Specialized Music Distribution programs will no longer exist as of April 1, 2010.

The Music Section of the Canada Council for the Arts had been administering recording funds on behalf of PCH since the late 1980’s. This funding has benefited numerous artists, ensembles and groups and produced many recordings of artistic and cultural significance. The distribution function was added in 2002 and assisted specialized music labels and distributors to promote their catalogues.

The October 1, 2009, deadline will be the last deadline for the Canada Council Grants for Specialized Music Sound Recording program. All eligibility criteria will apply as usual. The final deadline for the Grants for Specialized Music Distribution program was May 15, 2009.

Russell Kelley
Head, Music
Canada Council for the Arts
10 September 2009

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Grants for Specialized Music Sound Recording and Grants for Specialized Music Distribution:

The Canada Council for the Arts administers this program on behalf of the Department of Canadian Heritage. Funds for this program are provided by the Canadian Musical Diversity Program of the Canada Music Fund.

This program supports the recording of Canadian “specialized music” by Canadian artists, ensembles, bands, record companies and independent producers. Its purpose is to ensure that a diversity of artistically driven Canadian music is produced and is available to the public.

Not all forms of music are eligible for support from this program.

“Specialized music” is defined as music whose intent or content is not shaped by the desire for wide market appeal—instead, it places creativity, self-expression or experimentation above the demands and format expectations of the mainstream recording industry. Specialized music has significance beyond being just entertainment, and it is usually found in the parallel market and alternative distribution systems.

Specialized music is primarily artistic in intent. It is understood that the definition of specialized music is changeable, depending on current public tastes and the resulting market share of various musical genres. Therefore, forms of music eligible for support through this program may change over time.

Eligible practices include, but are not limited to:

• contemporary Canadian composition or songwriting in classical music of any world culture, new music (as defined in the Music Section’s New Music Program), jazz and musique actuelle, electroacoustic, folk, world music, and Canadian Aboriginal music
• original interpretations of traditional music, where the applicant is significantly interpreting or arranging existing works
• fusion of specialized music and spoken word, where the music is as or more important than the text.
  

Individual applicants must have completed their basic training and be recognized as professional artists by other artists working in the same artistic tradition. They should also have demonstrated commitment to the development of their craft and career through ongoing career activity, and have a history of public presentation of at least three years. Basic training may include training provided by a post-secondary academic institution, and may also include mentorships, private instruction, workshops, and periods of self-study.

Ensembles, groups and bands must be made up of professional artists.

Managers or agents applying on behalf of an artist or ensemble, group or band must provide evidence of authorization to submit the application, such as a letter of agreement or management contract. Leaders of ensembles, groups or bands are not required to submit evidence of authorization.

Record companies applying on behalf of artists must submit copies of articles of incorporation as well as letters of agreement or contracts with the artist they plan to record. The letters or contracts must indicate royalty arrangements and contractual details.

This Canada Council for the Arts program is accessible to Aboriginal artists and artists of diverse cultural and regional communities of Canada.

Individual artists and ensembles may submit only one application under their own name to this program per fiscal year (1 April to 31 March). Record companies and independent producers may submit more than one application per year, but they may apply on behalf a particular artist only once per year. Please note that applications by record companies or producers on behalf of artists or ensembles that have already applied in a given fiscal year will be disqualified.

Ineligible Applicants
Non-Canadian artists or entities may not benefit directly from this program. Projects including non-Canadian artists may be eligible for this program if the majority of artists in the project are Canadian and a Canadian artist provides the artistic leadership. However, costs related to the participation of non-Canadians are not eligible expenses and should be reported separately from the budget, on a separate sheet of paper.

At least 50 percent of the running time of the proposed recording project must be Canadian-composed music or Canadian interpretations of traditional music.

All elements of the project, from recording to manufacturing to launch, must take place in Canada. If the album is released through a label, the label must be at least 51 percent Canadian-owned.

Music that is created to meet current market expectations and for which an established music industry infrastructure exists are ineligible for support through this program. Ineligible music currently includes such genres as:

• pop, rock, heavy metal, country, adult contemporary and new age
• urban music, including rap, r & b, soul, new soul, hip hop, garage, soca and reggae
• electronica, including house, techno, down tempo, commercial dance, drum and bass, electro, jungle, ambient and trance
• commercial forms of folk, jazz, world music, Aboriginal music, children’s music, classical music and gospel.

Recordings created as fundraising projects are not eligible for support from this program.

This program funds the following types of costs:

• recording costs, including studio expenses and artistic fees for the principal performers, producer and guest artists
• production costs, including editing, mixing and mastering
• post-production costs, including package design, liner notes and artwork
• manufacture of 1,000 units
• some initial marketing expenses.

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I strongly disagree with your decision to cut funding from the Canada Council (CAC), even if you plan to reallocate the money to other institutions. Support for creative artists is vital to the culture of Canada. The CAC is best suited to administer programs such as the Recording Grant for Specialised Music because it is focused on supporting art, not commerce. Other institutions, such as FACTOR, primarily serve the commercial music industry and cannot provide the function of meeting the needs of artists. Please reconsider your decision to reallocate this funding and reinstate the current program.

Nothing good comes without artistic creation -- it is the lifeblood that fuels the curious explorers within a progressive society. To deny any part of artistic discovery is to slow the blood to the heart of a progressive and healthy society and environment. To deny it, in our particular case, will eventually decimate the uniqueness of Canadianism.

This, from June 26, 2009: "The cultural sector needs stability in this time of economic uncertainty. With ongoing investments by our Government, artists and arts organizations can plan their activities for the longer term and continue to create, produce, and present innovative works that will make Canadians proud," said Minister Moore... Is this irony, or just this Government's interminable mendacity?

This bill will kill small music production at the root where our unique Canadian voice is developed. I strongly disagree with this legislation.

Misters Moore and Harper, what is it that you have against the Arts and Canadians?

I am a jazz enthusiast and much of the music I purchase has been supported by Canadian Recording Arts Grants. The artistic community in Canada is extremely rich and diverse; it is elements such as this that make me proud to be Canadian. It pains me to know that our government does not want to support the cornucopia of talent that Canada is blessed with.

Just for a minute, Mr. Minister, imagine your world without music, paintings, movies, live shows or TV entertainment by singers, actors, musicians, dancers, writers. Then you might understand why Canada has to give more financial support to the Arts Council and its artistic community in general.

Home grown music is essential to the survival of our culture. Do not cut this grant, my vote depends on it.

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By phum Tue, Sep 8 2009
Jazzblog.ca

As this Vancouver Sun story relates, the Canada Council's grants for Specialized Music Sound Recording and Specialized Music Sound Distribution will cease to exist in April 2010.

The long-standing programs provide more than $1 million annually in support of:

• contemporary Canadian composition or songwriting in classical music of any world culture, new music (as defined in the Music Section’s New Music Program), jazz and musique actuelle, electroacoustic, folk, world music, and Canadian Aboriginal music
• original interpretations of traditional music, where the applicant is significantly interpreting or arranging existing works
• fusion of specialized music and spoken word, where the music is as or more important than the text.

In recent years, with respect to jazz, between 30 and 40 recordings would be funded annually. Most received grants ranging between $10,000 and $20,000. I must disclose that this year, I applied for a Council grant for sound recording, but did not receive one.

Jazz musicians who have recently received recording grants include Toronto saxophonist Jane Bunnett, Toronto bassist Brandi Disterheft (both have won Junos for their discs), Ottawa drummer Mike Essoudry, and Vancouver pianist Amanda Tosoff. Small record labels have also benefitted from the program, including the Vancouver-based label, Songlines.

The elimination of the grants was in fact made public July 31, when Heritage Minister James Moore announced that the Canada Music Fund would be restructured. According to this CBC story, the CMF's value is to increase, with its other components increasing while the Canadian Musical Diversity program is axed.

Moore's spokeswoman Stephanie Rea told the Vancouver Sun that the restructuring is “just a streamlining of everything. We are giving more access through this fund for digital market development, international market development and expanded eligibility for small entrepreneurial artists and labels. This will promote innovation and [create] more business opportunities online and internationally.”

However, those who have benefitted from the the Specialized Music Sound Recording program contend that the restructuring is simply another blow to the arts from the Harper government. There was much hubbub on Facebook this weekend, from jazz musicians across the country:

Montreal drummer and bandleader Thom Gossage wrote:

"The latest move by the Harper government (to eliminate the Canada Council specialized sound recording grant) only confirms the most cynical view of his lack of understanding and open disdain for the arts, in this case music.

"The Canada Council mandate encourages art from a broad spectrum of styles and regions of the country, it bases its criterion [sic] for acceptance not solely on commercial guidelines but more importantly on the quality of the applicants, producing work that is internationally respected.

"The fact that funds will be re-directed to digital distribution is an insult to the intelligence of everyone in this country. How can you promote music online if it hasn't been recordedin the first place. Specialized sound recording enables a broad spectrum of music to be represented of a high standard, it allows musicians to sell their music at shows and it also allows for the minimal cost of digital distribution."

Winnipeg pianist Michelle Gregoire commented:

"Specialized recordings make the entire industry grow. Quality, artistry, diversity affects commercial music just as well."

Canadian saxophonist/composer Christine Jensen wrote:

"It is a minute amount of money in the grand scheme of Canadian tax $$'s. This whole cut goes against the Canada Council mandate. They try to cover it up by saying they will support int'l touring. how the heck are you going to tour without a quality recording representing artistic excellence? (the whole thing stinks and reminds me of that survey CC ... Read Morehad us do a while back). I can't talk to badly of FACTOR as they have supported my work, but it is a completely different system based on marketing. Creative music has a hard time fitting their bill. Time to rally and protest..."

Montreal bassist Patrick Reid feels the same way, as you'll see from the e-mail that he sent to me and many others yesterday:

The Canada Council's recording grant program has been cut ... This is incredibly saddening and disheartening news for the creative arts in Canada and its supporters. The majority of Canada's library of creative music was made possible by this program and the future of its production of new creative music is uncertain at best. Small record labels and non-profits that work relentlessly to distribute our creative outputs will have an incredibly difficult time surviving without it.

This program was the main way that artistically motivated/non-commercial recordings were possible in Canada. Recordings are the only way for musicians to document their work and now this will no longer be supported by the only federal organization that promotes art for art's sake in Canada. This is by far the largest blow to music that has taken place since the Conservative regime started their crusade against Canadian culture. This news went completely under the radar mid-summer and I only began to here about it as a scary rumour last week. Unfortunately it is very true. Aside from money that was cut from this program, even more funding from the Canada Council is being redirected into the more commercially driven sectors of music listed below. Where that money will go is ambiguous at best.

Hopefully, now that the word is spreading there will be a major protest. Unfortunately, as history demonstrates, once a program is cut it is far more difficult to have it reinstated. It will take a huge collective effort from artists, supporters, press, entrepreneurs and others combined to give us a fighting chance. With a possible impending election this fall, now would be the most opportune time to create a national uproar.

This e-mail is my initial and immediate reaction to get the ball rolling. I will be on this trying to collect the masses in all the ways that I can but please spread the word far and wide. Thanks.

Yours truly,
Patrick Reid

UPDATE: I just cracked open my mail, which brought two CDs bearing the logo of the Canada Council for the Arts' insignia: Amor, from singer Amanda Martinez, and The Breathing of Statues from Gordon Grdina's East Van Strings, on the Songlines label.

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By phum Tue, Sep 15 2009 Jazzblog.ca

An online petition has just sprouted up to protest the cancellation of the Canada Council for the Arts' grants in support of jazz, folk, world, and Aboriginal music recordings. (I wrote about the axing of the $1.3 million Canadian Music Diversity Fund here.)

I've checked the petition a few times this morning, and seen it grow from 587 names to 800 in less than two hours. I recognize more than a few of the signatories, including Ottawa drummers Jesse Stewart and Rory McGill; pianists David Ryshpan, Ali Berkok, John Sadowy and Steve Holt; drummers Jerry Granelli, Jonathan McCaslin, Nick Fraser, Bernie Arai and Barry Romberg; saxophonists from across the country including Kelly Jefferson, Steve Kaldestad and Evan Arntzen. I could go on and on.

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Some signers have also included their comments. They include:

Roberto Occchipinti
A misguided, idealogy driven decision. The governments's own study shows a return of a ratio of 2 to 1 for every dollar invested in the arts. This is one of the few programs that the artist receives the funds directly by a jury of peers. What is the rationale for cutting the program ?

Tara Davidson
This recording grant is vital and necessary to facilitate the production of non-commercial Canadian music. Numerous recordings made through the funding of this grant were JUNO nominated or winning recordings. If these non-commercial genres of music (and let's face it, that's most everything besides rock and pop) do not have funding opportunities, the music and the community will suffer. The consequences of this are enormous. It affects a broad community of people and this ripples outwards to the popular music community as well. Culture in this country is suffering at the hands of short-sighted and uninformed government cuts.

Jesse Zubot
arts & culture is the basis to our society. Without this grant only commercial music will exist in Canada. Canada will become a laughing stock on the international scene for arts. Music is medicine. If only commercial is being made, that will be the same as only harmful pharmaceutical drugs existing to heal. Creative music should be looked at in the same vein as herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage therapy and other natural forms of healing. Can you imagine the world without classical music. Well that was the creative music of it's time, when it was developed.... Without this grant no new forms of music will be created in Canada and we will become closer and closer to only having candy coated formula product by the likes of Nickelback, Shania Twain, Hedley and others existing in this country. What a depressed nation we would be.

Jordan O'Connor
Artists are not the enemy and Art is not the problem. Why do we let politicians gut cultural programs when they are duty bound to affirm all citizens and promote diversity of expression? It is not their job to treat “culture” as a political schism, pitting people against one another in a clandestine attempt to split ridings and “win” elections. And it is not their job to limit the capacity of the business of Art at any stage, in research and development right through to the final product. This is business, period. Tens of thousands of people are employed, directly and indirectly across the country as a result of the work by Artists. So the decision to further cut funding to the Arts is a condemnation of small business, which is what we artists are, small business people. And when we are asked, what is Canadian culture we will say, culture isn’t something we fund and it isn’t something we grow and develop as a nation, rather it’s something we import.

Yvette Tollar
Cutting this specific program is a direct attack on the jugular of the independent music industry. I fear it is just the beginning of a series of sucker punches that will cripple Canada's beautiful and vibrant musical landscape that has been nurtured so carefully by the Canada Council since the late 1980's. Artists who record aboriginal music, jazz, children's, world music and folk are just some of the genres who will be left with little or no chance at funding. Leaving artists with no CD's will mean hardship for 1000's of Canadians whose livelihood depends on music festivals, and tourism that so often revolve around the music that has been attacked by this ultra conservative + uncultured government. What a terrible lack of foresight.

John Sadowy
The Recording Grant for Specialized Music is vital to preserving and promoting diversity on the Canadian artistic landscape. Cutting this program will effectively silence countless unique Canadian voices. Our country's place in the global artistic community is at stake, as are the livelihoods of the thousands of individuals at various levels of artistic production. The decision to cut this program was extremely short-sighted and misguided. I urge you to reinstate the Recording Grant for Specialized Music.

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Moore restructuring Canada Music Fund
Friday, July 31, 2009
CBC News

Heritage Minister James Moore has announced an increase in the Canada Music Fund, the federal government's main fund to support the music industry, but changes are coming in the way the fund distributes its money.

Two programs have been eliminated but the five remaining programs will see more money under the new plan, announced in Montreal on Friday. Moore said the changes will direct more money to digital platforms, but he could provide few details.

Its funding will be increased by $9.85 million annually to $27.6 million a year until 2014, he said.

"We are also ensuring that a wide variety of Canadian music is accessible on multiple platforms, increasing the reach of our artists both in Canada and abroad," Moore said in a statement.

The programs eliminated were:

• Canadian Musical Diversity: This fund, administered through the Canada Council for the arts, went to indie music makers under a sound recording program and a specialized music distribution program.
• Support to Sector Associations: This program, administered by Canadian Heritage, provided up to $250,000 annually to industry associations

The musical diversity program distributes about $1.35 million annually, mainly to artists who kept control of their own copyright, and some of that funding has been redirected.

The new program areas include:

• $900,000 for digital market development, in a fund aimed at music entrepreneurs and businesses.
• $500,000 for international market development, which will support international showcases that help Canada artists make international connection

Canadian musicians could be expected to welcome news of the international development program since they were among the artists hurt by last year's cancellation of PromArt, which provided grants so emerging artists could tour.

Expanding eligibility to professionals, such as managers and distributors who work in digital technologies, seems to be among the thrusts of the new development.

The Canadian Music Fund will continue to fund existing programs administered by:

• FACTOR: the Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent On Recordings, an independent organization that provides grants for new Canadian artists to tour and record.
• SOCAN: Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada, which provides grants for cultural festivals and new works.
• MusicAction Foundation: a non-profit organization that supports the marketing and promotion of francophone music.

The announcement from Canadian Heritage did not say how the money would be distributed among the five programs remaining under the fund. Calls to the ministers office seeking clarification were not returned.

The changes take effect in April 2010.

Messages from Allies

More from Anyonebutharper.ca (from a few days ago, but still very relevant!)

VIDEO
Just one today, and it's a big one. This is the video for "You Have A Choice"

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=slnN3GMy7Nc

by K-OS, Ed Robertson of the Barenaked Ladies, Ben Kowalewicz of Billy Talent, Adam Gontier of Three Days Grace, Sarah Harmer, Hawksley Workman, Jason Collett of Broken Social Scene, Darren Dumas of The Salads and the Arts Offstage Choir under the direction of David Reed.

SONG WRITTEN & PRODUCED BY
Ian Lefeuvre (The Hundreds and Thousands) and K-OS

Lyrics all contributed by the artists. Additional keyboards are performed by Todor Kobakov from Major Maker. The track was mastered by Joao Carvalho.

PLEASE POST IT TO YOUR SITE(S) AND SHARE IT WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW!
(link to share)
http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=slnN3GMy7Nc

THE OFFICIAL PREMIERE OF THE VIDEO IS AT 7PM TONIGHT AT THE PHOENIX IN TORONTO AS PART OF "THIS IS NOT A CONSERVATIVE PARTY!"

http://departmentofculture.ca/concert/

If you're going, I'll might see you there!

It's just the long weekend to go folks, the fact that Tuesday is after the Thanksgiving weekend means people won't be paying alot of attention this week and voter turnout will be down on Tuesday (I'm sure that that is part of Harper's plan) so drag your friends with you to the polls on Tuesday, call them and ask if they've voted. For decades now we've said 'we'll do something about the environment someday', we've commissioned studies, come up with grand 10 and 20 year plans that fizzled but this is it.

I know people are concerned about the economy but have you noticed that when the economy is up they say we can't do anything about the environment because we'll kill the strong economy, when it's down they say we can't do anything because we'll damage it more. But virtually every reasonable economist in Canada, and most environmentalists agree that a Carbon Tax would actually be GOOD for the economy.

The time to do something about the environment is no longer someday, it is not, over the next 5 years, it is not 'when the economy improves' it is TUESDAY!

Vote with your heart, but don't leave your head completely out of the equation. Vote to remove Stephen Harper.


NEWS:

Alberta Premiere Calls for Economic Meeting With Counterpart: Contradicts Harper
http://tinyurl.com/3jlcnn

Oil sands will pollute Great Lakes, report warns
http://tinyurl.com/4ykb8p

Flaherty Suddenly Cares About the Economy
http://www.publicbroadcasting.ca/2008/10/you-cant-trust-conservatives-with-money.html

Elizabeth May Endorses Strategic Voting in Close Races
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081008.welxngreens1009/BNStory/politics/home?cid=al_gam_mostemail

Canadian researchers call for end to 'politicization' of science
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canadavotes/story/2008/10/09/scientists-letter.html?ref=rss

Canadians prefer national child care system to monthly allowance 2 to 1 according to Nanos poll
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2008/09/c4801.html

POLLS:

CPAC-Nanos Conservatives 33% (no change) Liberals 29% (no change) NDP 20% (no change) Bloc 10% (-1) Greens 7% (no change) Undecided 15% (-1)
While the Conservatives and/or Liberals were up or down 1 - 2 points here and there it was within the margin of error. Statistically significant NDP +4% in Quebec, Conservatives -6% in Atlantic Canada.

Also in terms of "Leadership Indicators" Harper lost ground on Trust, Competence and Vision for Canada while Dion gained in all 3 areas.

http://www.nanosresearch.com/election/CPAC-Nanos-October-9-2008E.pdf

According to the Canadian PRess/Harris-Decima poll
Conservatives 32% (+1) Liberals 27% (no change) NDP 19% (-1) Green 12 % (no change) Bloc 8% (no change)

So - it is the 15% undecided that we need to convince, and strategic voters.

Messages from Allies

Conservatives silent on Communication and Culture!

To members of Canadians For Democratic Media

Campaign for Democratic Media sent a series of questions to the five major federal parties get their positions pertaining to media and culture on record. We received responses from four of the five parties: only the Conservative Party did not reply, despite being approached several times.

The government and MPs elected on October 14th will play a decisive role in determining what information, perspectives, ideas and entertainment are readily available to Canadians as well as how Canadians communicate with one another.

I urge all Canadians to review these policy positions before voting.

Download the report and find out where the parties stand on Net Neutrality:
http://democraticmedia.ca/positions08

Please share this with your fellow voters

-and ask your local candidates where they stand!
http://democraticmedia.ca/blog-entry/vote-media-democracy

We rely on your donations to continue our work. Please consider becoming a supporter. If you sign up for monthly donations of $10 or more, you will receive a FREE full-year subscription to Briarpatch Magazine! A one-time donation is fine, too. Whether it's a little or a lot, it all adds up. So please, DONATE NOW: http://democraticmedia.ca/donate

Steve Anderson
604-837-5730
steveinfos@gmail.com

This is NOT a Conservative Party!

Join us TONIGHT at the King's Head Pub (120 King Street) for a rockin' night of music and video with performances by:

Quinzy
Drums & Wires
Patrick Keenan
DJ Rob Vilar
Les Klassen, Hope Peterson, & PO-MO


Cover is PWYC... we just wanna see you there!!!

An open letter to Prime Minister Harper by Wajdi Mouawad

This open letter to the Prime Minister was published in Le Devoir a few weeks ago; the translation is thanks to John van Burek. We just realized that we'd not included it here as well, for all of you to read, in case you haven't already.

***

Monsieur le premier ministre,

We are neighbours. We work across the street from one another. You are Prime Minister of the Parliament of Canada and I, across the way, am a writer, theatre director and Artistic Director of the French Theatre at the National Arts Centre (NAC). So, like you, I am an employee of the state, working for the Federal Government; in other words, we are colleagues.

Let me take advantage of this unique position, as one functionary to another, to chat with you about the elimination of some federal grants in the field of culture, something that your government recently undertook.

Indeed, having followed this matter closely, I have arrived at a few conclusions that I would like to publicly share with you since, as I'm sure you will agree, this debate has become one of public interest.

The Symbolism

Firstly, it seems that you might benefit by surrounding yourself with counsellors who will be attentive to the symbolic aspects of your Government's actions. I am sure you know this but there is no harm in reminding ourselves that every public action denotes not only what it is but what it symbolises.

For example, a Prime Minister who chooses not attend the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, claiming his schedule does not permit it, in no way reduces the symbolism which says that his absence might signify something else. This might signify that he wishes to denote that Canada supports the claims of Tibet . Or it might serve as a sign of protest over the way in which Beijing deals with human rights. If the Prime Minister insists that his absence is really just a matter of timing, whether he likes it or not, this will take on symbolic meaning that commits the entire country. The symbolism of a public gesture will always outweigh the technical explanations.

Declaration of war

Last week, your government reaffirmed its manner of governing unilaterally, this time on a domestic issue, in bringing about reductions in granting programs destined for the cultural sector. A mere matter of budgeting, you say, but one which sends shock waves throughout the cultural milieu ­rightly or wrongly, as we shall see- for being seen as an expression of your contempt for that sector. The confusion with which your Ministers tried to justify those reductions and their refusal to make public the reports on the eliminated programs, only served to confirm the symbolic significance of that contempt. You have just declared war on the artists.

Now, as one functionary to another, this is the second thing that I wanted to tell you: no government, in showing contempt for artists, has ever been able to survive. Not one. One can, of course, ignore them, corrupt them, seduce them, buy them, censor them, kill them, send them to camps, spy on them, but hold them in contempt, no. That is akin to rupturing the strange pact, made millennia ago, between art and politics.

Contempt

Art and politics both hate and envy one another; since time immemorial, they detest each other and they are mutually attracted, and it's through this dynamic that many a political idea has been born; it is in this dynamic that sometimes, great works of art see the light of day. Your cultural politics, it must be said, provoke only a profound consternation. Neither hate nor detestation, not envy nor attraction, nothing but numbness before the oppressive vacuum that drives your policies.

This vacuum which lies between you and the artists of Canada , from a symbolic point of view, signifies that your government, for however long it lasts, will not witness either the birth of a political idea or a masterwork, so firm is your apparent belief in the unworthiness of that for which you show contempt. Contempt is a subterranean sentiment, being a mix of unassimilated jealousy and fear towards that which we despise. Such governments have existed, but not lasted because even the most detestable of governments cannot endure if it hasn't the courage to affirm what it actually is.

Why is this?

What are the reasons behind these reductions, which are cut from the same cloth as those made last year on the majority of Canadian embassies, who saw their cultural programming reduced, if not eliminated? The economies that you have made are ridiculously small and the votes you might win with them have already been won. For what reason, then, are you so bent on hurting the artists by denying them some of their tools? What are you seeking to extinguish and to gain?

Your silence and your actions make one fear the worst for, in the end, we are quite struck by the belief that this contempt, made eloquent by your budget cuts, is very real and that you feel nothing but disgust for these people, these artists, who spend their time by wasting it and in spending the good taxpayers money, he who, rather than doing uplifting work, can only toil.

And yet, I still cannot fathom your reasoning. Plenty of politicians, for the past fifty years, have done all they could to depoliticise art, to strip it of its symbolic import. They try the impossible, to untie that knot which binds art to politics. And they almost succeed! Whereas you, in the space of one week, have undone this work of chloroforming, by awakening the cultural milieu, Francophone and Anglophone, and from coast to coast. Even if politically speaking they are marginal a nd negligible, one must never underestimate intellectuals, never underestimate artists; don't underestimate their ability to do you harm.

A grain of sand is all-powerful.

I believe, my dear colleague, that you yourself have just planted the grain of sand that could derail the entire machine of your electoral campaign. Culture is, in fact, nothing but a grain of sand, but therein lays its power, in its silent front. It operates in the dark. That is its legitimate strength.

It is full of people who are incomprehensible but very adept with words. They have voices. They know how to write, to paint, to dance, to sculpt, to sing, and they won't let up on you. Democratically speaking, they seek to annihilate your policies. They will not give up. How could they?

You must understand them: they have not had a clear and common purpose for a very long time, for such a long time that they have no common cause to defend. In one week, by not controlling the symbolic importance of your actions, you have just given them passion, anger, rage.

The resistance that will begin today, and to which my letter is added, is but a first manifestation of a movement that you yourself have set in motion: an incalculable number of texts, speeches, acts, assemblies, marches, will now be making themselves heard. They will not be exhausted.

Some of these will, perhaps, following my letter, be weakened but within each word, there will be a spark of rage, relit, and it is precisely the addition of these tiny instances of fire that will shape the grain of sand that you will never be able to shake. This will not settle down, the pressure will not be diminished.

Monsieur le premier ministre, we are neighbours. We work across the street from one another. There is nothing but the Cenotaph between our offices, and this is as it should be because politics and art have always mirrored one another, each on its own shore, each seeing itself in the other, separated by that river where life and death are weighed at every moment.

We have many things in common, but an artist, contrary to a politician, has nothing to lose, because he or she does not make laws; and if it is prime ministers who change the world, it's the artist who will show this to the world. So do not attempt, through your policies, to blind us, Monsieur le premier ministre; do not ignore that reflection on the opposite shore, do not plunge us further into the dark. Do not diminish us.

Wajdi Mouawad

The Wrecking Ball was a Smashing Success!

The DoC-WPG wishes to extend warmest congratulations to the WPG-WB for rolling out a tremendously successful night!

It was clear that everyone loved the performances and agrees that we shouldn't shy away from overtly political theatre!

We need the insights and inspirations of writers, actors, directors, and other theatre professionals as part of our wider socio-political discourse! Let's DEFINITELY make the Wrecking Ball an annual event... it's great for all of us, and it was especially great for the DoC... thank you SO much for your generous fundraising efforts on our behalf! We'll spend that money wisely... prepared to be info blitzed, Winnipeg!

Department of Culture, Right Across Canada!!

Dear friends,

The Department of Culture is a growing community of Canadian cultural workers who are dedicated to ensuring the health and prosperity of our nation in the context of a crucial federal election, and in reaction to a political party that is aggressively undermining the values that have defined Canada for decades.

The Department of Culture does not support a particular political party. We are a national network of concerned citizens affected by the destruction of health care, public services, safe food and water, child care, labour laws, women's rights, public education, the environment and thoughtful culture. We are fighting for economic, social, and political justice for all.

We urge you to vote on October 14; if you are wondering who to support in order to have the most impact in your riding, we highly recommend the website Vote For Environment, a comprehensive resource that will help you make an educated decision about the best use of your vote. Over the week ahead, please take a moment to share this information with friends, colleagues, and relatives, especially those in ridings where the race is tight, and a seat can be taken from the Conservatives.

There is a wealth of cultural activity inspired by the election taking place across the country this week; events that voice the opinions and celebrate the contributions of hundreds of ordinary Canadians. Please join us at The Wrecking Ball and This is NOT a Conservative Party! in your city.

respectfully yours,
Naomi

Monday, October 6: The Wrecking Ball

The Wrecking Ball goes national. That means there will be live events in major cities across Canada: All at Once, All on the Same Day, All Political, All New, All Written Expressly FOR the Federal Election. All thrown up by 100% Canadian actors, writers, directors and technicians in their gala niches from coast to coast. Proceeds go to support Department of Culture.

CORNER BROOK at The Backlot, box office at 10:00pm; show at 10:30pm

HALIFAX at The Bus Stop Theatre 2203 Gottingen St. Halifax; box office at 7:30pm; show at 8:00pm

MONTREAL at MainLine Theatre 3997 boul. St. Laurent; box office at 7:00pm; show at 8:00pm

OTTAWA at Saint Brigid's Centre, 314 St. Patrick St.(at Cumberland); box office at 7:00pm; show at 8:00pm

TORONTO at Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman Ave.; doors at 7:00pm; show at 8:00pm

WINNIPEG at Prairie Theatre Exchange, Colin Jackson Studio, Unit Y300 - 393 Portage Ave., 3rd Floor, Portage Place; box office at 7:00pm; show at 8:00pm

CALGARY at the Epcor Centre's Jack Singer Lobby, 205 8th Ave. SE; box office at 7:00pm; show at 8:00pm

EDMONTON at The Varscona Theatre, 10329 83rd Ave.; box office at 7:30pm; show at 8:00pm

VANCOUVER at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage 2750 Granville St.; box office at 6:00pm; show starts at 9:00pm immediately following an All-Party Forum and Press Conference at 7:00pm

VICTORIA at the Belfry Arts Centre 1291 Gladstone Ave; box office at 7:45pm; show at 8:00pm

with Vikki Anderson, Margaret Atwood, Nancy Barry, Belladonna, Amélie Bisson, Wes Borg, Ardith Boxall, Andrea Boyd, Pierre Brault, Petrina Bromley, Jenn Brown, Gaylene Buckle, Ken Cameron, Rick Chafe, Ellen Close, Kim Collier, Chris Craddock, Tyrell Crews, Danielle Desormeaux, Julian Doucet, Katrina Dunn, Ciaran Dyke, Dennis Eberts, David Fennario, David Ferry, Neil Fleming, Lucia Frangioni, Anna Fuerstenberg, Bruce Godfree, Sandy Gow, Stephen Hair, Koby Rogers Hall, Stacie Harrison, Michael Healey, Fiona Highet, Kate Hurman, David Jansen, Jillian Keiley, Joey Keithley, Allison Kelly, Amanda Kelly, Jamie Konchak, Leslea Kroll, Trevor Leigh, Ian Leung, Hardee Lineham, Ieva Lucs, Ryan Luhning, Kate Lynch, Danette Mackay, Ruth Madoc-Jones, Simon Mallett, John Mann, Julia Tamiko Manning, Ross Manson, Ava Jane Markus, Doug McKeag, Sarah Migneron, Julie Mortensen, Wajdi Mouawad, Michael Nathanson, Oni the Haitian Sensation!, Teresa Pavlinek, Matthew Payne, Judi Pearl, Valerie Ann Pearson, Ellen Peterson, Valerie Planche, Gray Powell, Deb Pickman, Donavan Purcell, Bill Richardson, Andrea Ritchie, Rick Roberts, Lara Robinson, Michael Rubenfeld, Michèle Lonsdale Smith, Andrew Soren, Kevin Sutley, Judith Thompson, Michael Turner, Clinton Walker, Dave Walsh, Jonathon Young, Marcus Youseff, The Royal Liechtenstein Theatre Company, Le Ball de Montreal, Montreal Women's Choir and many others...


The Department of Culture presents
This is NOT a Conservative Party!
Rocking The Vote Right Across Canada
Flagship concert takes place in Toronto on
Thursday October 9 at The Phoenix Concert Theatre

REGINA's This is NOT a Conservative Party!
Tuesday, October 7 @ 8 pm at Regina's Cathedral Village Freehouse
for information contact Michele Sereda, culture.palliser@gmail.com

WINNIPEG's This is NOT a Conservative Party!
Wednesday, October 8 @ 7pm at King's Head Pub, 120 King St.
featuring: Quinzy, Drums & Wires, Patrick Keenan, DJ Rob Vilar + VJs Les Klassen, Hope Peterson, and PO-MO

TORONTO's This is NOT a Conservative Party!
Thursday, October 9 doors @ 8pm at The Phoenix, 410 Sherbourne St.
featuring Dave Bidini (Rheostatics), DJ Billy Bryans, Jason Collett (Broken Social Scene,) Jim Creeggan (Barenaked Ladies), Friendlyness (DJ/superheavyREGGAE), Manitou Kwe Singers, Nadjiwan, Parachute Club, Porkbelly Futures (Paul Quarrington), The Skydiggers, Ian Tamblyn, Clay and Paper Theatre, and Videos from Rick Mercer, Alex Cuba, Ron Sexsmith, Stars, Winners of the Gone in 30 Seconds video contest.


OTTAWA's This is NOT a Conservative Party!
Friday, October 10 @ 8pm at Zaphod Beeblebrox, 27 York St.
featuring from Vancouver BRASSTRONAUT + from Ottawa SADIE HELL
www.ZaphodBeeblebrox.com


VOTE on Tuesday, October 14
and then, if you're in Toronto, join us for the Department of Culture's Election Party
at the Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W. from 8pm on...
Watch the results and celebrate the progressive coalition government we can imagine together for our future.


Department of Culture
Vote For Environment
Department of Culture in Winnipeg
Department of Culture in Montreal

Harper's preferred Canada...

Black keys removed due to budget cuts...

Image created by Diana Thorneycroft, a member of Winnipeg's DoC...

The Wrecking Ball hits TOMORROW!

Messages from Allies

From the Canadian Museums Association through the Ontario Museum Association:

2008 Canadian Federal Election: Political Parties' Positions on Museums

October 1, 2008, Ottawa - As a non-partisan organization, the CMA strongly believes in the public role and benefit of museums to our society.

We believe that governments at all levels have a unique role in supporting our heritage. A recent public opinion poll conducted by an independent research firm demonstrates that Canadians support museums. Please go to our website for full survey details.

The CMA has written to all five major political parties for their positions on museums. As of our deadline, we have received responses from four of the major parties. Below you will find an overview of the responses; to see them in full, please go to our Response from Parties page.

Response Overview

Bloc Québécois

The Bloc Québécois is asking the federal government for a new museum policy that is in line with the current needs of Quebec and Canadian museums.

It is imperative that culture be transferred to the government of Quebec with the necessary funds for Quebec to provide itself with a museum policy that meets its needs.

The Bloc Québécois will continue to hound the federal government to reinvest the funds cut from the programs that support museums.

Conservative Party

CMA has not received a response from the Conservatives Party as of yet. Watch for updates on our website, as it will be posted upon arrival.

Green Party

Increased support for community arts programs and facilities across Canada by establishing stable base funding at a set percentage of the federal budget.

The Green Party of Canada will remove the GST from Arts and Culture products and services while imposing a carbon tax on burning hydrocarbons and releasing their by-products into the atmosphere.

The Green Party will also restore the government provided transport service to allow the transport of exhibitions between museums and galleries.

Liberal Party

Promise to bring in a new vision for Canadian Museums at the federal level.

Promise to raise Museum Assistance Program by $16 million per year over 4 years with emphasis on community museums.

Promise to double the Canada Council for the Arts budget to $360 million per year.

New Democratic Party

The federal government plays an important role in ensuring that this heritage and culture preservation continues.

We do support new vision and new programs intended to support museums across the country. We are willing to work with the museum sector to ensure that this new policy is reflective of their needs and concerns.

Stable core funding is a major priority, and the flat line in spending must be addressed. We also believe that increasing investment in research of collections and acquisitions is central to updating exhibits and keeping museums relevant.

Action you can take

Get involved and actively participate in your democratic right on October 14th. CMA urges you and all museum friends and members to speak up and question candidates on their views on funding for our museums. Please go to our Elections Toolkit for sample questions and letters.

The CMA is also a member of the Canadian Arts Coalition; visit their website at www.canadianartscoalition.ca for further information and resources on the election.


-30-


For further information:

John McAvity, Executive Director, jmcavity@museums.ca

Monique Horth, Deputy Director, mhorth@museums.ca

Aussi disponible en français.

Arts & Culture

A message from Lisa Kiss Design:

We are creating a series of 40 second videos for YouTube to promote the idea of voting for a party that values arts and culture in the upcoming Canadian election (October 14). We believe that the recent cuts to arts funding by Stephen Harper's Conservative government shows their lack of commitment to core Canadian values. If you feel the same, please consider participating in this project.

Interested in participating?

1. send a photo of yourself in a plain t-shirt to:
artsandculture2008@gmail.com
(no text on the front, no collar)

2. the image can be a jpg, tiff, eps (under 5 MB)
- one person per photo will be featured
- there can be other people in the shot but only one will be highlighted
- please read the t-shirt and let us know if one of the sayings does NOT pertain to you

3. provide your full name, occupation, city and province of residence
- this information will be in the video

**NOTE: by sending a photo you are AGREEING to be in one of the videos

Here are the first two videos:

The Winnipeg Branch of the “Department of Culture” hosts its very own This is NOT a Conservative Party!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Winnipeg Branch of the “Department of Culture”
hosts its very own
This is NOT a Conservative Party!

---

Department of Culture (Winnipeg) Contact:
Milena Placentile, departmentofculture.winnipeg@gmail.com

---

October 3, 2008 -- (Winnipeg, MB) – We’re joining ranks with concerned citizens across the country and we’re gonna rock the vote!

The Winnipeg Branch of the “Department of Culture” is thrilled to host its very own event in a national network of concerts taking place a few days before the election serving to demonstrate that Canadians reject Conservative policies and their candidates from coast-to-coast.

This is NOT a Conservative Party!

Join us on Wednesday October 8, 2008 at the King’s Head Pub (120 King Street) for Winnipeg’s very own This is NOT a Conservative Party! We’re starting early (7:00 p.m.) and we’re going late! No advance tickets are required... just show up, PWYC ($5 suggested), get the scoop on what we can do to achieve a better Canada, and rock out!

Featuring:

Quinzy (http://www.quinzy.ca)
Drums & Wires (http://www.myspace.com/drumsandwires)
Patrick Keenan (http://.myspace.com/patrickkeenan)
DJ Rob Vilar (http://www.myspace.com/exitthebody)

+ VJs Les Klassen, Hope Peterson, and PO-MO

---

WHO ARE WE?

The Winnipeg Branch of the Department of Culture is a growing community of Canadian citizens who are artists, arts professionals, and cultural workers concerned about ensuring the social and cultural health and prosperity of our nation in the face of a Federal Government that is aggressively undermining the values that define Canada.

We are you: the painters, architects, dancers, writers, actors, designers, filmmakers, sculptors, performers, photographers, ceramicists, directors, curators, musicians, archivists, fashion designers, producers, weavers, choreographers, videographers, editors, librarians...

But we’re not organizing as arts and cultural workers protesting cuts to the arts. No... there’s so much more to it than that!

We’re arts-minded people protesting the irresponsible and unfair government that has dramatically reduced quality of life in Canada for all Canadians. That irresponsible and unfair government is Stephen Harper's gang of CPC MPs -- an aggressive and regressive alliance of ultra-right non-progressive Conservatives and members of the former Reform.

We are part of a national network of concerned citizens who don’t buy their lie that supporters of the arts live in an elitist bubble unaffected by the destruction of health care, public services, safe food and water, child care, labour laws, women’s rights, public education, the environment, thoughtful culture, and everything else the Conservatives seem to hate. We’re fighting for economic, social, and political justice for all.

The CPC has done a shocking amount of social, economic, and political damage in such a short time, so it’s a good thing Harper decided to call it quits when he did -- we’ve had enough and we’re working to ensure he’s unemployed by Oct 14!!

It's not enough that we vote against the Conservatives on Oct 14, we need to inform our fellow Canadians -- who see a decline in quality of life, but haven't yet correlated it as the impact of Conservative and neo-liberal policies and actions -- about the need to vote strategically to unseat Conservatives, wherever they may be. We don't want 'em, we don't need 'em, and we’re going to send ‘em packing!

---

This is NOT a Conservative Party!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
King’s Head Pub (Upstairs)
120 King Street, Winnipeg, MB
7:00 p.m. til’ late
Admission: Pay What You Can ($5 suggested)

Individuals and groups wanting to volunteer with the Winnipeg branch of the Department of Culture are welcome to contact: departmentofculture.winnipeg@gmail.com.


For more information, please contact Milena Placentile, departmentofculture.winnipeg@gmail.com
Visit us online: http://department-of-culture-winnipeg.blogspot.com and http://www.departmentofculture.ca

- 30 -

Playwrights provoke with political work

Reposted from: Stage Door / By Kevin Prokosh / Winnipeg Free Press, October 1, 2008

***

The Wrecking Ball is swinging through Winnipeg next Monday in an attempt to poke a hole in the notion that political theatre is dead in Canada.

Wrecking Ball is a four-year-old Toronto theatre movement that seeks to address the annoying reality that there's too much theatre in our politics and not enough politics in our theatre. Prominent Canadian playwrights such as Jason Sherman, Norm Foster, Morris Panych and Daniel MacIvor have penned politically minded monologues meant to challenge and provoke audiences.

For the first time, Wrecking Balls are going national, with eight of them, including one here, set to go Monday, showcasing the work of writers venting expressively about the federal election. The lineup for the Winnipeg ball consists of Michael Nathanson, Ellen Peterson and the Royal Liechtenstein tag team of Gord Tanner and Trish Cooper, as well as a piece called Nail Biter by playwright Judith Thompson.

The 8 p.m. cabaret, to be held at Prairie Theatre Exchange, is open to the public and is a pay-what-you-can event, with proceeds going to the department of culture, an ad hoc group of artists fighting the Stephen Harper government's funding cuts to the arts.

The Wrecking Ball will be welcomed in Winnipeg, where political theatre sightings are quite rare. Last season, Theatre Project's production called How to Kill Yourself With a Screwdriver by Devin McCracken -- inspired by the 2005 shooting of Matthew Dumas by a Winnipeg police officer -- was one example. The Wrecking Ball is seeking a more immediate, ripped-from-the-headlines response to events.

"It's a way to unify the country on political grounds," says Wrecking Ball organizer Michael Rubenfeld, a Toronto actor/director. "As Canadians, we fear controversy. We fear asking difficult questions and being too political. We're not comfortable disagreeing."

The local participants must adhere to two rules: Create brief, explosive pieces inspired by what's happening right now in the election and do it in one week to guarantee maximum freshness. A two-hour rehearsal during the day Monday is all that stands between author and audience.

"This is gloves off," says local producer Rick Chafe, author of Shakespeare's Dog. "It's so immediate, it will be charged with a different kind of energy. What you'll hear is right out of a writer's pen. There will be blood on the floor."

Nathanson, a huge fan of TV's The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, said he was seduced to join in by the opportunity to write political satire.

"I think artists have understandable concern about the state of the arts and the relationship of the Conservative government to the arts," he says. "My inspiration is being drawn from one of the best (and oldest) political satires: Duck Soup, the famous Marx Brothers movie."

An Economics of Culture

Even if you're one of those [few] people who don't recognize that there's more to culture than it's consumer value, you'd be hard pressed to deny the economic benefits of a strong cultural field. It's no surprise that the same government that rejects the widespread benefits of culture is the same government that's blowing Canada's surplus on corporate welfare and other giveaways that genuinely serve only the financial elite.

* * *

Valuing Culture: Measuring and Understanding Canada’s Creative Economy
The Conference Board of Canada (July 2008) | weblink
Prepared by The Conference Board of Canada for the International Forum on the Creative Economy.

This report highlights the substantial social, cultural, and economic contributions of Canada’s culture sector and assesses its economic footprint. This report is a joint initiative of the Conference Board’s Organizational Effectiveness and Learning Division and Forecast and Economics Division, in collaboration with the Government of Canada’s Department of Canadian Heritage.
See also: ‘Arts and cultural industries add billions of dollars to Canadian economy’, The Conference Board of Canada News Release, September 16, 2008 | weblink

The CCA and the Federal Election

During this campaign, the Canadian Conference of the Arts (CCA) will be providing information to its members and the cultural sector on the positions of the federal parties regarding arts and culture in Canada.

For more information and resources, please visit:

www.ccarts.ca/en/election2008/election2008.htm

Anything But Harper... Media

Harper is against freedom of the press and for secrecy and suppressing communication.

Find out more...

http://toutsaufharper.ca/?lang=en&cat=4

And there's still more...

Environment Culture Security Morality

Gone in 30 Seconds videos made today!

Today, at Video Pool, Sandee Moore hosted a video making party. Here are some of the projects that have just been posted.

By Cliff Eyland, artist


By Colette Balcaen, artist, and Dave Barber, Programmer, Winnipeg Cinematheque


By Sandee Moore, artist


By Colette Balcaen, artist

More laughs at the expense of Mean Person No. 1

As found on fb...

That burnt out backdrop is a nice touch. "We don ned treez or gras edeers. inviromentz sux!"

Messages from Allies

From Steve Anderson of the Campaign for Democratic Media...

---

Stephen Harper thinks "ordinary" Canadians don't give a hoot about their culture. We think he's wrong. We believe culture and communication policies are hugely important to Canadians who see them as key issues in this federal election.

Campaign for Democratic Media is asking, on your behalf, where the political parties stand on issues such as protecting the open Internet, media concentration, foreign ownership limits, CBC funding and support for the arts.

CDM will send you a copy of Communication and Culture: Where Do the Parties Stand? along with a list of questions that you can put to the candidates in your own electoral riding.

Also, Campaign for Democratic Media will soon be releasing a report, Net Neutrality: Fact vs Fiction, and encouraging Netizens to use it in their discussions with local candidates.

Getting politicians on record and making communication and culture an issue in this election takes money. Media and communications conglomerates have big bucks to spend influencing federal policies. We, thankfully, have YOU.

[Snip -- visit http://democraticmedia.ca]


In previous CDM campaigns, we have put your concerns before the CRTC, which helped prevent further loosening of media concentration rules. And with your assistance, we have helped propel Net Neutrality from an obscure issue into a national effort to ensure the Internet remains open to all Canadians.

We need to capitalize on this federal election to put clear choices about culture and communications policies in front of "ordinary" Canadians. Won't you help?

[Snip -- visit http://democraticmedia.ca]

Thanks as always for your support,

Steve Anderson, National Co-ordinator
Campaign for Democratic Media
604-837-5730

Messages from Allies

From Ian Morrison of FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting...

---

Dear Friend,

I know this message arrives only a few hours after my previous note to you.

But something has happened on the election campaign trail I thought you would want to know about -- because it raises more troubling questions about Stephen Harper's real agenda for Canadian culture.

Yesterday, Mr. Harper belittled concerns about cuts his government made to cultural programs just before the election was called, describing culture as a "niche issue for some."

Speaking at a news conference in Saskatoon, Mr. Harper attempted to pit voters against Canadian culture by characterizing artists as "... a bunch of people at a rich gala... all subsidized by the taxpayers -- claiming their subsidies aren't high enough...".

These comments are only the latest to show Mr. Harper's destructive agenda for Canadian culture.

Please join me to take action to counter Stephen Harper’s agenda:

www.friends.ca/election08/action

You can watch Mr. Harper’s attempt to misrepresent the importance of Canadian culture by clicking here.

This is especially disturbing in light of a recent Conservative Party fundraising letter which raises the possibility of CBC cuts if the Conservatives are re-elected.

I am bringing this to your attention because it shows that we need to work vigilantly during this election campaign to counter Mr. Harper's message.

Members of Parliament are ultimately responsible to the local voters who elect them. I hope you will go to www.friends.ca/election08/action and demand to know where the candidates in your riding stand. Do they agree with Mr. Harper’s cynical view?

FRIENDS has established an Election Action Centre that makes it easy and fast to send a message to the candidates who are seeking to represent you in Parliament. Please use it today by visiting:

www.friends.ca/election08/action

Please join with me to put your candidates on the spot about Canadian culture right now.

Yours sincerely,
Ian Morrison, Spokesperson
FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting