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We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, which last year invested $20.1 million in writing and publishing throughout Canada.

	The Ontario Arts Council is an agency of the Government of Ontario.

FEDERAL ELECTION 2008
Questions to ask candidates in your riding:

1. Does your party acknowledge that the federal government has a responsibility to invest in art and culture in Canada as it does in other sectors of national activity?

2. Does your party agree that artists, intellectuals and cultural institutions contribute as much to the international image of Canada as athletes and business people do?

3. If so, what programs and policies will your party put in place to ensure that artists, creators and intellectuals participate in Canadian foreign policy strategy?

4. Does your party intend to replace the programs dedicated to the internationalization of Canadian culture (PromArt and TradeRoutes)? Please provide specific details.

5. What does your party plan to do to stimulate and sustain the creative economy in Canada?

6. Is your party prepared to address the socio-economic needs of self-employed workers in the creative economy by finding ways to make the social safety net available to them?

7. New technology is affecting creators' rights in ways that deprive creators of compensation for use of their works. Is your party considering copyright law policies that will modernize our legislation and ensure that technology does not have a negative impact on creators' ability to earn a living?

8. Does your party intend to emulate Quebec's policy of exempting a portion of income from copyright sources from taxation as an incentive for greater innovation and productivity?

The Unions’ Election Activities
The Union will pose these questions to all party leaders and to current members of parliament. We will keep you informed of all the responses we receive. The Union encourages you to contact the Union at info@writersunion.ca and tell us your concerns as well as informing us of the responses you receive from the candidates in your riding.

Discussion points
The economic impact of Canada’s Cultural Sector
1. Canada's cultural sector contributed $46-billion, or 3.8 percent, to Canada's gross domestic product in 2007; but, the overall impact of the sector was a much broader $84.6 billion.
2. 1.1 million jobs to arts and culture or to spinoff industries, such as tourism.
3. The "creative economy" is driving economic growth with digital technology and expanding Internet providing a super highway.
4. Canada is a relatively small market and the success of many culture products and services depends significantly on international trade.

The Government’s investment into Canada’s Cultural Sector
1. The federal government increased the Canada Council for the Arts’ parliamentary appropriation by $20 million in 2006-07 and $30 million in 2007-08. (The government has since announced that the additional $30 million in 2007-08 will remain in the Council’s budget on an ongoing basis)

The Governments cuts to Canada’s Cultural Programs - Total: $ 60, 597,000
1. E-culture - $ 4.36 million
2. Trade Routes Program - $ 4.36 million
3. PromArt (Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade) - $ 4.36 million
4. Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund - $1.5 million
5. National Training Program for the Film and Video sector: $1.5 million
6. Audiovisual - Preservation Trust - $ 150,000
7. Canadian culture online (Research and Development Component) - $ 5.64 million
8. Canadian Memory Fund - $ 11.57 million
9. Canadian Arts and Heritage Sustainability Program (Stabilization Project) - $ 627,000
10. Canadian Arts and Heritage Sustainability Program (Capacity Building) - Budget: was $ 6.1 million reduced to $ 4.3million – reduction of $ 1.8 million (plus $ 1 million in salary and internal fees)
11. Canadian Arts and Heritage Sustainability Program (Endangered arts organizations) - $ 500,000
12. Canada Music Fund (Canadian Music Memories Component) - $ 150,000
13. Northern Native Broadcast Access Program - $ 2.1 millions
14. Book Publishing Industry Development Program - $ 1 million
15. Canada Magazine Fund $ 500,000
16. Canada New Media Fund - $ 14.5 million

1. Valuing Culture - Measuring and Understanding Canada's Creative Economy a report written by the Conference Board of Canada in collaboration with Canada's Department of Federal Heritage – August 2008
2. Vaulting Culture
3. Vaulting Culture
4. Vaulting Culture
5. Canada Council for the Arts News Release October 24, 2007
6. Canadian Conference of the Arts - August 20, 2008