The Writers' Union of Canada : Press Release

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March 23, 2007

Press Release

WINNERS PRAISE ONTARIO BUDGET'S BOOST FOR THE ARTS

The Writers' Union of Canada has praised the Ontario government's budget, released yesterday by Treasurer Greg Sorbara, for increasing its support for the arts in that province and confirming that the McGuinty Government will introduce Status of the Artist legislation in 2007.

"We are very pleased to see that the Ontario government has recognized the importance of the arts in this province and has increased its support to that sector," said Ron Brown Chair of the Writer's Union. "Unlike the federal government showed in its budget earlier this week, the Ontario government gets it," he added.

Brown went on to say, “Ontario’s artists need a Status of the Artist Act. We need this Act to empower writers, through their professional organizations to be able to negotiate with publishers and obtain fair treatment in the marketplace.”

The Union, along with many other arts organizations, has maintained that an Ontario Status of the Artist Act that includes a strong labour relations component, minimum labour standard and fare taxation measures will immediately improve the working lives of writers and other artists in Ontario.

"We have always maintained that the arts represent an economic sector that is greater than mining farming and forestry combined," said Brown. "By increasing funding to the Ontario Arts council by thirty-eight per cent, the Ontario government is not only helping promote culture but is helping to strengthen the overall economy as well. We hope that Status of the Arts Legislation will not be far behind."

Along with other arts groups, the Writers' Union will be staging an "Arts Awareness" event in Ottawa on April 16 to protest the federal government's tepid support of the arts in Canada.

The Writers' Union of Canada is our country's national organization representing professional authors of books. Founded in 1973, the Union is dedicated to fostering writing in Canada, and promoting the rights, freedoms, and economic well being of all writers. For more information, please visit www.writersunion.ca.

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For additional information
Deborah Windsor, Executive Director
The Writers’ Union of Canada
416. 703.8982 Ext. 221
dwindsor@writersunion.ca