| The Writers’ Union of Canada
demands politicians respond to recent funding cuts and commit
to supporting and promoting the creative community
The Writers’ Union of Canada has written to the heads
of Canada’s five national parties and other federal
politicians asking for their responses to recent arts funding
cuts and to seek solid positions on their support for arts
and culture.
"The Union has been shocked and distressed by the latest
cuts to arts funding programs, totalling $60 million. These
programs were the foundation for our future artists,”
said TWUC Chair Wayne Grady. “If Canada is to compete
in a globalized world, it needs to invest more, not less,
to promote our artists and our culture internationally and
at home. Cutting these programs will further reduce Canada’s
ability to cultivate its exciting cultural identity here and
around the world.”
The Writers’ Union has also encouraged its membership,
comprised of more than 1,650 writers of books in all genres,
to question their local federal candidates on their parties’
cultural policies and their own positions on sustaining and
enhancing the creative economy. The Writers’ Union asks:
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 Writers’ Union is also calling attention to copyright
legislation that will have a direct impact on creators which
was before the House of Commons and died with the election
call.
“When a new government is elected in October, it is
important for the incoming Members of Parliament to know how
strongly writers feel about these issues,” said Grady.
“This is one election where politicians are going to
hear from all Canadians who care deeply about the arts and
the long-term stability and promotion of the cultural sector.”
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
- 30 -
For additional information
Deborah Windsor, Executive Director
The Writers’ Union of Canada
416. 703.8982 Ext. 221
dwindsor@writersunion.ca
|
