Harper's disrespectful attitude towards cultural expression will damage Canada's reputation

MONTREAL – The Green Party is calling on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to explain to Canadians why his government holds the arts community in utter disregard. Last Friday the Prime Minister quietly axed the $4.7 million Foreign Affairs PromArt program along with Trade Routes, a $9 million Heritage Canada fund. Both programs facilitated the sharing of Canadian culture by funding travel abroad and allowing other foreign opportunities for Canadian artists.

"PromArt and Trade Routes filled an important diplomatic and foreign affairs function by helping build cultural bridges for Canada," said Green Party leader Elizabeth May. "Canadians take pride in our vibrant arts and culture community and are eager to showcase Canadian culture for the rest of the world. Eroding Canada's capacity for cultural diplomacy is simply bad foreign policy."

These cuts are deeper wounds in an already hurting sector. Other blows from the Harper government include Bill C-10 which could deny funding films the government finds "contrary to public policy", the cancellation of a programme which provided galleries and museums with a free trucking service for exhibits, as well as removing cultural exchanges from within the mandate of Canadian embassies.

"What does this government have against artists and the cultural community?" Ms. May said that the two programs represented mere pocket change for the government and noted that although government officials cite fiscal prudence as the rationale behind the cuts, the Conservative government has found plenty of cash to spend on an unprecedented number of public opinion polls.

"Slashing funds for cultural activities, both domestic and abroad, is damaging to the fabric of our country and further jeopardizes Canada's international reputation," said Ms. May. "This move appears to be more about extending the government's long tentacles of control into the area of cultural expression, but this move will backfire on Canada. Mr. Harper is slashing the arts in cynical attempt to win votes from a base he mis-reads. Most Canadians want to support a vibrant arts community."