Laurie in Question Period
Arts and Culture Funding
Ms Blakeman: Thanks, Mr. Speaker. Artists need to pay rent. They need to buy groceries. They need to pay child care. They need to make their car payments. But the new Alberta Arts Day doesn’t help with any of that. It just gives them another venue in which to work without being compensated. Combine this with the federal funding cuts for the artists and the lack of a provincial response to that, and I question the minister’s understanding of this sector. My question is to the Minister of Culture and Community Spirit. Why is the minister treating all arts and culture in Alberta as if they are leisure activities rather than the considerable portion being serious professions done by dedicated professionals?
Mr. Blackett: Mr. Speaker, does the hon. member actually believe that this government treats artists in that manner? This government has doubled the funding for artists through the Alberta Foundation for the Arts since 2002. This government spends more per capita for arts funding than every province except for the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. We spend 2 to 1 per capita compared to England. We believe in artists. The artists that performed at Alberta Arts Day at the Southern Alberta Jubilee were all compensated the full scale as part of the agreement with the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Actually, you added $9 million to the complete sector; you certainly didn’t double it. So let’s be careful about that.
The next question to you: given that your counterparts in Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland and the mayors of Edmonton, Toronto, and Montreal have all written to the Prime Minister to express their outrage over the cuts to the federal Trade Routes and PromArt programs, why have you not stood up for the interests of Alberta’s artists and done the same?
Mr. Blackett: First of all, if the hon. member can add, I said: doubled since 2002. Nine million dollars was the addition in 2007/2008. Thank you very much.
Ms Blakeman: So no answer on why you didn’t stick up for Alberta artists. Okay.
Final question to the same minister: will the minister commit to filling the gap in funding, that is a result of the cuts made by his federal cousins, to ensure that all of our artists and fine-craft artisans can continue to travel, showcase, and sell their Alberta talent around the world?
Mr. Blackett: First of all, I’ve already spoken to our federal counterpart and expressed my opinion with respect to funding for the arts. Just because I didn’t do it publicly doesn’t mean I have to tell you everything that I’ve done.
Secondly and lastly, I have publicly stated more than three times that if there are any Alberta artists or any troupes of artists that are adversely affected by federal funding cuts, we will step in and help them with assistance.
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