NDP REALITY CHECK: Stephen Harper’s cuts hurt Canadian identity

Instead of recognizing the importance of the sector for our country, our economy and our identity, Stephen Harper’s Conservatives have chosen to cut vital programs and institutions like the CBC, the National Film Board and Telefilm Canada:

• In the past 5 years, more than 2,000 CBC/Radio-Canada jobs were cut (25% of the workforce).
• In 2012, Stephen Harper Conservatives cut $6.7 million from the NFB budget; and $10.6 from the Telefilm budget.
• In 2008, the Conservatives cut 2 programs (Trade Route and Prom Arts) which helped artists and cultural industries find new markets through funding for tours and promotional activities.

Under Stephen Harper, artists and cultural workers continue to have a hard time making ends meet. In fact, in many arts occupations the average cultural worker lives at or below the poverty line.

And artists and cultural groups have complained that Canadian embassies currently provide absolutely no support when they try to develop new markets.

The NDP has a bold, ambitious plan to stand up for artists.

In this election, only Tom Mulcair and the NDP can be trusted to invest in CBC, to invest in Canadian content, and to support Canadian artists.