'Restore funding to the arts,' Allen

NDP Nipissing-Timiskaming candidate Dianna Allen
News Release

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New Liskeard- The New Democrat candidate in Nipissing-Timiskaming, Dianna Allen, blasted outgoing Prime Minister Stephen Harper for his attacks on arts and culture.

Allen accused Prime Minister Harper of making a $50 billion corporate tax cut the only real priority of his government, while cutting funds to crucial cultural programs.

“One of the key things we need to do first is to protect and promote the arts.” Allen said.

If elected, Allen promised to work with Jack Layton to:

• Introduce income-averaging for artists, modeled directly on long-standing practice in the province of Quebec

• Provide an annual federal tax exemption of $20,000 for income earned from copyright and residuals income.

• Reform the CRTC to ensure that prime time television in French and in English is written, directed, stars, and is about Canada and Canadians

• Provide Radio-Canada and CBC with stable, secure and adequate funding.

• Protect and properly fund Telefilm and the Canadian Television Fund.

• Protect and properly fund the Canada Council.

• Reverse Mr. Harper’s $45 million cutback to culture.

Allen committed the New Democrats to defending the arts and culture, across Canada. “We aren’t going to let Mr. Harper turn the lights out on our stories, our heart, our soul.”

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Meanwhile, the Liberal camps welcome join the Hon. Mauril Belanger, Vice-Chair of the Standing Committe on Canadian Heritage, and Anthony Rota, Liberal Candidate for Nipissing-Timiskaming, at the WKP Kennedy Gallery on Thursday October 9th between 2 and 4 p.m. for a special roundtable meeting on arts & culture.

This will present an excellent opportunity to learn about the Liberal Party platform as it pertains to the arts, and discuss with Mr. Belanger and Mr. Rota the future of arts & culture in Canada.

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