When Mark Carney’s government unveiled its austerity budget in early November, it was met with mixed reception from the cultural sector.
The Canadian Arts Coalition says it “applauds elements” of the budget, but warns that it “does not yet adequately address the need for significant investment in the Canada Council for the Arts.”
The Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA) says it’s “encouraged” by a recommitted investment in the Canada Music Fund, but adds that the renewed contribution “must be the first step in ensuring the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of Canada’s independent music sector.”
The Canada Music Fund will continue with the annual $16 million investment it’s received since 2023, for at least the next three years. Given the rate of inflation, the same annual contribution effectively implies a decrease in the investment’s value.
Earlier this year, CIMA called for the fund to be increased to $60 million annually.
Ahead of the budget’s release, the prime minister publicly instructed federal cabinet ministers to reduce spending across all departments by 15 per cent, prompting arts organizations across the country to mount campaigns warning that cuts to federal programs like the Canada Council for the Arts and the department of Canadian Heritage would be “devastating” for the arts sector.
Pending the budget’s adoption, an additional $6 million will be invested in the Canada Council for the Arts over the next three years, which amounts to $2 million per year added to the Council’s annual budget of over $300 million. But that pales in comparison to the new investment of $140 million called for by the Canadian Arts Coalition.
Since the new Capital Budgeting Framework of Carney’s budget separates operational spending from investments and doesn’t present the former in the budget, it’s unclear how far the total spendings on Canada Council for the Arts and Canada Music Fund fall short of those asks.
The budget does indicate Canadian Heritage will receive a 15 per cent cut, taking funds from initiatives like its Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (for improving arts spaces), the Canada Periodical Fund (print magazines, non-daily newspapers and online outlets), and the department’s internal administration resources.
The federal Liberals have to secure at least two supporting votes or abstentions from members of other parties for the budget to pass.
