Major Investment in Canadian Culture

TORONTO, May 2, 2001 -- The Right Honourable Jean Chrétien, Prime Minister of Canada, and the Honourable Sheila Copps, Minister of Canadian Heritage, today announced an investment of more than $500 million to ensure the growth and development of Canadian culture.

This major investment by the Government of Canada is an eloquent and decisive gesture in support of Canadian arts and culture. It will target all aspects of the creative process: encouraging excellence among our artists, promoting arts and heritage among the population as a whole and providing our cultural industries with the means to prosper in the 21st century.

"Canada is recognized around the world as a country with the greatest quality of life and the vitality of our culture and heritage is one of the strongest signs of our collective success," declared the Prime Minister of Canada. "Today, Canada has everything it needs to become one of the major creative centres of the world. Our artists are powerful instruments of change and innovation. In their diversity lies our strength and originality on the international stage. By taking this action, we salute the richness of Canadian culture and we help our artists pave the way to the future."

"I am proud of this acknowledgment of the vital role that arts and heritage play in our lives, our communities and throughout the world," said Minister Copps. "For me, this announcement is the culmination of many years of hard work with creators and entrepreneurs to promote Canadian culture in all its richness and diversity and to launch Canada into the future."

This major investment by the Government of Canada will extend over three years and will have the following objectives:

-- Encourage the growth, development and diversity of creative work in this country, notably among young people who are being called upon to project our traditions into the future; and promote access to the arts and heritage for all Canadians. To that end, the Government of Canada will invest $288 million, $75 million of which will go to the Canada Council for the Arts.

-- Provide Canadians with the means to protect their built heritage. To that end, the Government of Canada will invest $24 million in preserving Canadian's architectural heritage.

-- Increase the production of Canadian content for the Internet, which is fast becoming the most popular medium of communication among Canada's youth, and promote the development of the new media industry. To that end, the Government of Canada will invest $108 million.

-- Ensure that our cultural industries, notably the book and sound recording sectors, are able to prosper in the new digital economy and to project a Canadian voice that is strong and original. To that end, the Government of Canada will invest $56 million.

-- Encourage export of cultural products and services in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and explore new markets for our artists. To that end, the Government of Canada will invest $32 million.

Furthermore, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation will receive an additional $60 million this year in order to further highlight our stories and Canadian talent on radio and television.

This contribution is part of the Government of Canada's commitment to target excellence in all aspects of the creative process, to encourage diversity in Canadian content and to promote access to arts and heritage for all Canadians, taking into account our linguistic duality, the unique and distinct character of Quebec culture and the inestimable contribution of the First Nations' cultures.

The announcement will be broadcast on the Web at 6 p.m., EST, at the following address:
http://www.tomorrowstartstoday.ca.

Information:

PMO Press Office
(613) 957-5555

Krista Pawley
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788

Click here to view the backgrounders and fact sheets

[ Media Room ]

Date created: 2001-05-02

Important Notices






Major Investment in Canadian Culture TORONTO, May 2, 2001 -- The Right Honourable Jean Chrétien, Prime Minister of Canada, and the Honourable Sheila Copps, Minister of Canadian Heritage, today announced an investment of more than $500 million to ensure the growth and development of Canadian culture. This major investment by the Government of Canada is an eloquent and decisive gesture in support of Canadian arts and culture. It will target all aspects of the creative process: encouraging excellence among our artists, promoting arts and heritage among the population as a whole and providing our cultural industries with the means to prosper in the 21st century. "Canada is recognized around the world as a country with the greatest quality of life and the vitality of our culture and heritage is one of the strongest signs of our collective success," declared the Prime Minister of Canada. "Today, Canada has everything it needs to become one of the major creative centres of the world. Our artists are powerful instruments of change and innovation. In their diversity lies our strength and originality on the international stage. By taking this action, we salute the richness of Canadian culture and we help our artists pave the way to the future." "I am proud of this acknowledgment of the vital role that arts and heritage play in our lives, our communities and throughout the world," said Minister Copps. "For me, this announcement is the culmination of many years of hard work with creators and entrepreneurs to promote Canadian culture in all its richness and diversity and to launch Canada into the future." This major investment by the Government of Canada will extend over three years and will have the following objectives: -- Encourage the growth, development and diversity of creative work in this country, notably among young people who are being called upon to project our traditions into the future; and promote access to the arts and heritage for all Canadians. To that end, the Government of Canada will invest $288 million, $75 million of which will go to the Canada Council for the Arts. -- Provide Canadians with the means to protect their built heritage. To that end, the Government of Canada will invest $24 million in preserving Canadian's architectural heritage. -- Increase the production of Canadian content for the Internet, which is fast becoming the most popular medium of communication among Canada's youth, and promote the development of the new media industry. To that end, the Government of Canada will invest $108 million. -- Ensure that our cultural industries, notably the book and sound recording sectors, are able to prosper in the new digital economy and to project a Canadian voice that is strong and original. To that end, the Government of Canada will invest $56 million. -- Encourage export of cultural products and services in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and explore new markets for our artists. To that end, the Government of Canada will invest $32 million. Furthermore, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation will receive an additional $60 million this year in order to further highlight our stories and Canadian talent on radio and television. This contribution is part of the Government of Canada's commitment to target excellence in all aspects of the creative process, to encourage diversity in Canadian content and to promote access to arts and heritage for all Canadians, taking into account our linguistic duality, the unique and distinct character of Quebec culture and the inestimable contribution of the First Nations' cultures. The announcement will be broadcast on the Web at 6 p.m., EST, at the following address: http://www.tomorrowstartstoday.ca. Information: PMO Press Office (613) 957-5555 Krista Pawley Press Secretary Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage (819) 997-7788 Click here to view the backgrounders and fact sheets [ Media Room ]

Date created: 2001-05-02			Important Notices