CULTURE MATTERS!
Restore Arts Funding Now
Ø BC residents overwhelmingly support public funding of the Arts. Ø British Columbia has the most artists per capita in the country. Ø British Columbia already has the lowest per-capita investment in the Arts in the country. Ø Every dollar the province invests in the Arts returns up to $1.36 in tax revenue. Ø Every other province is at least maintaining, or increasing, investment in the Arts. Ø The Arts help children do better in school, keep downtown areas vibrant, and improve health in seniors. So why is the provincial government all but eliminating investment in the Arts? HERE’S WHAT WE’RE ASKING THE GOVERNMENT TO DO: Ø Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; Ø Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; Ø Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. THE SAD TRUTH In British Columbia, the Arts are under siege. After eight years of BC Liberal government arts management that saw gradual improvements to the level of investment in the sector, arts and culture in BC is in the midst of its biggest crisis ever. September’s budget projected a drop in investment on arts and culture to $3.6-million in 2010-11 from almost $48-million last year. The province’s community gambling grant program approved only 350 of the 953 applications for funds requested by cultural organizations, for a total of $8.9 million. Last year, 840 applications were approved, totaling $18 million. If we don’t succeed in changing the government’s course, the cuts will be 85 percent for next year, and 92 percent after that. No other sector is facing cuts of that magnitude. No other province in Canada is slashing funding. Many are actually increasing their support for the Arts. They recognize that the Arts are a growth industry that more than pays for itself, both financially and through its many social benefits. It’s not too late to convince the BC government to see the error of its ways. How can you help? By contacting your MLA and telling them that you believe Culture Matters. The following pages contain information that will help. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters. WHAT DO THESE CUTS MEAN? ProArt conducted a preliminary survey of its membership to determine the potential impact on the Victoria area alone. Our findings included: · More than 150 artists and arts administrators will be impacted, giving them fewer chances to practice and develop their craft; · The equivalent of at least 22 full-time positions will be lost; · One company alone says 300 hotel room nights will be lost because of cuts. If each of those rooms were to generate two restaurant visits, there will be 600 fewer meals served; · The Jazz Festival will cancel many free events that normally entertain more than 35,000 people; · The Jazz Festival, The Victoria Symphony, and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria all say they will eliminate or severely limit their outreach programs that take art into the schools; · Many organizations will be postponing renovations, upgrades, and maintenance that would provide work for carpenters, masons, plumbers, and other trades people. Fewer sets will be built, which means fewer purchases at hardware and building supply stores; · Reduced programming means fewer programs, flyers, and posters will be printed and fewer ads will be placed with local newspapers, TV, and radio; · The cuts to gaming alone mean hundreds of thousands of dollars will not be spent in this community. WHY DOES CULTURE MATTER? "... the arts, like education, health and social security, are universal goods that ought to be generally available regardless of ability to pay." SIR WILLIAM REES-MOGG (former chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain) The economic, social, health and educational benefits to our communities created by investing in arts and culture, by all levels of government, are well documented and supported. Public funding helps to ensure that the arts touch the lives of as many people as possible by keeping admission prices affordable. Learning through the Arts, a three year national research study conducted by Queen’s University concluded that involvement in the arts contributed to student achievement as much as 11 percentile points higher in math than their peers. Ninety per cent of parents reported that the arts motivated their children to learn. Teachers, parents, artists, and administrators talked about how the arts motivated children, referring to the emotional, physical, cognitive, and social benefits of learning in and through the arts. According to the Conference Board of Canada, many educators also believe that creative activities provide positive learning experiences, such as: § Helping to improve communication skills and promoting creative thinking § Contributing to improved literacy and language development through libraries and reading programs § Helping to develop information technology skills critical for employment in the knowledge economy as creative activities often involve information and communications technologies § Art programs for youth and seniors measurably improve the lives of participants, visibly fostering healthier communities and innovatively addressing issues of youth at risk and eldercare. "There's a strong fiscally conservative argument for supporting the arts… [without it we would be] culturally and economically soulless." Federal Heritage Minister James Moore Public investment in arts results in healthier, happier, economically competitive, and liveable communities. Public investment in the arts results in stronger creative industries, tourism, and social-profit sectors. The province’s own research shows that every dollar invested in arts and cultural organizations returns between $1.05 and $1.36 directly to provincial treasuries through tax revenues. Of Canada’s 10 provinces, BC has the largest percentage of its labour force in arts occupations. As well, the arts and cultural sectors and B.C.'s creative industries generate $5.2 billion each year and employ 80,000 people. Growth in cultural employment in Canada from 1981 to 2001 was 81% higher than the 32% growth in the overall labour force during the same period. Arts organizations use provincial funding to leverage investment from other sources: other levels of government, foundations, private donors; all aimed at keeping admission prices affordable. Many of those sources make their decisions based on the level of investment by the province. By slashing investment the Province is endangering the support that other sources are still willing to provide. THE BC STORY “British Columbia is the place for local arts and culture. People agree emphatically that funding for the arts should not be left up to private business and foundations, but should get a boost from local governments. Ninety-one per cent of B.C. residents praise the selection of [arts and cultural] events and activities in their community, and it’s the only region in Canada where there’s complete agreement with the idea that a vibrant cultural scene is great for the local economy.” From “We Know What You’re Thinking”, by Darrell Bricker and John Wright of Ipsos Reid · Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, says there “hasn’t been a cut” in funding. That’s because there has been a financial shell game going on where gaming moneys are being used for things that they were never meant for, which means 44% of arts and culture groups that received the money from gaming last year received nothing this year · No other province in Canada has reduced support for the arts sector at this time of economic uncertainty. Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland and the federal government have all increased their investments. · Provincial Government funding in British Columbia from all sources makes up an average of seven percent of the operating budgets of performing arts organizations. This is the lowest in Canada. The national average is 13 percent. In Quebec, provincial funding accounts for 26 percent of a performing arts organization’s budget. · The BC government has allocated half a million dollars to advertise the Olympics in schools, while cutting gaming grants that support BC Sports in schools for one-quarter of the cost. · British Columbia has the highest number of artists per capita in the country. Vancouver has the largest concentration of any major city in Canada and Victoria has the second largest. Seven of the top ten municipalities with the highest number of artists per capita are also located in BC. · Changing the allocation of the Gaming Funds represents a breach of the promise made to those communities that accepted casinos or slot machines based that the proceeds from gambling would be re-invested in the arts and their communities. · In 1999, the province of BC entered into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the BC Association of for Charitable Gaming to commit one-third of the annual BC Lottery Corporation revenues for the purpose of supporting licensed charities. The government has never met that promise. IN THEIR OWN WORDS The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts. This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics: · “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
Ø British Columbia has the most artists per capita in the country. Ø British Columbia already has the lowest per-capita investment in the Arts in the country. Ø Every dollar the province invests in the Arts returns up to $1.36 in tax revenue. Ø Every other province is at least maintaining, or increasing, investment in the Arts. Ø The Arts help children do better in school, keep downtown areas vibrant, and improve health in seniors. So why is the provincial government all but eliminating investment in the Arts? HERE’S WHAT WE’RE ASKING THE GOVERNMENT TO DO: Ø Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; Ø Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; Ø Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. THE SAD TRUTH In British Columbia, the Arts are under siege. After eight years of BC Liberal government arts management that saw gradual improvements to the level of investment in the sector, arts and culture in BC is in the midst of its biggest crisis ever. September’s budget projected a drop in investment on arts and culture to $3.6-million in 2010-11 from almost $48-million last year. The province’s community gambling grant program approved only 350 of the 953 applications for funds requested by cultural organizations, for a total of $8.9 million. Last year, 840 applications were approved, totaling $18 million. If we don’t succeed in changing the government’s course, the cuts will be 85 percent for next year, and 92 percent after that. No other sector is facing cuts of that magnitude. No other province in Canada is slashing funding. Many are actually increasing their support for the Arts. They recognize that the Arts are a growth industry that more than pays for itself, both financially and through its many social benefits. It’s not too late to convince the BC government to see the error of its ways. How can you help? By contacting your MLA and telling them that you believe Culture Matters. The following pages contain information that will help. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters. WHAT DO THESE CUTS MEAN? ProArt conducted a preliminary survey of its membership to determine the potential impact on the Victoria area alone. Our findings included: · More than 150 artists and arts administrators will be impacted, giving them fewer chances to practice and develop their craft; · The equivalent of at least 22 full-time positions will be lost; · One company alone says 300 hotel room nights will be lost because of cuts. If each of those rooms were to generate two restaurant visits, there will be 600 fewer meals served; · The Jazz Festival will cancel many free events that normally entertain more than 35,000 people; · The Jazz Festival, The Victoria Symphony, and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria all say they will eliminate or severely limit their outreach programs that take art into the schools; · Many organizations will be postponing renovations, upgrades, and maintenance that would provide work for carpenters, masons, plumbers, and other trades people. Fewer sets will be built, which means fewer purchases at hardware and building supply stores; · Reduced programming means fewer programs, flyers, and posters will be printed and fewer ads will be placed with local newspapers, TV, and radio; · The cuts to gaming alone mean hundreds of thousands of dollars will not be spent in this community. WHY DOES CULTURE MATTER? "... the arts, like education, health and social security, are universal goods that ought to be generally available regardless of ability to pay." SIR WILLIAM REES-MOGG (former chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain) The economic, social, health and educational benefits to our communities created by investing in arts and culture, by all levels of government, are well documented and supported. Public funding helps to ensure that the arts touch the lives of as many people as possible by keeping admission prices affordable. Learning through the Arts, a three year national research study conducted by Queen’s University concluded that involvement in the arts contributed to student achievement as much as 11 percentile points higher in math than their peers. Ninety per cent of parents reported that the arts motivated their children to learn. Teachers, parents, artists, and administrators talked about how the arts motivated children, referring to the emotional, physical, cognitive, and social benefits of learning in and through the arts. According to the Conference Board of Canada, many educators also believe that creative activities provide positive learning experiences, such as: § Helping to improve communication skills and promoting creative thinking § Contributing to improved literacy and language development through libraries and reading programs § Helping to develop information technology skills critical for employment in the knowledge economy as creative activities often involve information and communications technologies § Art programs for youth and seniors measurably improve the lives of participants, visibly fostering healthier communities and innovatively addressing issues of youth at risk and eldercare. "There's a strong fiscally conservative argument for supporting the arts… [without it we would be] culturally and economically soulless." Federal Heritage Minister James Moore Public investment in arts results in healthier, happier, economically competitive, and liveable communities. Public investment in the arts results in stronger creative industries, tourism, and social-profit sectors. The province’s own research shows that every dollar invested in arts and cultural organizations returns between $1.05 and $1.36 directly to provincial treasuries through tax revenues. Of Canada’s 10 provinces, BC has the largest percentage of its labour force in arts occupations. As well, the arts and cultural sectors and B.C.'s creative industries generate $5.2 billion each year and employ 80,000 people. Growth in cultural employment in Canada from 1981 to 2001 was 81% higher than the 32% growth in the overall labour force during the same period. Arts organizations use provincial funding to leverage investment from other sources: other levels of government, foundations, private donors; all aimed at keeping admission prices affordable. Many of those sources make their decisions based on the level of investment by the province. By slashing investment the Province is endangering the support that other sources are still willing to provide. THE BC STORY “British Columbia is the place for local arts and culture. People agree emphatically that funding for the arts should not be left up to private business and foundations, but should get a boost from local governments. Ninety-one per cent of B.C. residents praise the selection of [arts and cultural] events and activities in their community, and it’s the only region in Canada where there’s complete agreement with the idea that a vibrant cultural scene is great for the local economy.” From “We Know What You’re Thinking”, by Darrell Bricker and John Wright of Ipsos Reid · Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, says there “hasn’t been a cut” in funding. That’s because there has been a financial shell game going on where gaming moneys are being used for things that they were never meant for, which means 44% of arts and culture groups that received the money from gaming last year received nothing this year · No other province in Canada has reduced support for the arts sector at this time of economic uncertainty. Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland and the federal government have all increased their investments. · Provincial Government funding in British Columbia from all sources makes up an average of seven percent of the operating budgets of performing arts organizations. This is the lowest in Canada. The national average is 13 percent. In Quebec, provincial funding accounts for 26 percent of a performing arts organization’s budget. · The BC government has allocated half a million dollars to advertise the Olympics in schools, while cutting gaming grants that support BC Sports in schools for one-quarter of the cost. · British Columbia has the highest number of artists per capita in the country. Vancouver has the largest concentration of any major city in Canada and Victoria has the second largest. Seven of the top ten municipalities with the highest number of artists per capita are also located in BC. · Changing the allocation of the Gaming Funds represents a breach of the promise made to those communities that accepted casinos or slot machines based that the proceeds from gambling would be re-invested in the arts and their communities. · In 1999, the province of BC entered into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the BC Association of for Charitable Gaming to commit one-third of the annual BC Lottery Corporation revenues for the purpose of supporting licensed charities. The government has never met that promise. IN THEIR OWN WORDS The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts. This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics: · “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
Ø British Columbia already has the lowest per-capita investment in the Arts in the country. Ø Every dollar the province invests in the Arts returns up to $1.36 in tax revenue. Ø Every other province is at least maintaining, or increasing, investment in the Arts. Ø The Arts help children do better in school, keep downtown areas vibrant, and improve health in seniors. So why is the provincial government all but eliminating investment in the Arts? HERE’S WHAT WE’RE ASKING THE GOVERNMENT TO DO: Ø Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; Ø Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; Ø Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. THE SAD TRUTH In British Columbia, the Arts are under siege. After eight years of BC Liberal government arts management that saw gradual improvements to the level of investment in the sector, arts and culture in BC is in the midst of its biggest crisis ever. September’s budget projected a drop in investment on arts and culture to $3.6-million in 2010-11 from almost $48-million last year. The province’s community gambling grant program approved only 350 of the 953 applications for funds requested by cultural organizations, for a total of $8.9 million. Last year, 840 applications were approved, totaling $18 million. If we don’t succeed in changing the government’s course, the cuts will be 85 percent for next year, and 92 percent after that. No other sector is facing cuts of that magnitude. No other province in Canada is slashing funding. Many are actually increasing their support for the Arts. They recognize that the Arts are a growth industry that more than pays for itself, both financially and through its many social benefits. It’s not too late to convince the BC government to see the error of its ways. How can you help? By contacting your MLA and telling them that you believe Culture Matters. The following pages contain information that will help. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters. WHAT DO THESE CUTS MEAN? ProArt conducted a preliminary survey of its membership to determine the potential impact on the Victoria area alone. Our findings included: · More than 150 artists and arts administrators will be impacted, giving them fewer chances to practice and develop their craft; · The equivalent of at least 22 full-time positions will be lost; · One company alone says 300 hotel room nights will be lost because of cuts. If each of those rooms were to generate two restaurant visits, there will be 600 fewer meals served; · The Jazz Festival will cancel many free events that normally entertain more than 35,000 people; · The Jazz Festival, The Victoria Symphony, and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria all say they will eliminate or severely limit their outreach programs that take art into the schools; · Many organizations will be postponing renovations, upgrades, and maintenance that would provide work for carpenters, masons, plumbers, and other trades people. Fewer sets will be built, which means fewer purchases at hardware and building supply stores; · Reduced programming means fewer programs, flyers, and posters will be printed and fewer ads will be placed with local newspapers, TV, and radio; · The cuts to gaming alone mean hundreds of thousands of dollars will not be spent in this community. WHY DOES CULTURE MATTER? "... the arts, like education, health and social security, are universal goods that ought to be generally available regardless of ability to pay." SIR WILLIAM REES-MOGG (former chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain) The economic, social, health and educational benefits to our communities created by investing in arts and culture, by all levels of government, are well documented and supported. Public funding helps to ensure that the arts touch the lives of as many people as possible by keeping admission prices affordable. Learning through the Arts, a three year national research study conducted by Queen’s University concluded that involvement in the arts contributed to student achievement as much as 11 percentile points higher in math than their peers. Ninety per cent of parents reported that the arts motivated their children to learn. Teachers, parents, artists, and administrators talked about how the arts motivated children, referring to the emotional, physical, cognitive, and social benefits of learning in and through the arts. According to the Conference Board of Canada, many educators also believe that creative activities provide positive learning experiences, such as: § Helping to improve communication skills and promoting creative thinking § Contributing to improved literacy and language development through libraries and reading programs § Helping to develop information technology skills critical for employment in the knowledge economy as creative activities often involve information and communications technologies § Art programs for youth and seniors measurably improve the lives of participants, visibly fostering healthier communities and innovatively addressing issues of youth at risk and eldercare. "There's a strong fiscally conservative argument for supporting the arts… [without it we would be] culturally and economically soulless." Federal Heritage Minister James Moore Public investment in arts results in healthier, happier, economically competitive, and liveable communities. Public investment in the arts results in stronger creative industries, tourism, and social-profit sectors. The province’s own research shows that every dollar invested in arts and cultural organizations returns between $1.05 and $1.36 directly to provincial treasuries through tax revenues. Of Canada’s 10 provinces, BC has the largest percentage of its labour force in arts occupations. As well, the arts and cultural sectors and B.C.'s creative industries generate $5.2 billion each year and employ 80,000 people. Growth in cultural employment in Canada from 1981 to 2001 was 81% higher than the 32% growth in the overall labour force during the same period. Arts organizations use provincial funding to leverage investment from other sources: other levels of government, foundations, private donors; all aimed at keeping admission prices affordable. Many of those sources make their decisions based on the level of investment by the province. By slashing investment the Province is endangering the support that other sources are still willing to provide. THE BC STORY “British Columbia is the place for local arts and culture. People agree emphatically that funding for the arts should not be left up to private business and foundations, but should get a boost from local governments. Ninety-one per cent of B.C. residents praise the selection of [arts and cultural] events and activities in their community, and it’s the only region in Canada where there’s complete agreement with the idea that a vibrant cultural scene is great for the local economy.” From “We Know What You’re Thinking”, by Darrell Bricker and John Wright of Ipsos Reid · Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, says there “hasn’t been a cut” in funding. That’s because there has been a financial shell game going on where gaming moneys are being used for things that they were never meant for, which means 44% of arts and culture groups that received the money from gaming last year received nothing this year · No other province in Canada has reduced support for the arts sector at this time of economic uncertainty. Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland and the federal government have all increased their investments. · Provincial Government funding in British Columbia from all sources makes up an average of seven percent of the operating budgets of performing arts organizations. This is the lowest in Canada. The national average is 13 percent. In Quebec, provincial funding accounts for 26 percent of a performing arts organization’s budget. · The BC government has allocated half a million dollars to advertise the Olympics in schools, while cutting gaming grants that support BC Sports in schools for one-quarter of the cost. · British Columbia has the highest number of artists per capita in the country. Vancouver has the largest concentration of any major city in Canada and Victoria has the second largest. Seven of the top ten municipalities with the highest number of artists per capita are also located in BC. · Changing the allocation of the Gaming Funds represents a breach of the promise made to those communities that accepted casinos or slot machines based that the proceeds from gambling would be re-invested in the arts and their communities. · In 1999, the province of BC entered into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the BC Association of for Charitable Gaming to commit one-third of the annual BC Lottery Corporation revenues for the purpose of supporting licensed charities. The government has never met that promise. IN THEIR OWN WORDS The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts. This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics: · “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
Ø Every dollar the province invests in the Arts returns up to $1.36 in tax revenue. Ø Every other province is at least maintaining, or increasing, investment in the Arts. Ø The Arts help children do better in school, keep downtown areas vibrant, and improve health in seniors. So why is the provincial government all but eliminating investment in the Arts? HERE’S WHAT WE’RE ASKING THE GOVERNMENT TO DO: Ø Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; Ø Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; Ø Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. THE SAD TRUTH In British Columbia, the Arts are under siege. After eight years of BC Liberal government arts management that saw gradual improvements to the level of investment in the sector, arts and culture in BC is in the midst of its biggest crisis ever. September’s budget projected a drop in investment on arts and culture to $3.6-million in 2010-11 from almost $48-million last year. The province’s community gambling grant program approved only 350 of the 953 applications for funds requested by cultural organizations, for a total of $8.9 million. Last year, 840 applications were approved, totaling $18 million. If we don’t succeed in changing the government’s course, the cuts will be 85 percent for next year, and 92 percent after that. No other sector is facing cuts of that magnitude. No other province in Canada is slashing funding. Many are actually increasing their support for the Arts. They recognize that the Arts are a growth industry that more than pays for itself, both financially and through its many social benefits. It’s not too late to convince the BC government to see the error of its ways. How can you help? By contacting your MLA and telling them that you believe Culture Matters. The following pages contain information that will help. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters. WHAT DO THESE CUTS MEAN? ProArt conducted a preliminary survey of its membership to determine the potential impact on the Victoria area alone. Our findings included: · More than 150 artists and arts administrators will be impacted, giving them fewer chances to practice and develop their craft; · The equivalent of at least 22 full-time positions will be lost; · One company alone says 300 hotel room nights will be lost because of cuts. If each of those rooms were to generate two restaurant visits, there will be 600 fewer meals served; · The Jazz Festival will cancel many free events that normally entertain more than 35,000 people; · The Jazz Festival, The Victoria Symphony, and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria all say they will eliminate or severely limit their outreach programs that take art into the schools; · Many organizations will be postponing renovations, upgrades, and maintenance that would provide work for carpenters, masons, plumbers, and other trades people. Fewer sets will be built, which means fewer purchases at hardware and building supply stores; · Reduced programming means fewer programs, flyers, and posters will be printed and fewer ads will be placed with local newspapers, TV, and radio; · The cuts to gaming alone mean hundreds of thousands of dollars will not be spent in this community. WHY DOES CULTURE MATTER? "... the arts, like education, health and social security, are universal goods that ought to be generally available regardless of ability to pay." SIR WILLIAM REES-MOGG (former chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain) The economic, social, health and educational benefits to our communities created by investing in arts and culture, by all levels of government, are well documented and supported. Public funding helps to ensure that the arts touch the lives of as many people as possible by keeping admission prices affordable. Learning through the Arts, a three year national research study conducted by Queen’s University concluded that involvement in the arts contributed to student achievement as much as 11 percentile points higher in math than their peers. Ninety per cent of parents reported that the arts motivated their children to learn. Teachers, parents, artists, and administrators talked about how the arts motivated children, referring to the emotional, physical, cognitive, and social benefits of learning in and through the arts. According to the Conference Board of Canada, many educators also believe that creative activities provide positive learning experiences, such as: § Helping to improve communication skills and promoting creative thinking § Contributing to improved literacy and language development through libraries and reading programs § Helping to develop information technology skills critical for employment in the knowledge economy as creative activities often involve information and communications technologies § Art programs for youth and seniors measurably improve the lives of participants, visibly fostering healthier communities and innovatively addressing issues of youth at risk and eldercare. "There's a strong fiscally conservative argument for supporting the arts… [without it we would be] culturally and economically soulless." Federal Heritage Minister James Moore Public investment in arts results in healthier, happier, economically competitive, and liveable communities. Public investment in the arts results in stronger creative industries, tourism, and social-profit sectors. The province’s own research shows that every dollar invested in arts and cultural organizations returns between $1.05 and $1.36 directly to provincial treasuries through tax revenues. Of Canada’s 10 provinces, BC has the largest percentage of its labour force in arts occupations. As well, the arts and cultural sectors and B.C.'s creative industries generate $5.2 billion each year and employ 80,000 people. Growth in cultural employment in Canada from 1981 to 2001 was 81% higher than the 32% growth in the overall labour force during the same period. Arts organizations use provincial funding to leverage investment from other sources: other levels of government, foundations, private donors; all aimed at keeping admission prices affordable. Many of those sources make their decisions based on the level of investment by the province. By slashing investment the Province is endangering the support that other sources are still willing to provide. THE BC STORY “British Columbia is the place for local arts and culture. People agree emphatically that funding for the arts should not be left up to private business and foundations, but should get a boost from local governments. Ninety-one per cent of B.C. residents praise the selection of [arts and cultural] events and activities in their community, and it’s the only region in Canada where there’s complete agreement with the idea that a vibrant cultural scene is great for the local economy.” From “We Know What You’re Thinking”, by Darrell Bricker and John Wright of Ipsos Reid · Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, says there “hasn’t been a cut” in funding. That’s because there has been a financial shell game going on where gaming moneys are being used for things that they were never meant for, which means 44% of arts and culture groups that received the money from gaming last year received nothing this year · No other province in Canada has reduced support for the arts sector at this time of economic uncertainty. Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland and the federal government have all increased their investments. · Provincial Government funding in British Columbia from all sources makes up an average of seven percent of the operating budgets of performing arts organizations. This is the lowest in Canada. The national average is 13 percent. In Quebec, provincial funding accounts for 26 percent of a performing arts organization’s budget. · The BC government has allocated half a million dollars to advertise the Olympics in schools, while cutting gaming grants that support BC Sports in schools for one-quarter of the cost. · British Columbia has the highest number of artists per capita in the country. Vancouver has the largest concentration of any major city in Canada and Victoria has the second largest. Seven of the top ten municipalities with the highest number of artists per capita are also located in BC. · Changing the allocation of the Gaming Funds represents a breach of the promise made to those communities that accepted casinos or slot machines based that the proceeds from gambling would be re-invested in the arts and their communities. · In 1999, the province of BC entered into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the BC Association of for Charitable Gaming to commit one-third of the annual BC Lottery Corporation revenues for the purpose of supporting licensed charities. The government has never met that promise. IN THEIR OWN WORDS The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts. This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics: · “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
Ø Every other province is at least maintaining, or increasing, investment in the Arts. Ø The Arts help children do better in school, keep downtown areas vibrant, and improve health in seniors. So why is the provincial government all but eliminating investment in the Arts? HERE’S WHAT WE’RE ASKING THE GOVERNMENT TO DO: Ø Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; Ø Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; Ø Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. THE SAD TRUTH In British Columbia, the Arts are under siege. After eight years of BC Liberal government arts management that saw gradual improvements to the level of investment in the sector, arts and culture in BC is in the midst of its biggest crisis ever. September’s budget projected a drop in investment on arts and culture to $3.6-million in 2010-11 from almost $48-million last year. The province’s community gambling grant program approved only 350 of the 953 applications for funds requested by cultural organizations, for a total of $8.9 million. Last year, 840 applications were approved, totaling $18 million. If we don’t succeed in changing the government’s course, the cuts will be 85 percent for next year, and 92 percent after that. No other sector is facing cuts of that magnitude. No other province in Canada is slashing funding. Many are actually increasing their support for the Arts. They recognize that the Arts are a growth industry that more than pays for itself, both financially and through its many social benefits. It’s not too late to convince the BC government to see the error of its ways. How can you help? By contacting your MLA and telling them that you believe Culture Matters. The following pages contain information that will help. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters. WHAT DO THESE CUTS MEAN? ProArt conducted a preliminary survey of its membership to determine the potential impact on the Victoria area alone. Our findings included: · More than 150 artists and arts administrators will be impacted, giving them fewer chances to practice and develop their craft; · The equivalent of at least 22 full-time positions will be lost; · One company alone says 300 hotel room nights will be lost because of cuts. If each of those rooms were to generate two restaurant visits, there will be 600 fewer meals served; · The Jazz Festival will cancel many free events that normally entertain more than 35,000 people; · The Jazz Festival, The Victoria Symphony, and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria all say they will eliminate or severely limit their outreach programs that take art into the schools; · Many organizations will be postponing renovations, upgrades, and maintenance that would provide work for carpenters, masons, plumbers, and other trades people. Fewer sets will be built, which means fewer purchases at hardware and building supply stores; · Reduced programming means fewer programs, flyers, and posters will be printed and fewer ads will be placed with local newspapers, TV, and radio; · The cuts to gaming alone mean hundreds of thousands of dollars will not be spent in this community. WHY DOES CULTURE MATTER? "... the arts, like education, health and social security, are universal goods that ought to be generally available regardless of ability to pay." SIR WILLIAM REES-MOGG (former chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain) The economic, social, health and educational benefits to our communities created by investing in arts and culture, by all levels of government, are well documented and supported. Public funding helps to ensure that the arts touch the lives of as many people as possible by keeping admission prices affordable. Learning through the Arts, a three year national research study conducted by Queen’s University concluded that involvement in the arts contributed to student achievement as much as 11 percentile points higher in math than their peers. Ninety per cent of parents reported that the arts motivated their children to learn. Teachers, parents, artists, and administrators talked about how the arts motivated children, referring to the emotional, physical, cognitive, and social benefits of learning in and through the arts. According to the Conference Board of Canada, many educators also believe that creative activities provide positive learning experiences, such as: § Helping to improve communication skills and promoting creative thinking § Contributing to improved literacy and language development through libraries and reading programs § Helping to develop information technology skills critical for employment in the knowledge economy as creative activities often involve information and communications technologies § Art programs for youth and seniors measurably improve the lives of participants, visibly fostering healthier communities and innovatively addressing issues of youth at risk and eldercare. "There's a strong fiscally conservative argument for supporting the arts… [without it we would be] culturally and economically soulless." Federal Heritage Minister James Moore Public investment in arts results in healthier, happier, economically competitive, and liveable communities. Public investment in the arts results in stronger creative industries, tourism, and social-profit sectors. The province’s own research shows that every dollar invested in arts and cultural organizations returns between $1.05 and $1.36 directly to provincial treasuries through tax revenues. Of Canada’s 10 provinces, BC has the largest percentage of its labour force in arts occupations. As well, the arts and cultural sectors and B.C.'s creative industries generate $5.2 billion each year and employ 80,000 people. Growth in cultural employment in Canada from 1981 to 2001 was 81% higher than the 32% growth in the overall labour force during the same period. Arts organizations use provincial funding to leverage investment from other sources: other levels of government, foundations, private donors; all aimed at keeping admission prices affordable. Many of those sources make their decisions based on the level of investment by the province. By slashing investment the Province is endangering the support that other sources are still willing to provide. THE BC STORY “British Columbia is the place for local arts and culture. People agree emphatically that funding for the arts should not be left up to private business and foundations, but should get a boost from local governments. Ninety-one per cent of B.C. residents praise the selection of [arts and cultural] events and activities in their community, and it’s the only region in Canada where there’s complete agreement with the idea that a vibrant cultural scene is great for the local economy.” From “We Know What You’re Thinking”, by Darrell Bricker and John Wright of Ipsos Reid · Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, says there “hasn’t been a cut” in funding. That’s because there has been a financial shell game going on where gaming moneys are being used for things that they were never meant for, which means 44% of arts and culture groups that received the money from gaming last year received nothing this year · No other province in Canada has reduced support for the arts sector at this time of economic uncertainty. Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland and the federal government have all increased their investments. · Provincial Government funding in British Columbia from all sources makes up an average of seven percent of the operating budgets of performing arts organizations. This is the lowest in Canada. The national average is 13 percent. In Quebec, provincial funding accounts for 26 percent of a performing arts organization’s budget. · The BC government has allocated half a million dollars to advertise the Olympics in schools, while cutting gaming grants that support BC Sports in schools for one-quarter of the cost. · British Columbia has the highest number of artists per capita in the country. Vancouver has the largest concentration of any major city in Canada and Victoria has the second largest. Seven of the top ten municipalities with the highest number of artists per capita are also located in BC. · Changing the allocation of the Gaming Funds represents a breach of the promise made to those communities that accepted casinos or slot machines based that the proceeds from gambling would be re-invested in the arts and their communities. · In 1999, the province of BC entered into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the BC Association of for Charitable Gaming to commit one-third of the annual BC Lottery Corporation revenues for the purpose of supporting licensed charities. The government has never met that promise. IN THEIR OWN WORDS The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts. This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics: · “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
Ø The Arts help children do better in school, keep downtown areas vibrant, and improve health in seniors. So why is the provincial government all but eliminating investment in the Arts? HERE’S WHAT WE’RE ASKING THE GOVERNMENT TO DO: Ø Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; Ø Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; Ø Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. THE SAD TRUTH In British Columbia, the Arts are under siege. After eight years of BC Liberal government arts management that saw gradual improvements to the level of investment in the sector, arts and culture in BC is in the midst of its biggest crisis ever. September’s budget projected a drop in investment on arts and culture to $3.6-million in 2010-11 from almost $48-million last year. The province’s community gambling grant program approved only 350 of the 953 applications for funds requested by cultural organizations, for a total of $8.9 million. Last year, 840 applications were approved, totaling $18 million. If we don’t succeed in changing the government’s course, the cuts will be 85 percent for next year, and 92 percent after that. No other sector is facing cuts of that magnitude. No other province in Canada is slashing funding. Many are actually increasing their support for the Arts. They recognize that the Arts are a growth industry that more than pays for itself, both financially and through its many social benefits. It’s not too late to convince the BC government to see the error of its ways. How can you help? By contacting your MLA and telling them that you believe Culture Matters. The following pages contain information that will help. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters. WHAT DO THESE CUTS MEAN? ProArt conducted a preliminary survey of its membership to determine the potential impact on the Victoria area alone. Our findings included: · More than 150 artists and arts administrators will be impacted, giving them fewer chances to practice and develop their craft; · The equivalent of at least 22 full-time positions will be lost; · One company alone says 300 hotel room nights will be lost because of cuts. If each of those rooms were to generate two restaurant visits, there will be 600 fewer meals served; · The Jazz Festival will cancel many free events that normally entertain more than 35,000 people; · The Jazz Festival, The Victoria Symphony, and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria all say they will eliminate or severely limit their outreach programs that take art into the schools; · Many organizations will be postponing renovations, upgrades, and maintenance that would provide work for carpenters, masons, plumbers, and other trades people. Fewer sets will be built, which means fewer purchases at hardware and building supply stores; · Reduced programming means fewer programs, flyers, and posters will be printed and fewer ads will be placed with local newspapers, TV, and radio; · The cuts to gaming alone mean hundreds of thousands of dollars will not be spent in this community. WHY DOES CULTURE MATTER? "... the arts, like education, health and social security, are universal goods that ought to be generally available regardless of ability to pay." SIR WILLIAM REES-MOGG (former chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain) The economic, social, health and educational benefits to our communities created by investing in arts and culture, by all levels of government, are well documented and supported. Public funding helps to ensure that the arts touch the lives of as many people as possible by keeping admission prices affordable. Learning through the Arts, a three year national research study conducted by Queen’s University concluded that involvement in the arts contributed to student achievement as much as 11 percentile points higher in math than their peers. Ninety per cent of parents reported that the arts motivated their children to learn. Teachers, parents, artists, and administrators talked about how the arts motivated children, referring to the emotional, physical, cognitive, and social benefits of learning in and through the arts. According to the Conference Board of Canada, many educators also believe that creative activities provide positive learning experiences, such as: § Helping to improve communication skills and promoting creative thinking § Contributing to improved literacy and language development through libraries and reading programs § Helping to develop information technology skills critical for employment in the knowledge economy as creative activities often involve information and communications technologies § Art programs for youth and seniors measurably improve the lives of participants, visibly fostering healthier communities and innovatively addressing issues of youth at risk and eldercare. "There's a strong fiscally conservative argument for supporting the arts… [without it we would be] culturally and economically soulless." Federal Heritage Minister James Moore Public investment in arts results in healthier, happier, economically competitive, and liveable communities. Public investment in the arts results in stronger creative industries, tourism, and social-profit sectors. The province’s own research shows that every dollar invested in arts and cultural organizations returns between $1.05 and $1.36 directly to provincial treasuries through tax revenues. Of Canada’s 10 provinces, BC has the largest percentage of its labour force in arts occupations. As well, the arts and cultural sectors and B.C.'s creative industries generate $5.2 billion each year and employ 80,000 people. Growth in cultural employment in Canada from 1981 to 2001 was 81% higher than the 32% growth in the overall labour force during the same period. Arts organizations use provincial funding to leverage investment from other sources: other levels of government, foundations, private donors; all aimed at keeping admission prices affordable. Many of those sources make their decisions based on the level of investment by the province. By slashing investment the Province is endangering the support that other sources are still willing to provide. THE BC STORY “British Columbia is the place for local arts and culture. People agree emphatically that funding for the arts should not be left up to private business and foundations, but should get a boost from local governments. Ninety-one per cent of B.C. residents praise the selection of [arts and cultural] events and activities in their community, and it’s the only region in Canada where there’s complete agreement with the idea that a vibrant cultural scene is great for the local economy.” From “We Know What You’re Thinking”, by Darrell Bricker and John Wright of Ipsos Reid · Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, says there “hasn’t been a cut” in funding. That’s because there has been a financial shell game going on where gaming moneys are being used for things that they were never meant for, which means 44% of arts and culture groups that received the money from gaming last year received nothing this year · No other province in Canada has reduced support for the arts sector at this time of economic uncertainty. Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland and the federal government have all increased their investments. · Provincial Government funding in British Columbia from all sources makes up an average of seven percent of the operating budgets of performing arts organizations. This is the lowest in Canada. The national average is 13 percent. In Quebec, provincial funding accounts for 26 percent of a performing arts organization’s budget. · The BC government has allocated half a million dollars to advertise the Olympics in schools, while cutting gaming grants that support BC Sports in schools for one-quarter of the cost. · British Columbia has the highest number of artists per capita in the country. Vancouver has the largest concentration of any major city in Canada and Victoria has the second largest. Seven of the top ten municipalities with the highest number of artists per capita are also located in BC. · Changing the allocation of the Gaming Funds represents a breach of the promise made to those communities that accepted casinos or slot machines based that the proceeds from gambling would be re-invested in the arts and their communities. · In 1999, the province of BC entered into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the BC Association of for Charitable Gaming to commit one-third of the annual BC Lottery Corporation revenues for the purpose of supporting licensed charities. The government has never met that promise. IN THEIR OWN WORDS The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts. This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics: · “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
So why is the provincial government all but eliminating investment in the Arts?
HERE’S WHAT WE’RE ASKING THE GOVERNMENT TO DO: Ø Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; Ø Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; Ø Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. THE SAD TRUTH In British Columbia, the Arts are under siege. After eight years of BC Liberal government arts management that saw gradual improvements to the level of investment in the sector, arts and culture in BC is in the midst of its biggest crisis ever. September’s budget projected a drop in investment on arts and culture to $3.6-million in 2010-11 from almost $48-million last year. The province’s community gambling grant program approved only 350 of the 953 applications for funds requested by cultural organizations, for a total of $8.9 million. Last year, 840 applications were approved, totaling $18 million. If we don’t succeed in changing the government’s course, the cuts will be 85 percent for next year, and 92 percent after that. No other sector is facing cuts of that magnitude. No other province in Canada is slashing funding. Many are actually increasing their support for the Arts. They recognize that the Arts are a growth industry that more than pays for itself, both financially and through its many social benefits. It’s not too late to convince the BC government to see the error of its ways. How can you help? By contacting your MLA and telling them that you believe Culture Matters. The following pages contain information that will help. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters. WHAT DO THESE CUTS MEAN? ProArt conducted a preliminary survey of its membership to determine the potential impact on the Victoria area alone. Our findings included: · More than 150 artists and arts administrators will be impacted, giving them fewer chances to practice and develop their craft; · The equivalent of at least 22 full-time positions will be lost; · One company alone says 300 hotel room nights will be lost because of cuts. If each of those rooms were to generate two restaurant visits, there will be 600 fewer meals served; · The Jazz Festival will cancel many free events that normally entertain more than 35,000 people; · The Jazz Festival, The Victoria Symphony, and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria all say they will eliminate or severely limit their outreach programs that take art into the schools; · Many organizations will be postponing renovations, upgrades, and maintenance that would provide work for carpenters, masons, plumbers, and other trades people. Fewer sets will be built, which means fewer purchases at hardware and building supply stores; · Reduced programming means fewer programs, flyers, and posters will be printed and fewer ads will be placed with local newspapers, TV, and radio; · The cuts to gaming alone mean hundreds of thousands of dollars will not be spent in this community. WHY DOES CULTURE MATTER? "... the arts, like education, health and social security, are universal goods that ought to be generally available regardless of ability to pay." SIR WILLIAM REES-MOGG (former chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain) The economic, social, health and educational benefits to our communities created by investing in arts and culture, by all levels of government, are well documented and supported. Public funding helps to ensure that the arts touch the lives of as many people as possible by keeping admission prices affordable. Learning through the Arts, a three year national research study conducted by Queen’s University concluded that involvement in the arts contributed to student achievement as much as 11 percentile points higher in math than their peers. Ninety per cent of parents reported that the arts motivated their children to learn. Teachers, parents, artists, and administrators talked about how the arts motivated children, referring to the emotional, physical, cognitive, and social benefits of learning in and through the arts. According to the Conference Board of Canada, many educators also believe that creative activities provide positive learning experiences, such as: § Helping to improve communication skills and promoting creative thinking § Contributing to improved literacy and language development through libraries and reading programs § Helping to develop information technology skills critical for employment in the knowledge economy as creative activities often involve information and communications technologies § Art programs for youth and seniors measurably improve the lives of participants, visibly fostering healthier communities and innovatively addressing issues of youth at risk and eldercare. "There's a strong fiscally conservative argument for supporting the arts… [without it we would be] culturally and economically soulless." Federal Heritage Minister James Moore Public investment in arts results in healthier, happier, economically competitive, and liveable communities. Public investment in the arts results in stronger creative industries, tourism, and social-profit sectors. The province’s own research shows that every dollar invested in arts and cultural organizations returns between $1.05 and $1.36 directly to provincial treasuries through tax revenues. Of Canada’s 10 provinces, BC has the largest percentage of its labour force in arts occupations. As well, the arts and cultural sectors and B.C.'s creative industries generate $5.2 billion each year and employ 80,000 people. Growth in cultural employment in Canada from 1981 to 2001 was 81% higher than the 32% growth in the overall labour force during the same period. Arts organizations use provincial funding to leverage investment from other sources: other levels of government, foundations, private donors; all aimed at keeping admission prices affordable. Many of those sources make their decisions based on the level of investment by the province. By slashing investment the Province is endangering the support that other sources are still willing to provide. THE BC STORY “British Columbia is the place for local arts and culture. People agree emphatically that funding for the arts should not be left up to private business and foundations, but should get a boost from local governments. Ninety-one per cent of B.C. residents praise the selection of [arts and cultural] events and activities in their community, and it’s the only region in Canada where there’s complete agreement with the idea that a vibrant cultural scene is great for the local economy.” From “We Know What You’re Thinking”, by Darrell Bricker and John Wright of Ipsos Reid · Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, says there “hasn’t been a cut” in funding. That’s because there has been a financial shell game going on where gaming moneys are being used for things that they were never meant for, which means 44% of arts and culture groups that received the money from gaming last year received nothing this year · No other province in Canada has reduced support for the arts sector at this time of economic uncertainty. Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland and the federal government have all increased their investments. · Provincial Government funding in British Columbia from all sources makes up an average of seven percent of the operating budgets of performing arts organizations. This is the lowest in Canada. The national average is 13 percent. In Quebec, provincial funding accounts for 26 percent of a performing arts organization’s budget. · The BC government has allocated half a million dollars to advertise the Olympics in schools, while cutting gaming grants that support BC Sports in schools for one-quarter of the cost. · British Columbia has the highest number of artists per capita in the country. Vancouver has the largest concentration of any major city in Canada and Victoria has the second largest. Seven of the top ten municipalities with the highest number of artists per capita are also located in BC. · Changing the allocation of the Gaming Funds represents a breach of the promise made to those communities that accepted casinos or slot machines based that the proceeds from gambling would be re-invested in the arts and their communities. · In 1999, the province of BC entered into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the BC Association of for Charitable Gaming to commit one-third of the annual BC Lottery Corporation revenues for the purpose of supporting licensed charities. The government has never met that promise. IN THEIR OWN WORDS The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts. This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics: · “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
Ø Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; Ø Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; Ø Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. THE SAD TRUTH In British Columbia, the Arts are under siege. After eight years of BC Liberal government arts management that saw gradual improvements to the level of investment in the sector, arts and culture in BC is in the midst of its biggest crisis ever. September’s budget projected a drop in investment on arts and culture to $3.6-million in 2010-11 from almost $48-million last year. The province’s community gambling grant program approved only 350 of the 953 applications for funds requested by cultural organizations, for a total of $8.9 million. Last year, 840 applications were approved, totaling $18 million. If we don’t succeed in changing the government’s course, the cuts will be 85 percent for next year, and 92 percent after that. No other sector is facing cuts of that magnitude. No other province in Canada is slashing funding. Many are actually increasing their support for the Arts. They recognize that the Arts are a growth industry that more than pays for itself, both financially and through its many social benefits. It’s not too late to convince the BC government to see the error of its ways. How can you help? By contacting your MLA and telling them that you believe Culture Matters. The following pages contain information that will help. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters. WHAT DO THESE CUTS MEAN? ProArt conducted a preliminary survey of its membership to determine the potential impact on the Victoria area alone. Our findings included: · More than 150 artists and arts administrators will be impacted, giving them fewer chances to practice and develop their craft; · The equivalent of at least 22 full-time positions will be lost; · One company alone says 300 hotel room nights will be lost because of cuts. If each of those rooms were to generate two restaurant visits, there will be 600 fewer meals served; · The Jazz Festival will cancel many free events that normally entertain more than 35,000 people; · The Jazz Festival, The Victoria Symphony, and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria all say they will eliminate or severely limit their outreach programs that take art into the schools; · Many organizations will be postponing renovations, upgrades, and maintenance that would provide work for carpenters, masons, plumbers, and other trades people. Fewer sets will be built, which means fewer purchases at hardware and building supply stores; · Reduced programming means fewer programs, flyers, and posters will be printed and fewer ads will be placed with local newspapers, TV, and radio; · The cuts to gaming alone mean hundreds of thousands of dollars will not be spent in this community. WHY DOES CULTURE MATTER? "... the arts, like education, health and social security, are universal goods that ought to be generally available regardless of ability to pay." SIR WILLIAM REES-MOGG (former chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain) The economic, social, health and educational benefits to our communities created by investing in arts and culture, by all levels of government, are well documented and supported. Public funding helps to ensure that the arts touch the lives of as many people as possible by keeping admission prices affordable. Learning through the Arts, a three year national research study conducted by Queen’s University concluded that involvement in the arts contributed to student achievement as much as 11 percentile points higher in math than their peers. Ninety per cent of parents reported that the arts motivated their children to learn. Teachers, parents, artists, and administrators talked about how the arts motivated children, referring to the emotional, physical, cognitive, and social benefits of learning in and through the arts. According to the Conference Board of Canada, many educators also believe that creative activities provide positive learning experiences, such as: § Helping to improve communication skills and promoting creative thinking § Contributing to improved literacy and language development through libraries and reading programs § Helping to develop information technology skills critical for employment in the knowledge economy as creative activities often involve information and communications technologies § Art programs for youth and seniors measurably improve the lives of participants, visibly fostering healthier communities and innovatively addressing issues of youth at risk and eldercare. "There's a strong fiscally conservative argument for supporting the arts… [without it we would be] culturally and economically soulless." Federal Heritage Minister James Moore Public investment in arts results in healthier, happier, economically competitive, and liveable communities. Public investment in the arts results in stronger creative industries, tourism, and social-profit sectors. The province’s own research shows that every dollar invested in arts and cultural organizations returns between $1.05 and $1.36 directly to provincial treasuries through tax revenues. Of Canada’s 10 provinces, BC has the largest percentage of its labour force in arts occupations. As well, the arts and cultural sectors and B.C.'s creative industries generate $5.2 billion each year and employ 80,000 people. Growth in cultural employment in Canada from 1981 to 2001 was 81% higher than the 32% growth in the overall labour force during the same period. Arts organizations use provincial funding to leverage investment from other sources: other levels of government, foundations, private donors; all aimed at keeping admission prices affordable. Many of those sources make their decisions based on the level of investment by the province. By slashing investment the Province is endangering the support that other sources are still willing to provide. THE BC STORY “British Columbia is the place for local arts and culture. People agree emphatically that funding for the arts should not be left up to private business and foundations, but should get a boost from local governments. Ninety-one per cent of B.C. residents praise the selection of [arts and cultural] events and activities in their community, and it’s the only region in Canada where there’s complete agreement with the idea that a vibrant cultural scene is great for the local economy.” From “We Know What You’re Thinking”, by Darrell Bricker and John Wright of Ipsos Reid · Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, says there “hasn’t been a cut” in funding. That’s because there has been a financial shell game going on where gaming moneys are being used for things that they were never meant for, which means 44% of arts and culture groups that received the money from gaming last year received nothing this year · No other province in Canada has reduced support for the arts sector at this time of economic uncertainty. Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland and the federal government have all increased their investments. · Provincial Government funding in British Columbia from all sources makes up an average of seven percent of the operating budgets of performing arts organizations. This is the lowest in Canada. The national average is 13 percent. In Quebec, provincial funding accounts for 26 percent of a performing arts organization’s budget. · The BC government has allocated half a million dollars to advertise the Olympics in schools, while cutting gaming grants that support BC Sports in schools for one-quarter of the cost. · British Columbia has the highest number of artists per capita in the country. Vancouver has the largest concentration of any major city in Canada and Victoria has the second largest. Seven of the top ten municipalities with the highest number of artists per capita are also located in BC. · Changing the allocation of the Gaming Funds represents a breach of the promise made to those communities that accepted casinos or slot machines based that the proceeds from gambling would be re-invested in the arts and their communities. · In 1999, the province of BC entered into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the BC Association of for Charitable Gaming to commit one-third of the annual BC Lottery Corporation revenues for the purpose of supporting licensed charities. The government has never met that promise. IN THEIR OWN WORDS The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts. This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics: · “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
Ø Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; Ø Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. THE SAD TRUTH In British Columbia, the Arts are under siege. After eight years of BC Liberal government arts management that saw gradual improvements to the level of investment in the sector, arts and culture in BC is in the midst of its biggest crisis ever. September’s budget projected a drop in investment on arts and culture to $3.6-million in 2010-11 from almost $48-million last year. The province’s community gambling grant program approved only 350 of the 953 applications for funds requested by cultural organizations, for a total of $8.9 million. Last year, 840 applications were approved, totaling $18 million. If we don’t succeed in changing the government’s course, the cuts will be 85 percent for next year, and 92 percent after that. No other sector is facing cuts of that magnitude. No other province in Canada is slashing funding. Many are actually increasing their support for the Arts. They recognize that the Arts are a growth industry that more than pays for itself, both financially and through its many social benefits. It’s not too late to convince the BC government to see the error of its ways. How can you help? By contacting your MLA and telling them that you believe Culture Matters. The following pages contain information that will help. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters. WHAT DO THESE CUTS MEAN? ProArt conducted a preliminary survey of its membership to determine the potential impact on the Victoria area alone. Our findings included: · More than 150 artists and arts administrators will be impacted, giving them fewer chances to practice and develop their craft; · The equivalent of at least 22 full-time positions will be lost; · One company alone says 300 hotel room nights will be lost because of cuts. If each of those rooms were to generate two restaurant visits, there will be 600 fewer meals served; · The Jazz Festival will cancel many free events that normally entertain more than 35,000 people; · The Jazz Festival, The Victoria Symphony, and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria all say they will eliminate or severely limit their outreach programs that take art into the schools; · Many organizations will be postponing renovations, upgrades, and maintenance that would provide work for carpenters, masons, plumbers, and other trades people. Fewer sets will be built, which means fewer purchases at hardware and building supply stores; · Reduced programming means fewer programs, flyers, and posters will be printed and fewer ads will be placed with local newspapers, TV, and radio; · The cuts to gaming alone mean hundreds of thousands of dollars will not be spent in this community. WHY DOES CULTURE MATTER? "... the arts, like education, health and social security, are universal goods that ought to be generally available regardless of ability to pay." SIR WILLIAM REES-MOGG (former chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain) The economic, social, health and educational benefits to our communities created by investing in arts and culture, by all levels of government, are well documented and supported. Public funding helps to ensure that the arts touch the lives of as many people as possible by keeping admission prices affordable. Learning through the Arts, a three year national research study conducted by Queen’s University concluded that involvement in the arts contributed to student achievement as much as 11 percentile points higher in math than their peers. Ninety per cent of parents reported that the arts motivated their children to learn. Teachers, parents, artists, and administrators talked about how the arts motivated children, referring to the emotional, physical, cognitive, and social benefits of learning in and through the arts. According to the Conference Board of Canada, many educators also believe that creative activities provide positive learning experiences, such as: § Helping to improve communication skills and promoting creative thinking § Contributing to improved literacy and language development through libraries and reading programs § Helping to develop information technology skills critical for employment in the knowledge economy as creative activities often involve information and communications technologies § Art programs for youth and seniors measurably improve the lives of participants, visibly fostering healthier communities and innovatively addressing issues of youth at risk and eldercare. "There's a strong fiscally conservative argument for supporting the arts… [without it we would be] culturally and economically soulless." Federal Heritage Minister James Moore Public investment in arts results in healthier, happier, economically competitive, and liveable communities. Public investment in the arts results in stronger creative industries, tourism, and social-profit sectors. The province’s own research shows that every dollar invested in arts and cultural organizations returns between $1.05 and $1.36 directly to provincial treasuries through tax revenues. Of Canada’s 10 provinces, BC has the largest percentage of its labour force in arts occupations. As well, the arts and cultural sectors and B.C.'s creative industries generate $5.2 billion each year and employ 80,000 people. Growth in cultural employment in Canada from 1981 to 2001 was 81% higher than the 32% growth in the overall labour force during the same period. Arts organizations use provincial funding to leverage investment from other sources: other levels of government, foundations, private donors; all aimed at keeping admission prices affordable. Many of those sources make their decisions based on the level of investment by the province. By slashing investment the Province is endangering the support that other sources are still willing to provide. THE BC STORY “British Columbia is the place for local arts and culture. People agree emphatically that funding for the arts should not be left up to private business and foundations, but should get a boost from local governments. Ninety-one per cent of B.C. residents praise the selection of [arts and cultural] events and activities in their community, and it’s the only region in Canada where there’s complete agreement with the idea that a vibrant cultural scene is great for the local economy.” From “We Know What You’re Thinking”, by Darrell Bricker and John Wright of Ipsos Reid · Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, says there “hasn’t been a cut” in funding. That’s because there has been a financial shell game going on where gaming moneys are being used for things that they were never meant for, which means 44% of arts and culture groups that received the money from gaming last year received nothing this year · No other province in Canada has reduced support for the arts sector at this time of economic uncertainty. Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland and the federal government have all increased their investments. · Provincial Government funding in British Columbia from all sources makes up an average of seven percent of the operating budgets of performing arts organizations. This is the lowest in Canada. The national average is 13 percent. In Quebec, provincial funding accounts for 26 percent of a performing arts organization’s budget. · The BC government has allocated half a million dollars to advertise the Olympics in schools, while cutting gaming grants that support BC Sports in schools for one-quarter of the cost. · British Columbia has the highest number of artists per capita in the country. Vancouver has the largest concentration of any major city in Canada and Victoria has the second largest. Seven of the top ten municipalities with the highest number of artists per capita are also located in BC. · Changing the allocation of the Gaming Funds represents a breach of the promise made to those communities that accepted casinos or slot machines based that the proceeds from gambling would be re-invested in the arts and their communities. · In 1999, the province of BC entered into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the BC Association of for Charitable Gaming to commit one-third of the annual BC Lottery Corporation revenues for the purpose of supporting licensed charities. The government has never met that promise. IN THEIR OWN WORDS The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts. This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics: · “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
Ø Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. THE SAD TRUTH In British Columbia, the Arts are under siege. After eight years of BC Liberal government arts management that saw gradual improvements to the level of investment in the sector, arts and culture in BC is in the midst of its biggest crisis ever. September’s budget projected a drop in investment on arts and culture to $3.6-million in 2010-11 from almost $48-million last year. The province’s community gambling grant program approved only 350 of the 953 applications for funds requested by cultural organizations, for a total of $8.9 million. Last year, 840 applications were approved, totaling $18 million. If we don’t succeed in changing the government’s course, the cuts will be 85 percent for next year, and 92 percent after that. No other sector is facing cuts of that magnitude. No other province in Canada is slashing funding. Many are actually increasing their support for the Arts. They recognize that the Arts are a growth industry that more than pays for itself, both financially and through its many social benefits. It’s not too late to convince the BC government to see the error of its ways. How can you help? By contacting your MLA and telling them that you believe Culture Matters. The following pages contain information that will help. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters. WHAT DO THESE CUTS MEAN? ProArt conducted a preliminary survey of its membership to determine the potential impact on the Victoria area alone. Our findings included: · More than 150 artists and arts administrators will be impacted, giving them fewer chances to practice and develop their craft; · The equivalent of at least 22 full-time positions will be lost; · One company alone says 300 hotel room nights will be lost because of cuts. If each of those rooms were to generate two restaurant visits, there will be 600 fewer meals served; · The Jazz Festival will cancel many free events that normally entertain more than 35,000 people; · The Jazz Festival, The Victoria Symphony, and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria all say they will eliminate or severely limit their outreach programs that take art into the schools; · Many organizations will be postponing renovations, upgrades, and maintenance that would provide work for carpenters, masons, plumbers, and other trades people. Fewer sets will be built, which means fewer purchases at hardware and building supply stores; · Reduced programming means fewer programs, flyers, and posters will be printed and fewer ads will be placed with local newspapers, TV, and radio; · The cuts to gaming alone mean hundreds of thousands of dollars will not be spent in this community. WHY DOES CULTURE MATTER? "... the arts, like education, health and social security, are universal goods that ought to be generally available regardless of ability to pay." SIR WILLIAM REES-MOGG (former chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain) The economic, social, health and educational benefits to our communities created by investing in arts and culture, by all levels of government, are well documented and supported. Public funding helps to ensure that the arts touch the lives of as many people as possible by keeping admission prices affordable. Learning through the Arts, a three year national research study conducted by Queen’s University concluded that involvement in the arts contributed to student achievement as much as 11 percentile points higher in math than their peers. Ninety per cent of parents reported that the arts motivated their children to learn. Teachers, parents, artists, and administrators talked about how the arts motivated children, referring to the emotional, physical, cognitive, and social benefits of learning in and through the arts. According to the Conference Board of Canada, many educators also believe that creative activities provide positive learning experiences, such as: § Helping to improve communication skills and promoting creative thinking § Contributing to improved literacy and language development through libraries and reading programs § Helping to develop information technology skills critical for employment in the knowledge economy as creative activities often involve information and communications technologies § Art programs for youth and seniors measurably improve the lives of participants, visibly fostering healthier communities and innovatively addressing issues of youth at risk and eldercare. "There's a strong fiscally conservative argument for supporting the arts… [without it we would be] culturally and economically soulless." Federal Heritage Minister James Moore Public investment in arts results in healthier, happier, economically competitive, and liveable communities. Public investment in the arts results in stronger creative industries, tourism, and social-profit sectors. The province’s own research shows that every dollar invested in arts and cultural organizations returns between $1.05 and $1.36 directly to provincial treasuries through tax revenues. Of Canada’s 10 provinces, BC has the largest percentage of its labour force in arts occupations. As well, the arts and cultural sectors and B.C.'s creative industries generate $5.2 billion each year and employ 80,000 people. Growth in cultural employment in Canada from 1981 to 2001 was 81% higher than the 32% growth in the overall labour force during the same period. Arts organizations use provincial funding to leverage investment from other sources: other levels of government, foundations, private donors; all aimed at keeping admission prices affordable. Many of those sources make their decisions based on the level of investment by the province. By slashing investment the Province is endangering the support that other sources are still willing to provide. THE BC STORY “British Columbia is the place for local arts and culture. People agree emphatically that funding for the arts should not be left up to private business and foundations, but should get a boost from local governments. Ninety-one per cent of B.C. residents praise the selection of [arts and cultural] events and activities in their community, and it’s the only region in Canada where there’s complete agreement with the idea that a vibrant cultural scene is great for the local economy.” From “We Know What You’re Thinking”, by Darrell Bricker and John Wright of Ipsos Reid · Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, says there “hasn’t been a cut” in funding. That’s because there has been a financial shell game going on where gaming moneys are being used for things that they were never meant for, which means 44% of arts and culture groups that received the money from gaming last year received nothing this year · No other province in Canada has reduced support for the arts sector at this time of economic uncertainty. Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland and the federal government have all increased their investments. · Provincial Government funding in British Columbia from all sources makes up an average of seven percent of the operating budgets of performing arts organizations. This is the lowest in Canada. The national average is 13 percent. In Quebec, provincial funding accounts for 26 percent of a performing arts organization’s budget. · The BC government has allocated half a million dollars to advertise the Olympics in schools, while cutting gaming grants that support BC Sports in schools for one-quarter of the cost. · British Columbia has the highest number of artists per capita in the country. Vancouver has the largest concentration of any major city in Canada and Victoria has the second largest. Seven of the top ten municipalities with the highest number of artists per capita are also located in BC. · Changing the allocation of the Gaming Funds represents a breach of the promise made to those communities that accepted casinos or slot machines based that the proceeds from gambling would be re-invested in the arts and their communities. · In 1999, the province of BC entered into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the BC Association of for Charitable Gaming to commit one-third of the annual BC Lottery Corporation revenues for the purpose of supporting licensed charities. The government has never met that promise. IN THEIR OWN WORDS The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts. This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics: · “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
In British Columbia, the Arts are under siege.
After eight years of BC Liberal government arts management that saw gradual improvements to the level of investment in the sector, arts and culture in BC is in the midst of its biggest crisis ever.
September’s budget projected a drop in investment on arts and culture to $3.6-million in 2010-11 from almost $48-million last year.
The province’s community gambling grant program approved only 350 of the 953 applications for funds requested by cultural organizations, for a total of $8.9 million. Last year, 840 applications were approved, totaling $18 million.
If we don’t succeed in changing the government’s course, the cuts will be 85 percent for next year, and 92 percent after that. No other sector is facing cuts of that magnitude.
No other province in Canada is slashing funding. Many are actually increasing their support for the Arts. They recognize that the Arts are a growth industry that more than pays for itself, both financially and through its many social benefits.
It’s not too late to convince the BC government to see the error of its ways. How can you help? By contacting your MLA and telling them that you believe Culture Matters. The following pages contain information that will help.
Thank you for believing that Culture Matters.
WHAT DO THESE CUTS MEAN?
ProArt conducted a preliminary survey of its membership to determine the potential impact on the Victoria area alone. Our findings included:
· More than 150 artists and arts administrators will be impacted, giving them fewer chances to practice and develop their craft; · The equivalent of at least 22 full-time positions will be lost; · One company alone says 300 hotel room nights will be lost because of cuts. If each of those rooms were to generate two restaurant visits, there will be 600 fewer meals served; · The Jazz Festival will cancel many free events that normally entertain more than 35,000 people; · The Jazz Festival, The Victoria Symphony, and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria all say they will eliminate or severely limit their outreach programs that take art into the schools; · Many organizations will be postponing renovations, upgrades, and maintenance that would provide work for carpenters, masons, plumbers, and other trades people. Fewer sets will be built, which means fewer purchases at hardware and building supply stores; · Reduced programming means fewer programs, flyers, and posters will be printed and fewer ads will be placed with local newspapers, TV, and radio; · The cuts to gaming alone mean hundreds of thousands of dollars will not be spent in this community. WHY DOES CULTURE MATTER? "... the arts, like education, health and social security, are universal goods that ought to be generally available regardless of ability to pay." SIR WILLIAM REES-MOGG (former chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain) The economic, social, health and educational benefits to our communities created by investing in arts and culture, by all levels of government, are well documented and supported. Public funding helps to ensure that the arts touch the lives of as many people as possible by keeping admission prices affordable. Learning through the Arts, a three year national research study conducted by Queen’s University concluded that involvement in the arts contributed to student achievement as much as 11 percentile points higher in math than their peers. Ninety per cent of parents reported that the arts motivated their children to learn. Teachers, parents, artists, and administrators talked about how the arts motivated children, referring to the emotional, physical, cognitive, and social benefits of learning in and through the arts. According to the Conference Board of Canada, many educators also believe that creative activities provide positive learning experiences, such as: § Helping to improve communication skills and promoting creative thinking § Contributing to improved literacy and language development through libraries and reading programs § Helping to develop information technology skills critical for employment in the knowledge economy as creative activities often involve information and communications technologies § Art programs for youth and seniors measurably improve the lives of participants, visibly fostering healthier communities and innovatively addressing issues of youth at risk and eldercare. "There's a strong fiscally conservative argument for supporting the arts… [without it we would be] culturally and economically soulless." Federal Heritage Minister James Moore Public investment in arts results in healthier, happier, economically competitive, and liveable communities. Public investment in the arts results in stronger creative industries, tourism, and social-profit sectors. The province’s own research shows that every dollar invested in arts and cultural organizations returns between $1.05 and $1.36 directly to provincial treasuries through tax revenues. Of Canada’s 10 provinces, BC has the largest percentage of its labour force in arts occupations. As well, the arts and cultural sectors and B.C.'s creative industries generate $5.2 billion each year and employ 80,000 people. Growth in cultural employment in Canada from 1981 to 2001 was 81% higher than the 32% growth in the overall labour force during the same period. Arts organizations use provincial funding to leverage investment from other sources: other levels of government, foundations, private donors; all aimed at keeping admission prices affordable. Many of those sources make their decisions based on the level of investment by the province. By slashing investment the Province is endangering the support that other sources are still willing to provide. THE BC STORY “British Columbia is the place for local arts and culture. People agree emphatically that funding for the arts should not be left up to private business and foundations, but should get a boost from local governments. Ninety-one per cent of B.C. residents praise the selection of [arts and cultural] events and activities in their community, and it’s the only region in Canada where there’s complete agreement with the idea that a vibrant cultural scene is great for the local economy.” From “We Know What You’re Thinking”, by Darrell Bricker and John Wright of Ipsos Reid · Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, says there “hasn’t been a cut” in funding. That’s because there has been a financial shell game going on where gaming moneys are being used for things that they were never meant for, which means 44% of arts and culture groups that received the money from gaming last year received nothing this year · No other province in Canada has reduced support for the arts sector at this time of economic uncertainty. Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland and the federal government have all increased their investments. · Provincial Government funding in British Columbia from all sources makes up an average of seven percent of the operating budgets of performing arts organizations. This is the lowest in Canada. The national average is 13 percent. In Quebec, provincial funding accounts for 26 percent of a performing arts organization’s budget. · The BC government has allocated half a million dollars to advertise the Olympics in schools, while cutting gaming grants that support BC Sports in schools for one-quarter of the cost. · British Columbia has the highest number of artists per capita in the country. Vancouver has the largest concentration of any major city in Canada and Victoria has the second largest. Seven of the top ten municipalities with the highest number of artists per capita are also located in BC. · Changing the allocation of the Gaming Funds represents a breach of the promise made to those communities that accepted casinos or slot machines based that the proceeds from gambling would be re-invested in the arts and their communities. · In 1999, the province of BC entered into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the BC Association of for Charitable Gaming to commit one-third of the annual BC Lottery Corporation revenues for the purpose of supporting licensed charities. The government has never met that promise. IN THEIR OWN WORDS The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts. This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics: · “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
· The equivalent of at least 22 full-time positions will be lost; · One company alone says 300 hotel room nights will be lost because of cuts. If each of those rooms were to generate two restaurant visits, there will be 600 fewer meals served; · The Jazz Festival will cancel many free events that normally entertain more than 35,000 people; · The Jazz Festival, The Victoria Symphony, and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria all say they will eliminate or severely limit their outreach programs that take art into the schools; · Many organizations will be postponing renovations, upgrades, and maintenance that would provide work for carpenters, masons, plumbers, and other trades people. Fewer sets will be built, which means fewer purchases at hardware and building supply stores; · Reduced programming means fewer programs, flyers, and posters will be printed and fewer ads will be placed with local newspapers, TV, and radio; · The cuts to gaming alone mean hundreds of thousands of dollars will not be spent in this community. WHY DOES CULTURE MATTER? "... the arts, like education, health and social security, are universal goods that ought to be generally available regardless of ability to pay." SIR WILLIAM REES-MOGG (former chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain) The economic, social, health and educational benefits to our communities created by investing in arts and culture, by all levels of government, are well documented and supported. Public funding helps to ensure that the arts touch the lives of as many people as possible by keeping admission prices affordable. Learning through the Arts, a three year national research study conducted by Queen’s University concluded that involvement in the arts contributed to student achievement as much as 11 percentile points higher in math than their peers. Ninety per cent of parents reported that the arts motivated their children to learn. Teachers, parents, artists, and administrators talked about how the arts motivated children, referring to the emotional, physical, cognitive, and social benefits of learning in and through the arts. According to the Conference Board of Canada, many educators also believe that creative activities provide positive learning experiences, such as: § Helping to improve communication skills and promoting creative thinking § Contributing to improved literacy and language development through libraries and reading programs § Helping to develop information technology skills critical for employment in the knowledge economy as creative activities often involve information and communications technologies § Art programs for youth and seniors measurably improve the lives of participants, visibly fostering healthier communities and innovatively addressing issues of youth at risk and eldercare. "There's a strong fiscally conservative argument for supporting the arts… [without it we would be] culturally and economically soulless." Federal Heritage Minister James Moore Public investment in arts results in healthier, happier, economically competitive, and liveable communities. Public investment in the arts results in stronger creative industries, tourism, and social-profit sectors. The province’s own research shows that every dollar invested in arts and cultural organizations returns between $1.05 and $1.36 directly to provincial treasuries through tax revenues. Of Canada’s 10 provinces, BC has the largest percentage of its labour force in arts occupations. As well, the arts and cultural sectors and B.C.'s creative industries generate $5.2 billion each year and employ 80,000 people. Growth in cultural employment in Canada from 1981 to 2001 was 81% higher than the 32% growth in the overall labour force during the same period. Arts organizations use provincial funding to leverage investment from other sources: other levels of government, foundations, private donors; all aimed at keeping admission prices affordable. Many of those sources make their decisions based on the level of investment by the province. By slashing investment the Province is endangering the support that other sources are still willing to provide. THE BC STORY “British Columbia is the place for local arts and culture. People agree emphatically that funding for the arts should not be left up to private business and foundations, but should get a boost from local governments. Ninety-one per cent of B.C. residents praise the selection of [arts and cultural] events and activities in their community, and it’s the only region in Canada where there’s complete agreement with the idea that a vibrant cultural scene is great for the local economy.” From “We Know What You’re Thinking”, by Darrell Bricker and John Wright of Ipsos Reid · Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, says there “hasn’t been a cut” in funding. That’s because there has been a financial shell game going on where gaming moneys are being used for things that they were never meant for, which means 44% of arts and culture groups that received the money from gaming last year received nothing this year · No other province in Canada has reduced support for the arts sector at this time of economic uncertainty. Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland and the federal government have all increased their investments. · Provincial Government funding in British Columbia from all sources makes up an average of seven percent of the operating budgets of performing arts organizations. This is the lowest in Canada. The national average is 13 percent. In Quebec, provincial funding accounts for 26 percent of a performing arts organization’s budget. · The BC government has allocated half a million dollars to advertise the Olympics in schools, while cutting gaming grants that support BC Sports in schools for one-quarter of the cost. · British Columbia has the highest number of artists per capita in the country. Vancouver has the largest concentration of any major city in Canada and Victoria has the second largest. Seven of the top ten municipalities with the highest number of artists per capita are also located in BC. · Changing the allocation of the Gaming Funds represents a breach of the promise made to those communities that accepted casinos or slot machines based that the proceeds from gambling would be re-invested in the arts and their communities. · In 1999, the province of BC entered into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the BC Association of for Charitable Gaming to commit one-third of the annual BC Lottery Corporation revenues for the purpose of supporting licensed charities. The government has never met that promise. IN THEIR OWN WORDS The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts. This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics: · “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
· One company alone says 300 hotel room nights will be lost because of cuts. If each of those rooms were to generate two restaurant visits, there will be 600 fewer meals served; · The Jazz Festival will cancel many free events that normally entertain more than 35,000 people; · The Jazz Festival, The Victoria Symphony, and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria all say they will eliminate or severely limit their outreach programs that take art into the schools; · Many organizations will be postponing renovations, upgrades, and maintenance that would provide work for carpenters, masons, plumbers, and other trades people. Fewer sets will be built, which means fewer purchases at hardware and building supply stores; · Reduced programming means fewer programs, flyers, and posters will be printed and fewer ads will be placed with local newspapers, TV, and radio; · The cuts to gaming alone mean hundreds of thousands of dollars will not be spent in this community. WHY DOES CULTURE MATTER? "... the arts, like education, health and social security, are universal goods that ought to be generally available regardless of ability to pay." SIR WILLIAM REES-MOGG (former chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain) The economic, social, health and educational benefits to our communities created by investing in arts and culture, by all levels of government, are well documented and supported. Public funding helps to ensure that the arts touch the lives of as many people as possible by keeping admission prices affordable. Learning through the Arts, a three year national research study conducted by Queen’s University concluded that involvement in the arts contributed to student achievement as much as 11 percentile points higher in math than their peers. Ninety per cent of parents reported that the arts motivated their children to learn. Teachers, parents, artists, and administrators talked about how the arts motivated children, referring to the emotional, physical, cognitive, and social benefits of learning in and through the arts. According to the Conference Board of Canada, many educators also believe that creative activities provide positive learning experiences, such as: § Helping to improve communication skills and promoting creative thinking § Contributing to improved literacy and language development through libraries and reading programs § Helping to develop information technology skills critical for employment in the knowledge economy as creative activities often involve information and communications technologies § Art programs for youth and seniors measurably improve the lives of participants, visibly fostering healthier communities and innovatively addressing issues of youth at risk and eldercare. "There's a strong fiscally conservative argument for supporting the arts… [without it we would be] culturally and economically soulless." Federal Heritage Minister James Moore Public investment in arts results in healthier, happier, economically competitive, and liveable communities. Public investment in the arts results in stronger creative industries, tourism, and social-profit sectors. The province’s own research shows that every dollar invested in arts and cultural organizations returns between $1.05 and $1.36 directly to provincial treasuries through tax revenues. Of Canada’s 10 provinces, BC has the largest percentage of its labour force in arts occupations. As well, the arts and cultural sectors and B.C.'s creative industries generate $5.2 billion each year and employ 80,000 people. Growth in cultural employment in Canada from 1981 to 2001 was 81% higher than the 32% growth in the overall labour force during the same period. Arts organizations use provincial funding to leverage investment from other sources: other levels of government, foundations, private donors; all aimed at keeping admission prices affordable. Many of those sources make their decisions based on the level of investment by the province. By slashing investment the Province is endangering the support that other sources are still willing to provide. THE BC STORY “British Columbia is the place for local arts and culture. People agree emphatically that funding for the arts should not be left up to private business and foundations, but should get a boost from local governments. Ninety-one per cent of B.C. residents praise the selection of [arts and cultural] events and activities in their community, and it’s the only region in Canada where there’s complete agreement with the idea that a vibrant cultural scene is great for the local economy.” From “We Know What You’re Thinking”, by Darrell Bricker and John Wright of Ipsos Reid · Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, says there “hasn’t been a cut” in funding. That’s because there has been a financial shell game going on where gaming moneys are being used for things that they were never meant for, which means 44% of arts and culture groups that received the money from gaming last year received nothing this year · No other province in Canada has reduced support for the arts sector at this time of economic uncertainty. Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland and the federal government have all increased their investments. · Provincial Government funding in British Columbia from all sources makes up an average of seven percent of the operating budgets of performing arts organizations. This is the lowest in Canada. The national average is 13 percent. In Quebec, provincial funding accounts for 26 percent of a performing arts organization’s budget. · The BC government has allocated half a million dollars to advertise the Olympics in schools, while cutting gaming grants that support BC Sports in schools for one-quarter of the cost. · British Columbia has the highest number of artists per capita in the country. Vancouver has the largest concentration of any major city in Canada and Victoria has the second largest. Seven of the top ten municipalities with the highest number of artists per capita are also located in BC. · Changing the allocation of the Gaming Funds represents a breach of the promise made to those communities that accepted casinos or slot machines based that the proceeds from gambling would be re-invested in the arts and their communities. · In 1999, the province of BC entered into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the BC Association of for Charitable Gaming to commit one-third of the annual BC Lottery Corporation revenues for the purpose of supporting licensed charities. The government has never met that promise. IN THEIR OWN WORDS The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts. This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics: · “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
· The Jazz Festival will cancel many free events that normally entertain more than 35,000 people; · The Jazz Festival, The Victoria Symphony, and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria all say they will eliminate or severely limit their outreach programs that take art into the schools; · Many organizations will be postponing renovations, upgrades, and maintenance that would provide work for carpenters, masons, plumbers, and other trades people. Fewer sets will be built, which means fewer purchases at hardware and building supply stores; · Reduced programming means fewer programs, flyers, and posters will be printed and fewer ads will be placed with local newspapers, TV, and radio; · The cuts to gaming alone mean hundreds of thousands of dollars will not be spent in this community. WHY DOES CULTURE MATTER? "... the arts, like education, health and social security, are universal goods that ought to be generally available regardless of ability to pay." SIR WILLIAM REES-MOGG (former chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain) The economic, social, health and educational benefits to our communities created by investing in arts and culture, by all levels of government, are well documented and supported. Public funding helps to ensure that the arts touch the lives of as many people as possible by keeping admission prices affordable. Learning through the Arts, a three year national research study conducted by Queen’s University concluded that involvement in the arts contributed to student achievement as much as 11 percentile points higher in math than their peers. Ninety per cent of parents reported that the arts motivated their children to learn. Teachers, parents, artists, and administrators talked about how the arts motivated children, referring to the emotional, physical, cognitive, and social benefits of learning in and through the arts. According to the Conference Board of Canada, many educators also believe that creative activities provide positive learning experiences, such as: § Helping to improve communication skills and promoting creative thinking § Contributing to improved literacy and language development through libraries and reading programs § Helping to develop information technology skills critical for employment in the knowledge economy as creative activities often involve information and communications technologies § Art programs for youth and seniors measurably improve the lives of participants, visibly fostering healthier communities and innovatively addressing issues of youth at risk and eldercare. "There's a strong fiscally conservative argument for supporting the arts… [without it we would be] culturally and economically soulless." Federal Heritage Minister James Moore Public investment in arts results in healthier, happier, economically competitive, and liveable communities. Public investment in the arts results in stronger creative industries, tourism, and social-profit sectors. The province’s own research shows that every dollar invested in arts and cultural organizations returns between $1.05 and $1.36 directly to provincial treasuries through tax revenues. Of Canada’s 10 provinces, BC has the largest percentage of its labour force in arts occupations. As well, the arts and cultural sectors and B.C.'s creative industries generate $5.2 billion each year and employ 80,000 people. Growth in cultural employment in Canada from 1981 to 2001 was 81% higher than the 32% growth in the overall labour force during the same period. Arts organizations use provincial funding to leverage investment from other sources: other levels of government, foundations, private donors; all aimed at keeping admission prices affordable. Many of those sources make their decisions based on the level of investment by the province. By slashing investment the Province is endangering the support that other sources are still willing to provide. THE BC STORY “British Columbia is the place for local arts and culture. People agree emphatically that funding for the arts should not be left up to private business and foundations, but should get a boost from local governments. Ninety-one per cent of B.C. residents praise the selection of [arts and cultural] events and activities in their community, and it’s the only region in Canada where there’s complete agreement with the idea that a vibrant cultural scene is great for the local economy.” From “We Know What You’re Thinking”, by Darrell Bricker and John Wright of Ipsos Reid · Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, says there “hasn’t been a cut” in funding. That’s because there has been a financial shell game going on where gaming moneys are being used for things that they were never meant for, which means 44% of arts and culture groups that received the money from gaming last year received nothing this year · No other province in Canada has reduced support for the arts sector at this time of economic uncertainty. Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland and the federal government have all increased their investments. · Provincial Government funding in British Columbia from all sources makes up an average of seven percent of the operating budgets of performing arts organizations. This is the lowest in Canada. The national average is 13 percent. In Quebec, provincial funding accounts for 26 percent of a performing arts organization’s budget. · The BC government has allocated half a million dollars to advertise the Olympics in schools, while cutting gaming grants that support BC Sports in schools for one-quarter of the cost. · British Columbia has the highest number of artists per capita in the country. Vancouver has the largest concentration of any major city in Canada and Victoria has the second largest. Seven of the top ten municipalities with the highest number of artists per capita are also located in BC. · Changing the allocation of the Gaming Funds represents a breach of the promise made to those communities that accepted casinos or slot machines based that the proceeds from gambling would be re-invested in the arts and their communities. · In 1999, the province of BC entered into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the BC Association of for Charitable Gaming to commit one-third of the annual BC Lottery Corporation revenues for the purpose of supporting licensed charities. The government has never met that promise. IN THEIR OWN WORDS The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts. This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics: · “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
· The Jazz Festival, The Victoria Symphony, and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria all say they will eliminate or severely limit their outreach programs that take art into the schools; · Many organizations will be postponing renovations, upgrades, and maintenance that would provide work for carpenters, masons, plumbers, and other trades people. Fewer sets will be built, which means fewer purchases at hardware and building supply stores; · Reduced programming means fewer programs, flyers, and posters will be printed and fewer ads will be placed with local newspapers, TV, and radio; · The cuts to gaming alone mean hundreds of thousands of dollars will not be spent in this community. WHY DOES CULTURE MATTER? "... the arts, like education, health and social security, are universal goods that ought to be generally available regardless of ability to pay." SIR WILLIAM REES-MOGG (former chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain) The economic, social, health and educational benefits to our communities created by investing in arts and culture, by all levels of government, are well documented and supported. Public funding helps to ensure that the arts touch the lives of as many people as possible by keeping admission prices affordable. Learning through the Arts, a three year national research study conducted by Queen’s University concluded that involvement in the arts contributed to student achievement as much as 11 percentile points higher in math than their peers. Ninety per cent of parents reported that the arts motivated their children to learn. Teachers, parents, artists, and administrators talked about how the arts motivated children, referring to the emotional, physical, cognitive, and social benefits of learning in and through the arts. According to the Conference Board of Canada, many educators also believe that creative activities provide positive learning experiences, such as: § Helping to improve communication skills and promoting creative thinking § Contributing to improved literacy and language development through libraries and reading programs § Helping to develop information technology skills critical for employment in the knowledge economy as creative activities often involve information and communications technologies § Art programs for youth and seniors measurably improve the lives of participants, visibly fostering healthier communities and innovatively addressing issues of youth at risk and eldercare. "There's a strong fiscally conservative argument for supporting the arts… [without it we would be] culturally and economically soulless." Federal Heritage Minister James Moore Public investment in arts results in healthier, happier, economically competitive, and liveable communities. Public investment in the arts results in stronger creative industries, tourism, and social-profit sectors. The province’s own research shows that every dollar invested in arts and cultural organizations returns between $1.05 and $1.36 directly to provincial treasuries through tax revenues. Of Canada’s 10 provinces, BC has the largest percentage of its labour force in arts occupations. As well, the arts and cultural sectors and B.C.'s creative industries generate $5.2 billion each year and employ 80,000 people. Growth in cultural employment in Canada from 1981 to 2001 was 81% higher than the 32% growth in the overall labour force during the same period. Arts organizations use provincial funding to leverage investment from other sources: other levels of government, foundations, private donors; all aimed at keeping admission prices affordable. Many of those sources make their decisions based on the level of investment by the province. By slashing investment the Province is endangering the support that other sources are still willing to provide. THE BC STORY “British Columbia is the place for local arts and culture. People agree emphatically that funding for the arts should not be left up to private business and foundations, but should get a boost from local governments. Ninety-one per cent of B.C. residents praise the selection of [arts and cultural] events and activities in their community, and it’s the only region in Canada where there’s complete agreement with the idea that a vibrant cultural scene is great for the local economy.” From “We Know What You’re Thinking”, by Darrell Bricker and John Wright of Ipsos Reid · Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, says there “hasn’t been a cut” in funding. That’s because there has been a financial shell game going on where gaming moneys are being used for things that they were never meant for, which means 44% of arts and culture groups that received the money from gaming last year received nothing this year · No other province in Canada has reduced support for the arts sector at this time of economic uncertainty. Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland and the federal government have all increased their investments. · Provincial Government funding in British Columbia from all sources makes up an average of seven percent of the operating budgets of performing arts organizations. This is the lowest in Canada. The national average is 13 percent. In Quebec, provincial funding accounts for 26 percent of a performing arts organization’s budget. · The BC government has allocated half a million dollars to advertise the Olympics in schools, while cutting gaming grants that support BC Sports in schools for one-quarter of the cost. · British Columbia has the highest number of artists per capita in the country. Vancouver has the largest concentration of any major city in Canada and Victoria has the second largest. Seven of the top ten municipalities with the highest number of artists per capita are also located in BC. · Changing the allocation of the Gaming Funds represents a breach of the promise made to those communities that accepted casinos or slot machines based that the proceeds from gambling would be re-invested in the arts and their communities. · In 1999, the province of BC entered into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the BC Association of for Charitable Gaming to commit one-third of the annual BC Lottery Corporation revenues for the purpose of supporting licensed charities. The government has never met that promise. IN THEIR OWN WORDS The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts. This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics: · “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
· Many organizations will be postponing renovations, upgrades, and maintenance that would provide work for carpenters, masons, plumbers, and other trades people. Fewer sets will be built, which means fewer purchases at hardware and building supply stores; · Reduced programming means fewer programs, flyers, and posters will be printed and fewer ads will be placed with local newspapers, TV, and radio; · The cuts to gaming alone mean hundreds of thousands of dollars will not be spent in this community. WHY DOES CULTURE MATTER? "... the arts, like education, health and social security, are universal goods that ought to be generally available regardless of ability to pay." SIR WILLIAM REES-MOGG (former chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain) The economic, social, health and educational benefits to our communities created by investing in arts and culture, by all levels of government, are well documented and supported. Public funding helps to ensure that the arts touch the lives of as many people as possible by keeping admission prices affordable. Learning through the Arts, a three year national research study conducted by Queen’s University concluded that involvement in the arts contributed to student achievement as much as 11 percentile points higher in math than their peers. Ninety per cent of parents reported that the arts motivated their children to learn. Teachers, parents, artists, and administrators talked about how the arts motivated children, referring to the emotional, physical, cognitive, and social benefits of learning in and through the arts. According to the Conference Board of Canada, many educators also believe that creative activities provide positive learning experiences, such as: § Helping to improve communication skills and promoting creative thinking § Contributing to improved literacy and language development through libraries and reading programs § Helping to develop information technology skills critical for employment in the knowledge economy as creative activities often involve information and communications technologies § Art programs for youth and seniors measurably improve the lives of participants, visibly fostering healthier communities and innovatively addressing issues of youth at risk and eldercare. "There's a strong fiscally conservative argument for supporting the arts… [without it we would be] culturally and economically soulless." Federal Heritage Minister James Moore Public investment in arts results in healthier, happier, economically competitive, and liveable communities. Public investment in the arts results in stronger creative industries, tourism, and social-profit sectors. The province’s own research shows that every dollar invested in arts and cultural organizations returns between $1.05 and $1.36 directly to provincial treasuries through tax revenues. Of Canada’s 10 provinces, BC has the largest percentage of its labour force in arts occupations. As well, the arts and cultural sectors and B.C.'s creative industries generate $5.2 billion each year and employ 80,000 people. Growth in cultural employment in Canada from 1981 to 2001 was 81% higher than the 32% growth in the overall labour force during the same period. Arts organizations use provincial funding to leverage investment from other sources: other levels of government, foundations, private donors; all aimed at keeping admission prices affordable. Many of those sources make their decisions based on the level of investment by the province. By slashing investment the Province is endangering the support that other sources are still willing to provide. THE BC STORY “British Columbia is the place for local arts and culture. People agree emphatically that funding for the arts should not be left up to private business and foundations, but should get a boost from local governments. Ninety-one per cent of B.C. residents praise the selection of [arts and cultural] events and activities in their community, and it’s the only region in Canada where there’s complete agreement with the idea that a vibrant cultural scene is great for the local economy.” From “We Know What You’re Thinking”, by Darrell Bricker and John Wright of Ipsos Reid · Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, says there “hasn’t been a cut” in funding. That’s because there has been a financial shell game going on where gaming moneys are being used for things that they were never meant for, which means 44% of arts and culture groups that received the money from gaming last year received nothing this year · No other province in Canada has reduced support for the arts sector at this time of economic uncertainty. Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland and the federal government have all increased their investments. · Provincial Government funding in British Columbia from all sources makes up an average of seven percent of the operating budgets of performing arts organizations. This is the lowest in Canada. The national average is 13 percent. In Quebec, provincial funding accounts for 26 percent of a performing arts organization’s budget. · The BC government has allocated half a million dollars to advertise the Olympics in schools, while cutting gaming grants that support BC Sports in schools for one-quarter of the cost. · British Columbia has the highest number of artists per capita in the country. Vancouver has the largest concentration of any major city in Canada and Victoria has the second largest. Seven of the top ten municipalities with the highest number of artists per capita are also located in BC. · Changing the allocation of the Gaming Funds represents a breach of the promise made to those communities that accepted casinos or slot machines based that the proceeds from gambling would be re-invested in the arts and their communities. · In 1999, the province of BC entered into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the BC Association of for Charitable Gaming to commit one-third of the annual BC Lottery Corporation revenues for the purpose of supporting licensed charities. The government has never met that promise. IN THEIR OWN WORDS The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts. This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics: · “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
· Reduced programming means fewer programs, flyers, and posters will be printed and fewer ads will be placed with local newspapers, TV, and radio; · The cuts to gaming alone mean hundreds of thousands of dollars will not be spent in this community. WHY DOES CULTURE MATTER? "... the arts, like education, health and social security, are universal goods that ought to be generally available regardless of ability to pay." SIR WILLIAM REES-MOGG (former chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain) The economic, social, health and educational benefits to our communities created by investing in arts and culture, by all levels of government, are well documented and supported. Public funding helps to ensure that the arts touch the lives of as many people as possible by keeping admission prices affordable. Learning through the Arts, a three year national research study conducted by Queen’s University concluded that involvement in the arts contributed to student achievement as much as 11 percentile points higher in math than their peers. Ninety per cent of parents reported that the arts motivated their children to learn. Teachers, parents, artists, and administrators talked about how the arts motivated children, referring to the emotional, physical, cognitive, and social benefits of learning in and through the arts. According to the Conference Board of Canada, many educators also believe that creative activities provide positive learning experiences, such as: § Helping to improve communication skills and promoting creative thinking § Contributing to improved literacy and language development through libraries and reading programs § Helping to develop information technology skills critical for employment in the knowledge economy as creative activities often involve information and communications technologies § Art programs for youth and seniors measurably improve the lives of participants, visibly fostering healthier communities and innovatively addressing issues of youth at risk and eldercare. "There's a strong fiscally conservative argument for supporting the arts… [without it we would be] culturally and economically soulless." Federal Heritage Minister James Moore Public investment in arts results in healthier, happier, economically competitive, and liveable communities. Public investment in the arts results in stronger creative industries, tourism, and social-profit sectors. The province’s own research shows that every dollar invested in arts and cultural organizations returns between $1.05 and $1.36 directly to provincial treasuries through tax revenues. Of Canada’s 10 provinces, BC has the largest percentage of its labour force in arts occupations. As well, the arts and cultural sectors and B.C.'s creative industries generate $5.2 billion each year and employ 80,000 people. Growth in cultural employment in Canada from 1981 to 2001 was 81% higher than the 32% growth in the overall labour force during the same period. Arts organizations use provincial funding to leverage investment from other sources: other levels of government, foundations, private donors; all aimed at keeping admission prices affordable. Many of those sources make their decisions based on the level of investment by the province. By slashing investment the Province is endangering the support that other sources are still willing to provide. THE BC STORY “British Columbia is the place for local arts and culture. People agree emphatically that funding for the arts should not be left up to private business and foundations, but should get a boost from local governments. Ninety-one per cent of B.C. residents praise the selection of [arts and cultural] events and activities in their community, and it’s the only region in Canada where there’s complete agreement with the idea that a vibrant cultural scene is great for the local economy.” From “We Know What You’re Thinking”, by Darrell Bricker and John Wright of Ipsos Reid · Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, says there “hasn’t been a cut” in funding. That’s because there has been a financial shell game going on where gaming moneys are being used for things that they were never meant for, which means 44% of arts and culture groups that received the money from gaming last year received nothing this year · No other province in Canada has reduced support for the arts sector at this time of economic uncertainty. Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland and the federal government have all increased their investments. · Provincial Government funding in British Columbia from all sources makes up an average of seven percent of the operating budgets of performing arts organizations. This is the lowest in Canada. The national average is 13 percent. In Quebec, provincial funding accounts for 26 percent of a performing arts organization’s budget. · The BC government has allocated half a million dollars to advertise the Olympics in schools, while cutting gaming grants that support BC Sports in schools for one-quarter of the cost. · British Columbia has the highest number of artists per capita in the country. Vancouver has the largest concentration of any major city in Canada and Victoria has the second largest. Seven of the top ten municipalities with the highest number of artists per capita are also located in BC. · Changing the allocation of the Gaming Funds represents a breach of the promise made to those communities that accepted casinos or slot machines based that the proceeds from gambling would be re-invested in the arts and their communities. · In 1999, the province of BC entered into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the BC Association of for Charitable Gaming to commit one-third of the annual BC Lottery Corporation revenues for the purpose of supporting licensed charities. The government has never met that promise. IN THEIR OWN WORDS The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts. This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics: · “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
· The cuts to gaming alone mean hundreds of thousands of dollars will not be spent in this community. WHY DOES CULTURE MATTER? "... the arts, like education, health and social security, are universal goods that ought to be generally available regardless of ability to pay." SIR WILLIAM REES-MOGG (former chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain) The economic, social, health and educational benefits to our communities created by investing in arts and culture, by all levels of government, are well documented and supported. Public funding helps to ensure that the arts touch the lives of as many people as possible by keeping admission prices affordable. Learning through the Arts, a three year national research study conducted by Queen’s University concluded that involvement in the arts contributed to student achievement as much as 11 percentile points higher in math than their peers. Ninety per cent of parents reported that the arts motivated their children to learn. Teachers, parents, artists, and administrators talked about how the arts motivated children, referring to the emotional, physical, cognitive, and social benefits of learning in and through the arts. According to the Conference Board of Canada, many educators also believe that creative activities provide positive learning experiences, such as: § Helping to improve communication skills and promoting creative thinking § Contributing to improved literacy and language development through libraries and reading programs § Helping to develop information technology skills critical for employment in the knowledge economy as creative activities often involve information and communications technologies § Art programs for youth and seniors measurably improve the lives of participants, visibly fostering healthier communities and innovatively addressing issues of youth at risk and eldercare. "There's a strong fiscally conservative argument for supporting the arts… [without it we would be] culturally and economically soulless." Federal Heritage Minister James Moore Public investment in arts results in healthier, happier, economically competitive, and liveable communities. Public investment in the arts results in stronger creative industries, tourism, and social-profit sectors. The province’s own research shows that every dollar invested in arts and cultural organizations returns between $1.05 and $1.36 directly to provincial treasuries through tax revenues. Of Canada’s 10 provinces, BC has the largest percentage of its labour force in arts occupations. As well, the arts and cultural sectors and B.C.'s creative industries generate $5.2 billion each year and employ 80,000 people. Growth in cultural employment in Canada from 1981 to 2001 was 81% higher than the 32% growth in the overall labour force during the same period. Arts organizations use provincial funding to leverage investment from other sources: other levels of government, foundations, private donors; all aimed at keeping admission prices affordable. Many of those sources make their decisions based on the level of investment by the province. By slashing investment the Province is endangering the support that other sources are still willing to provide. THE BC STORY “British Columbia is the place for local arts and culture. People agree emphatically that funding for the arts should not be left up to private business and foundations, but should get a boost from local governments. Ninety-one per cent of B.C. residents praise the selection of [arts and cultural] events and activities in their community, and it’s the only region in Canada where there’s complete agreement with the idea that a vibrant cultural scene is great for the local economy.” From “We Know What You’re Thinking”, by Darrell Bricker and John Wright of Ipsos Reid · Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, says there “hasn’t been a cut” in funding. That’s because there has been a financial shell game going on where gaming moneys are being used for things that they were never meant for, which means 44% of arts and culture groups that received the money from gaming last year received nothing this year · No other province in Canada has reduced support for the arts sector at this time of economic uncertainty. Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland and the federal government have all increased their investments. · Provincial Government funding in British Columbia from all sources makes up an average of seven percent of the operating budgets of performing arts organizations. This is the lowest in Canada. The national average is 13 percent. In Quebec, provincial funding accounts for 26 percent of a performing arts organization’s budget. · The BC government has allocated half a million dollars to advertise the Olympics in schools, while cutting gaming grants that support BC Sports in schools for one-quarter of the cost. · British Columbia has the highest number of artists per capita in the country. Vancouver has the largest concentration of any major city in Canada and Victoria has the second largest. Seven of the top ten municipalities with the highest number of artists per capita are also located in BC. · Changing the allocation of the Gaming Funds represents a breach of the promise made to those communities that accepted casinos or slot machines based that the proceeds from gambling would be re-invested in the arts and their communities. · In 1999, the province of BC entered into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the BC Association of for Charitable Gaming to commit one-third of the annual BC Lottery Corporation revenues for the purpose of supporting licensed charities. The government has never met that promise. IN THEIR OWN WORDS The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts. This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics: · “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
"... the arts, like education, health and social security, are universal goods that ought to
be generally available regardless of ability to pay." SIR WILLIAM REES-MOGG (former chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain)
The economic, social, health and educational benefits to our communities created by investing in arts and culture, by all levels of government, are well documented and supported.
Public funding helps to ensure that the arts touch the lives of as many people as possible by keeping admission prices affordable.
Learning through the Arts, a three year national research study conducted by Queen’s University concluded that involvement in the arts contributed to student achievement as much as 11 percentile points higher in math than their peers. Ninety per cent of parents reported that the arts motivated their children to learn. Teachers, parents, artists, and administrators talked about how the arts motivated children, referring to the emotional, physical, cognitive, and social benefits of learning in and through the arts. According to the Conference Board of Canada, many educators also believe that creative activities provide positive learning experiences, such as: § Helping to improve communication skills and promoting creative thinking § Contributing to improved literacy and language development through libraries and reading programs § Helping to develop information technology skills critical for employment in the knowledge economy as creative activities often involve information and communications technologies § Art programs for youth and seniors measurably improve the lives of participants, visibly fostering healthier communities and innovatively addressing issues of youth at risk and eldercare. "There's a strong fiscally conservative argument for supporting the arts… [without it we would be] culturally and economically soulless." Federal Heritage Minister James Moore Public investment in arts results in healthier, happier, economically competitive, and liveable communities. Public investment in the arts results in stronger creative industries, tourism, and social-profit sectors. The province’s own research shows that every dollar invested in arts and cultural organizations returns between $1.05 and $1.36 directly to provincial treasuries through tax revenues. Of Canada’s 10 provinces, BC has the largest percentage of its labour force in arts occupations. As well, the arts and cultural sectors and B.C.'s creative industries generate $5.2 billion each year and employ 80,000 people. Growth in cultural employment in Canada from 1981 to 2001 was 81% higher than the 32% growth in the overall labour force during the same period. Arts organizations use provincial funding to leverage investment from other sources: other levels of government, foundations, private donors; all aimed at keeping admission prices affordable. Many of those sources make their decisions based on the level of investment by the province. By slashing investment the Province is endangering the support that other sources are still willing to provide. THE BC STORY “British Columbia is the place for local arts and culture. People agree emphatically that funding for the arts should not be left up to private business and foundations, but should get a boost from local governments. Ninety-one per cent of B.C. residents praise the selection of [arts and cultural] events and activities in their community, and it’s the only region in Canada where there’s complete agreement with the idea that a vibrant cultural scene is great for the local economy.” From “We Know What You’re Thinking”, by Darrell Bricker and John Wright of Ipsos Reid · Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, says there “hasn’t been a cut” in funding. That’s because there has been a financial shell game going on where gaming moneys are being used for things that they were never meant for, which means 44% of arts and culture groups that received the money from gaming last year received nothing this year · No other province in Canada has reduced support for the arts sector at this time of economic uncertainty. Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland and the federal government have all increased their investments. · Provincial Government funding in British Columbia from all sources makes up an average of seven percent of the operating budgets of performing arts organizations. This is the lowest in Canada. The national average is 13 percent. In Quebec, provincial funding accounts for 26 percent of a performing arts organization’s budget. · The BC government has allocated half a million dollars to advertise the Olympics in schools, while cutting gaming grants that support BC Sports in schools for one-quarter of the cost. · British Columbia has the highest number of artists per capita in the country. Vancouver has the largest concentration of any major city in Canada and Victoria has the second largest. Seven of the top ten municipalities with the highest number of artists per capita are also located in BC. · Changing the allocation of the Gaming Funds represents a breach of the promise made to those communities that accepted casinos or slot machines based that the proceeds from gambling would be re-invested in the arts and their communities. · In 1999, the province of BC entered into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the BC Association of for Charitable Gaming to commit one-third of the annual BC Lottery Corporation revenues for the purpose of supporting licensed charities. The government has never met that promise. IN THEIR OWN WORDS The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts. This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics: · “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
According to the Conference Board of Canada, many educators also believe that creative activities provide positive learning experiences, such as:
§ Helping to improve communication skills and promoting creative thinking § Contributing to improved literacy and language development through libraries and reading programs § Helping to develop information technology skills critical for employment in the knowledge economy as creative activities often involve information and communications technologies § Art programs for youth and seniors measurably improve the lives of participants, visibly fostering healthier communities and innovatively addressing issues of youth at risk and eldercare. "There's a strong fiscally conservative argument for supporting the arts… [without it we would be] culturally and economically soulless." Federal Heritage Minister James Moore Public investment in arts results in healthier, happier, economically competitive, and liveable communities. Public investment in the arts results in stronger creative industries, tourism, and social-profit sectors. The province’s own research shows that every dollar invested in arts and cultural organizations returns between $1.05 and $1.36 directly to provincial treasuries through tax revenues. Of Canada’s 10 provinces, BC has the largest percentage of its labour force in arts occupations. As well, the arts and cultural sectors and B.C.'s creative industries generate $5.2 billion each year and employ 80,000 people. Growth in cultural employment in Canada from 1981 to 2001 was 81% higher than the 32% growth in the overall labour force during the same period. Arts organizations use provincial funding to leverage investment from other sources: other levels of government, foundations, private donors; all aimed at keeping admission prices affordable. Many of those sources make their decisions based on the level of investment by the province. By slashing investment the Province is endangering the support that other sources are still willing to provide. THE BC STORY “British Columbia is the place for local arts and culture. People agree emphatically that funding for the arts should not be left up to private business and foundations, but should get a boost from local governments. Ninety-one per cent of B.C. residents praise the selection of [arts and cultural] events and activities in their community, and it’s the only region in Canada where there’s complete agreement with the idea that a vibrant cultural scene is great for the local economy.” From “We Know What You’re Thinking”, by Darrell Bricker and John Wright of Ipsos Reid · Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, says there “hasn’t been a cut” in funding. That’s because there has been a financial shell game going on where gaming moneys are being used for things that they were never meant for, which means 44% of arts and culture groups that received the money from gaming last year received nothing this year · No other province in Canada has reduced support for the arts sector at this time of economic uncertainty. Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland and the federal government have all increased their investments. · Provincial Government funding in British Columbia from all sources makes up an average of seven percent of the operating budgets of performing arts organizations. This is the lowest in Canada. The national average is 13 percent. In Quebec, provincial funding accounts for 26 percent of a performing arts organization’s budget. · The BC government has allocated half a million dollars to advertise the Olympics in schools, while cutting gaming grants that support BC Sports in schools for one-quarter of the cost. · British Columbia has the highest number of artists per capita in the country. Vancouver has the largest concentration of any major city in Canada and Victoria has the second largest. Seven of the top ten municipalities with the highest number of artists per capita are also located in BC. · Changing the allocation of the Gaming Funds represents a breach of the promise made to those communities that accepted casinos or slot machines based that the proceeds from gambling would be re-invested in the arts and their communities. · In 1999, the province of BC entered into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the BC Association of for Charitable Gaming to commit one-third of the annual BC Lottery Corporation revenues for the purpose of supporting licensed charities. The government has never met that promise. IN THEIR OWN WORDS The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts. This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics: · “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
§ Contributing to improved literacy and language development through libraries and reading programs § Helping to develop information technology skills critical for employment in the knowledge economy as creative activities often involve information and communications technologies § Art programs for youth and seniors measurably improve the lives of participants, visibly fostering healthier communities and innovatively addressing issues of youth at risk and eldercare. "There's a strong fiscally conservative argument for supporting the arts… [without it we would be] culturally and economically soulless." Federal Heritage Minister James Moore Public investment in arts results in healthier, happier, economically competitive, and liveable communities. Public investment in the arts results in stronger creative industries, tourism, and social-profit sectors. The province’s own research shows that every dollar invested in arts and cultural organizations returns between $1.05 and $1.36 directly to provincial treasuries through tax revenues. Of Canada’s 10 provinces, BC has the largest percentage of its labour force in arts occupations. As well, the arts and cultural sectors and B.C.'s creative industries generate $5.2 billion each year and employ 80,000 people. Growth in cultural employment in Canada from 1981 to 2001 was 81% higher than the 32% growth in the overall labour force during the same period. Arts organizations use provincial funding to leverage investment from other sources: other levels of government, foundations, private donors; all aimed at keeping admission prices affordable. Many of those sources make their decisions based on the level of investment by the province. By slashing investment the Province is endangering the support that other sources are still willing to provide. THE BC STORY “British Columbia is the place for local arts and culture. People agree emphatically that funding for the arts should not be left up to private business and foundations, but should get a boost from local governments. Ninety-one per cent of B.C. residents praise the selection of [arts and cultural] events and activities in their community, and it’s the only region in Canada where there’s complete agreement with the idea that a vibrant cultural scene is great for the local economy.” From “We Know What You’re Thinking”, by Darrell Bricker and John Wright of Ipsos Reid · Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, says there “hasn’t been a cut” in funding. That’s because there has been a financial shell game going on where gaming moneys are being used for things that they were never meant for, which means 44% of arts and culture groups that received the money from gaming last year received nothing this year · No other province in Canada has reduced support for the arts sector at this time of economic uncertainty. Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland and the federal government have all increased their investments. · Provincial Government funding in British Columbia from all sources makes up an average of seven percent of the operating budgets of performing arts organizations. This is the lowest in Canada. The national average is 13 percent. In Quebec, provincial funding accounts for 26 percent of a performing arts organization’s budget. · The BC government has allocated half a million dollars to advertise the Olympics in schools, while cutting gaming grants that support BC Sports in schools for one-quarter of the cost. · British Columbia has the highest number of artists per capita in the country. Vancouver has the largest concentration of any major city in Canada and Victoria has the second largest. Seven of the top ten municipalities with the highest number of artists per capita are also located in BC. · Changing the allocation of the Gaming Funds represents a breach of the promise made to those communities that accepted casinos or slot machines based that the proceeds from gambling would be re-invested in the arts and their communities. · In 1999, the province of BC entered into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the BC Association of for Charitable Gaming to commit one-third of the annual BC Lottery Corporation revenues for the purpose of supporting licensed charities. The government has never met that promise. IN THEIR OWN WORDS The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts. This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics: · “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
§ Helping to develop information technology skills critical for employment in the knowledge economy as creative activities often involve information and communications technologies § Art programs for youth and seniors measurably improve the lives of participants, visibly fostering healthier communities and innovatively addressing issues of youth at risk and eldercare. "There's a strong fiscally conservative argument for supporting the arts… [without it we would be] culturally and economically soulless." Federal Heritage Minister James Moore Public investment in arts results in healthier, happier, economically competitive, and liveable communities. Public investment in the arts results in stronger creative industries, tourism, and social-profit sectors. The province’s own research shows that every dollar invested in arts and cultural organizations returns between $1.05 and $1.36 directly to provincial treasuries through tax revenues. Of Canada’s 10 provinces, BC has the largest percentage of its labour force in arts occupations. As well, the arts and cultural sectors and B.C.'s creative industries generate $5.2 billion each year and employ 80,000 people. Growth in cultural employment in Canada from 1981 to 2001 was 81% higher than the 32% growth in the overall labour force during the same period. Arts organizations use provincial funding to leverage investment from other sources: other levels of government, foundations, private donors; all aimed at keeping admission prices affordable. Many of those sources make their decisions based on the level of investment by the province. By slashing investment the Province is endangering the support that other sources are still willing to provide. THE BC STORY “British Columbia is the place for local arts and culture. People agree emphatically that funding for the arts should not be left up to private business and foundations, but should get a boost from local governments. Ninety-one per cent of B.C. residents praise the selection of [arts and cultural] events and activities in their community, and it’s the only region in Canada where there’s complete agreement with the idea that a vibrant cultural scene is great for the local economy.” From “We Know What You’re Thinking”, by Darrell Bricker and John Wright of Ipsos Reid · Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, says there “hasn’t been a cut” in funding. That’s because there has been a financial shell game going on where gaming moneys are being used for things that they were never meant for, which means 44% of arts and culture groups that received the money from gaming last year received nothing this year · No other province in Canada has reduced support for the arts sector at this time of economic uncertainty. Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland and the federal government have all increased their investments. · Provincial Government funding in British Columbia from all sources makes up an average of seven percent of the operating budgets of performing arts organizations. This is the lowest in Canada. The national average is 13 percent. In Quebec, provincial funding accounts for 26 percent of a performing arts organization’s budget. · The BC government has allocated half a million dollars to advertise the Olympics in schools, while cutting gaming grants that support BC Sports in schools for one-quarter of the cost. · British Columbia has the highest number of artists per capita in the country. Vancouver has the largest concentration of any major city in Canada and Victoria has the second largest. Seven of the top ten municipalities with the highest number of artists per capita are also located in BC. · Changing the allocation of the Gaming Funds represents a breach of the promise made to those communities that accepted casinos or slot machines based that the proceeds from gambling would be re-invested in the arts and their communities. · In 1999, the province of BC entered into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the BC Association of for Charitable Gaming to commit one-third of the annual BC Lottery Corporation revenues for the purpose of supporting licensed charities. The government has never met that promise. IN THEIR OWN WORDS The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts. This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics: · “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
§ Art programs for youth and seniors measurably improve the lives of participants, visibly fostering healthier communities and innovatively addressing issues of youth at risk and eldercare. "There's a strong fiscally conservative argument for supporting the arts… [without it we would be] culturally and economically soulless." Federal Heritage Minister James Moore Public investment in arts results in healthier, happier, economically competitive, and liveable communities. Public investment in the arts results in stronger creative industries, tourism, and social-profit sectors. The province’s own research shows that every dollar invested in arts and cultural organizations returns between $1.05 and $1.36 directly to provincial treasuries through tax revenues. Of Canada’s 10 provinces, BC has the largest percentage of its labour force in arts occupations. As well, the arts and cultural sectors and B.C.'s creative industries generate $5.2 billion each year and employ 80,000 people. Growth in cultural employment in Canada from 1981 to 2001 was 81% higher than the 32% growth in the overall labour force during the same period. Arts organizations use provincial funding to leverage investment from other sources: other levels of government, foundations, private donors; all aimed at keeping admission prices affordable. Many of those sources make their decisions based on the level of investment by the province. By slashing investment the Province is endangering the support that other sources are still willing to provide. THE BC STORY “British Columbia is the place for local arts and culture. People agree emphatically that funding for the arts should not be left up to private business and foundations, but should get a boost from local governments. Ninety-one per cent of B.C. residents praise the selection of [arts and cultural] events and activities in their community, and it’s the only region in Canada where there’s complete agreement with the idea that a vibrant cultural scene is great for the local economy.” From “We Know What You’re Thinking”, by Darrell Bricker and John Wright of Ipsos Reid · Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, says there “hasn’t been a cut” in funding. That’s because there has been a financial shell game going on where gaming moneys are being used for things that they were never meant for, which means 44% of arts and culture groups that received the money from gaming last year received nothing this year · No other province in Canada has reduced support for the arts sector at this time of economic uncertainty. Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland and the federal government have all increased their investments. · Provincial Government funding in British Columbia from all sources makes up an average of seven percent of the operating budgets of performing arts organizations. This is the lowest in Canada. The national average is 13 percent. In Quebec, provincial funding accounts for 26 percent of a performing arts organization’s budget. · The BC government has allocated half a million dollars to advertise the Olympics in schools, while cutting gaming grants that support BC Sports in schools for one-quarter of the cost. · British Columbia has the highest number of artists per capita in the country. Vancouver has the largest concentration of any major city in Canada and Victoria has the second largest. Seven of the top ten municipalities with the highest number of artists per capita are also located in BC. · Changing the allocation of the Gaming Funds represents a breach of the promise made to those communities that accepted casinos or slot machines based that the proceeds from gambling would be re-invested in the arts and their communities. · In 1999, the province of BC entered into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the BC Association of for Charitable Gaming to commit one-third of the annual BC Lottery Corporation revenues for the purpose of supporting licensed charities. The government has never met that promise. IN THEIR OWN WORDS The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts. This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics: · “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
"There's a strong fiscally conservative argument for supporting the arts… [without it we would be] culturally and economically soulless." Federal Heritage Minister James Moore
Public investment in arts results in healthier, happier, economically competitive, and liveable communities.
Public investment in the arts results in stronger creative industries, tourism, and social-profit sectors.
The province’s own research shows that every dollar invested in arts and cultural organizations returns between $1.05 and $1.36 directly to provincial treasuries through tax revenues.
Of Canada’s 10 provinces, BC has the largest percentage of its labour force in arts occupations.
As well, the arts and cultural sectors and B.C.'s creative industries generate $5.2 billion each year and employ 80,000 people.
Growth in cultural employment in Canada from 1981 to 2001 was 81% higher than the 32% growth in the overall labour force during the same period.
Arts organizations use provincial funding to leverage investment from other sources: other levels of government, foundations, private donors; all aimed at keeping admission prices affordable. Many of those sources make their decisions based on the level of investment by the province. By slashing investment the Province is endangering the support that other sources are still willing to provide.
“British Columbia is the place for local arts and culture. People agree emphatically that funding for the arts should not be left up to private business and foundations, but should get a boost from local governments. Ninety-one per cent of B.C. residents praise the selection of [arts and cultural] events and activities in their community, and it’s the only region in Canada where there’s complete agreement with the idea that a vibrant cultural scene is great for the local economy.” From “We Know What You’re Thinking”, by Darrell Bricker and John Wright of Ipsos Reid
· Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, says there “hasn’t been a cut” in funding. That’s because there has been a financial shell game going on where gaming moneys are being used for things that they were never meant for, which means 44% of arts and culture groups that received the money from gaming last year received nothing this year · No other province in Canada has reduced support for the arts sector at this time of economic uncertainty. Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland and the federal government have all increased their investments. · Provincial Government funding in British Columbia from all sources makes up an average of seven percent of the operating budgets of performing arts organizations. This is the lowest in Canada. The national average is 13 percent. In Quebec, provincial funding accounts for 26 percent of a performing arts organization’s budget. · The BC government has allocated half a million dollars to advertise the Olympics in schools, while cutting gaming grants that support BC Sports in schools for one-quarter of the cost. · British Columbia has the highest number of artists per capita in the country. Vancouver has the largest concentration of any major city in Canada and Victoria has the second largest. Seven of the top ten municipalities with the highest number of artists per capita are also located in BC. · Changing the allocation of the Gaming Funds represents a breach of the promise made to those communities that accepted casinos or slot machines based that the proceeds from gambling would be re-invested in the arts and their communities. · In 1999, the province of BC entered into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the BC Association of for Charitable Gaming to commit one-third of the annual BC Lottery Corporation revenues for the purpose of supporting licensed charities. The government has never met that promise. IN THEIR OWN WORDS The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts. This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics: · “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
· No other province in Canada has reduced support for the arts sector at this time of economic uncertainty. Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland and the federal government have all increased their investments. · Provincial Government funding in British Columbia from all sources makes up an average of seven percent of the operating budgets of performing arts organizations. This is the lowest in Canada. The national average is 13 percent. In Quebec, provincial funding accounts for 26 percent of a performing arts organization’s budget. · The BC government has allocated half a million dollars to advertise the Olympics in schools, while cutting gaming grants that support BC Sports in schools for one-quarter of the cost. · British Columbia has the highest number of artists per capita in the country. Vancouver has the largest concentration of any major city in Canada and Victoria has the second largest. Seven of the top ten municipalities with the highest number of artists per capita are also located in BC. · Changing the allocation of the Gaming Funds represents a breach of the promise made to those communities that accepted casinos or slot machines based that the proceeds from gambling would be re-invested in the arts and their communities. · In 1999, the province of BC entered into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the BC Association of for Charitable Gaming to commit one-third of the annual BC Lottery Corporation revenues for the purpose of supporting licensed charities. The government has never met that promise. IN THEIR OWN WORDS The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts. This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics: · “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
· Provincial Government funding in British Columbia from all sources makes up an average of seven percent of the operating budgets of performing arts organizations. This is the lowest in Canada. The national average is 13 percent. In Quebec, provincial funding accounts for 26 percent of a performing arts organization’s budget. · The BC government has allocated half a million dollars to advertise the Olympics in schools, while cutting gaming grants that support BC Sports in schools for one-quarter of the cost. · British Columbia has the highest number of artists per capita in the country. Vancouver has the largest concentration of any major city in Canada and Victoria has the second largest. Seven of the top ten municipalities with the highest number of artists per capita are also located in BC. · Changing the allocation of the Gaming Funds represents a breach of the promise made to those communities that accepted casinos or slot machines based that the proceeds from gambling would be re-invested in the arts and their communities. · In 1999, the province of BC entered into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the BC Association of for Charitable Gaming to commit one-third of the annual BC Lottery Corporation revenues for the purpose of supporting licensed charities. The government has never met that promise. IN THEIR OWN WORDS The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts. This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics: · “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
· The BC government has allocated half a million dollars to advertise the Olympics in schools, while cutting gaming grants that support BC Sports in schools for one-quarter of the cost. · British Columbia has the highest number of artists per capita in the country. Vancouver has the largest concentration of any major city in Canada and Victoria has the second largest. Seven of the top ten municipalities with the highest number of artists per capita are also located in BC. · Changing the allocation of the Gaming Funds represents a breach of the promise made to those communities that accepted casinos or slot machines based that the proceeds from gambling would be re-invested in the arts and their communities. · In 1999, the province of BC entered into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the BC Association of for Charitable Gaming to commit one-third of the annual BC Lottery Corporation revenues for the purpose of supporting licensed charities. The government has never met that promise. IN THEIR OWN WORDS The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts. This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics: · “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
· British Columbia has the highest number of artists per capita in the country. Vancouver has the largest concentration of any major city in Canada and Victoria has the second largest. Seven of the top ten municipalities with the highest number of artists per capita are also located in BC. · Changing the allocation of the Gaming Funds represents a breach of the promise made to those communities that accepted casinos or slot machines based that the proceeds from gambling would be re-invested in the arts and their communities. · In 1999, the province of BC entered into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the BC Association of for Charitable Gaming to commit one-third of the annual BC Lottery Corporation revenues for the purpose of supporting licensed charities. The government has never met that promise. IN THEIR OWN WORDS The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts. This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics: · “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
· Changing the allocation of the Gaming Funds represents a breach of the promise made to those communities that accepted casinos or slot machines based that the proceeds from gambling would be re-invested in the arts and their communities. · In 1999, the province of BC entered into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the BC Association of for Charitable Gaming to commit one-third of the annual BC Lottery Corporation revenues for the purpose of supporting licensed charities. The government has never met that promise. IN THEIR OWN WORDS The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts. This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics: · “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
· In 1999, the province of BC entered into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the BC Association of for Charitable Gaming to commit one-third of the annual BC Lottery Corporation revenues for the purpose of supporting licensed charities. The government has never met that promise. IN THEIR OWN WORDS The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts. This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics: · “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
The government often pays lip service to the importance of culture. Directly and indirectly, in public speeches, and through studies and reports by its many committees and agencies, we are assured of the value they place on supporting the arts.
This is a good time to remind them of their own words and statistics:
· “The integration of arts, culture and heritage experiences into B.C.'s tourism sector plays a central role in building B.C.'s tourism industry” – BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan · To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
· To win its bid for the 2010 Olympics, the BC government boasted about the province's vibrant arts and culture scene. It claimed that culture was the "second pillar" of the Games. Now, just five months before the Olympics begin, the government cuts arts funding. Not only will this tarnish BC's image in the eyes of the world, it will damage BC's arts sector beyond any chance of easy recovery. · The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
· The BC Ministry’s service plan states that we require "culturally rich communities that contribute to making B.C. the best place on earth to live, work and play”, and states that "British Columbia's arts, culture and creative sectors are diverse, dynamic and growing”. The government’s current actions do not support these statements nor recognize that the arts should be looked towards as a key player in troubled and transitional times. · “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
· “Our vibrant culture is a vital asset in drawing and retaining an increasingly mobile workforce to our province.” BC Tourism, Culture and Arts Service Plan WHAT CAN I DO? Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts. Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information] . Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages: · Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
Contact your MLA. Write an email or call and request a meeting where you can tell them why they should fight to reinstate investment in the Arts.
Write to Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Rich Coleman and Kevin Krueger and make the same argument [See below for contact information]
.
Remind them that the Arts are a growth industry. Use the data provided in this toolkit to support these key messages:
· Restore funding to the BC Arts Council to the 2008-09 levels, and maintain the arms-length relationship with the province by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; · Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
· Restore gaming grants to the 2008-09 levels; · Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
· Find ways to offset the impact of the HST on the arts and culture sector. Remind them that: · A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
Remind them that:
· A very small investment – less than 10 cents out of every $100 the government spends – will deliver a return on investment that can’t be matched anywhere else; · No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
· No other province is cutting investment in the Arts. Every other part of the country recognizes the Arts as a wise investment that returns its investment in so many ways; · BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
· BC’s per capita support for the arts is already the lowest in Canada; · Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
· Artists are real people who live in your community and contribute to the local economy. When jobs disappear in the Arts jobs also disappear in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, lumber mills, and everywhere else an artist – or an audience member – shops. Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality. Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC. Thank you for believing that Culture Matters For further information, please contact info@proartalliance.ca CONTACT INFORMATION Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023 WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION? “[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore “What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” “I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame “People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X” [Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
Also, contact your local Mayor and Councillor. The Union of BC Municipalities recently passed a resolution calling on the province to restore funding to the Arts. Remind your local representative that the Arts are important to their community. Many communities in the province that have lost resource-based industries are discovering that cultural tourism can create new economic vitality.
Finally, pass this on to everyone you know who supports the Arts. Remember, that’s nine out of ten people in BC.
Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202 Finance Minister Colin Hansen E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748 Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151 Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031 And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ] MLA’S BY REGION Riding MLA Party Email Local Phone Northern BC Nechako Lakes John Rustad Lib john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 964-5650 North Coast Gary Coons NDP gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 624-7734 Peace River North Pam Pimm Lib pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 263-0101 Peace River South Hon. Blair Lekstrom Lib blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 784-1330 Prince George-Mackenzie Hon. Pat Bell Lib pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4194 Prince George-Valemount Hon. Shirley Bond Lib shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 612-4181 Skeena Robin Austin NDP robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 638-7906 Stikine Doug Donaldson NDP doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 842-6338 Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary Boundary-Similkameen John Slater Lib john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 495-2042 Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald NDP norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 344-4816 Kootenay East Hon. Bill Bennett Lib bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 417-6022 Kootenay West Katrine Conroy NDP katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 304-2783 Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall NDP michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 354-5944 Okanagan & Shuswap Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick Lib norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 765-8516 Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson Lib steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 712-3620 Penticton Hon. Bill Barisoff Lib bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 487-4400 Shuswap Hon. George Abbott Lib george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 833-7414 Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster Lib eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 503-3600 Westside-Kelowna Hon. Ben Stewart Lib ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 768-8426 Thompson & Cariboo Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett Lib donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 395-3916 Cariboo North Bob Simpson NDP bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 991-0296 Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake Lib terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 554-5413 Fraser Valley Abbotsford-Mission Hon. Randy Hawes Lib randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Abbotsford South John van Dongen Lib john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5945 Abbotsford West Hon. Michael de Jong Lib mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 870-5486 Chilliwack John Les Lib john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 702-5214 Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner Lib barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 858-6202 Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali NDP harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 378-4802 Langley Hon. Mary Polak Lib mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 514-8206 Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton Lib marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 820-6203 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather NDP michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 476-9823 Surrey Surrey-Cloverdale Hon. Kevin Falcon Lib kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 576-3792 Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar NDP jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 501-8227 Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell NDP sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2791 Surrey-Newton Harry Bains NDP harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-8248 Surrey-Panorama Sephanie Cadieux Lib stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 574-5662 Surrey-Tynehead Dave S. Hayer Lib dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-3747 Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston NDP bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 586-2740 Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg Lib gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 542-3930 Richmond & Delta Delta North Guy Gentner NDP guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 597-1488 Delta South Vicki Huntington Ind. vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 940-7924 Richmond Centre Rob Howard Lib rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0754 Richmond East Linda Reid Lib linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0891 Richmond-Steveston Hon. John Yap Lib john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 241-8452 Vancouver Eastern Suburbs Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan NDP kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2414 Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan NDP raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7301 Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy Lib harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2077 Burnaby North Richard T. Lee Lib richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0778 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne Lib douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca 1 800 691-9158 Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne NDP diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2001 New Westminster Dawn Black NDP dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2101 Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth NDP mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 927-2088 Port Moody-Coquitlam Hon Iain Black Lib iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 933-2312 Vancouver Vancouver-Fairview Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid Lib margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7061 Vancouver-False Creek Hon. Mary McNeil Lib mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2601 Vancouver-Fraserview Hon. Kash Heed Lib kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2246 Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson NDP shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-2277 Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore NDP mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-1033 Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix NDP adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-0314 Vancouver-Langara Hon. Moira Stilwell Lib moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 356-2771 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan NDP jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0790 Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert NDP spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 660-7307 North Shore & Sunshine Coast North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Lib naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0033 North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite Lib jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 775-0803 West Vancouver-Capilano Rslph Sultan Lib ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0050 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre Lib joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 981-0045 Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons NDP nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca 604 485-1249 Vancouver Island Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser NDP scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 720-4515 Comox Valley Don McRae Lib don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 703-2422 Cowichan Valley Bill Routley NDP bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 715-0127 Nanaimo Leonard Krog NDP leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 714-0630 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley NDP douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 245-9375 North Island Claire Trevena NDP claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 287-5100 Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon Lib ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 729-7041 Greater Victoria Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurien Karagianis NDP maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-8326 Juan de Fuca John Horgan NDP john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 391-2801 Oak Bay-Gordon Head Hon. Ida Chong Lib ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 472-8528 Saanich North and the Islands Hon. Murray Coell Lib murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 655-5711 Saanich South Lana Popham NDP lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 479-4154 Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James NDP carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 952-4211 Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming NDP rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca 250 360-2023
Premier Gordon Campbell E-mail: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca Office: Room 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-1715 Constituency: 3615 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1P2 604-660-3202
Finance Minister Colin Hansen
E-mail: colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 153, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-387-3751 Constituency: 5640 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6N 1W7 604-664-0748
Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing & Social Assistance [whose Ministry includes the Gaming Branch] E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 128, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4 250-356-7750 Constituency: 130 – 7888 200th Street , Langley, BC, V2Y 3J4 604-882-3151
Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts
E-mail: kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca Office: Room 301, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2 250-953-4246 Constituency: 9 – 111 Oriole Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 250-314-6031
And be sure to contact your MLA [If you’re not sure who that is go to https://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm ]
MLA’S BY REGION
Riding
MLA
Party
Email
Local Phone
Northern BC
Nechako Lakes
John Rustad
Lib
john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 964-5650
North Coast
Gary Coons
NDP
gary.coons.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 624-7734
Peace River North
Pam Pimm
pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 263-0101
Peace River South
Hon. Blair Lekstrom
blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 784-1330
Prince George-Mackenzie
Hon. Pat Bell
pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 612-4194
Prince George-Valemount
Hon. Shirley Bond
shirley.bond.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 612-4181
Skeena
Robin Austin
robin.austin.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 638-7906
Stikine
Doug Donaldson
doug.donaldson.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 842-6338
Kootenay, Columbia & Boundary
Boundary-Similkameen
John Slater
john.slater.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 495-2042
Columbia River-Revelstoke
Norm Macdonald
norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 344-4816
Kootenay East
Hon. Bill Bennett
bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 417-6022
Kootenay West
Katrine Conroy
katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 304-2783
Nelson-Creston
Michelle Mungall
michelle.mungall.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 354-5944
Okanagan & Shuswap
Kelowna-Lake Country
Norm Letnick
norm.letnick.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 765-8516
Kelowna-Mission
Steve Thomson
steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 712-3620
Penticton
Hon. Bill Barisoff
bill.barisoff.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 487-4400
Shuswap
Hon. George Abbott
george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 833-7414
Vernon-Monashee
Eric Foster
eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 503-3600
Westside-Kelowna
Hon. Ben Stewart
ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 768-8426
Thompson & Cariboo
Cariboo-Chilcotin
Donna Barnett
donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 395-3916
Cariboo North
Bob Simpson
bob.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 991-0296
Kamloops-North Thompson
Terry Lake
terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 554-5413
Fraser Valley
Abbotsford-Mission
Hon. Randy Hawes
randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 820-6203
Abbotsford South
John van Dongen
john.vandongen.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 870-5945
Abbotsford West
Hon. Michael de Jong
mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 870-5486
Chilliwack
John Les
john.les.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 702-5214
Chilliwack-Hope
Barry Penner
barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 858-6202
Fraser-Nicola
Harry Lali
harry.lali.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 378-4802
Langley
Hon. Mary Polak
mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 514-8206
Maple Ridge-Mission
Marc Dalton
marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca
Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows
Michael Sather
michael.sather.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 476-9823
Surrey
Surrey-Cloverdale
Hon. Kevin Falcon
kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 576-3792
Surrey-Fleetwood
Jagrup Brar
jagrup.brar.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 501-8227
Surrey-Green Timbers
Sue Hammell
sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 586-2791
Surrey-Newton
Harry Bains
harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 597-8248
Surrey-Panorama
Sephanie Cadieux
stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 574-5662
Surrey-Tynehead
Dave S. Hayer
dave.hayer.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 586-3747
Surrey-Whalley
Bruce Ralston
bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 586-2740
Surrey-White Rock
Gordon Hogg
gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 542-3930
Richmond & Delta
Delta North
Guy Gentner
guy.gentner.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 597-1488
Delta South
Vicki Huntington
Ind.
vicki.huntington.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 940-7924
Richmond Centre
Rob Howard
rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 775-0754
Richmond East
Linda Reid
linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 775-0891
Richmond-Steveston
Hon. John Yap
john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 241-8452
Vancouver Eastern Suburbs
Burnaby-Deer Lake
Kathy Corrigan
kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 775-2414
Burnaby-Edmonds
Raj Chouhan
raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 660-7301
Burnaby-Lougheed
Harry Bloy
harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 933-2077
Burnaby North
Richard T. Lee
richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 775-0778
Coquitlam-Burke Mountain
Douglas Horne
douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca
1 800 691-9158
Coquitlam-Maillardville
Diane Thorne
diane.thorne.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 933-2001
New Westminster
Dawn Black
dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 775-2101
Port Coquitlam
Mike Farnworth
mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 927-2088
Port Moody-Coquitlam
Hon Iain Black
iain.black.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 933-2312
Vancouver
Vancouver-Fairview
Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid
margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 660-7061
Vancouver-False Creek
Hon. Mary McNeil
mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 775-2601
Vancouver-Fraserview
Hon. Kash Heed
kash.heed.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 775-2246
Vancouver-Hastings
Shane Simpson
shane.simpson.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 775-2277
Vancouver-Kensington
Mable Elmore
mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 775-1033
Vancouver-Kingsway
Adrian Dix
adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 660-0314
Vancouver-Langara
Hon. Moira Stilwell
moira.stilwell.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 356-2771
Vancouver-Mount Pleasant
Jenny Kwan
jenny.kwan.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 775-0790
Vancouver-West End
Spencer Herbert
spencer.herbert.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 660-7307
North Shore & Sunshine Coast
North Vancouver-Lonsdale
Hon. Naomi Yamamoto
naomi.yamamoto.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 981-0033
North Vancouver-Seymour
Jane Thornthwaite
jane.thornthwaite.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 775-0803
West Vancouver-Capilano
Rslph Sultan
ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 981-0050
West Vancouver-Sea to Sky
Joan McIntyre
joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 981-0045
Powell River-Sunshine Coast
Nicholas Simons
nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca
604 485-1249
Vancouver Island
Alberni-Pacific Rim
Scott Fraser
scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 720-4515
Comox Valley
Don McRae
don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 703-2422
Cowichan Valley
Bill Routley
bill.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 715-0127
Nanaimo
Leonard Krog
leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 714-0630
Nanaimo-North Cowichan
Doug Routley
douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 245-9375
North Island
Claire Trevena
claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 287-5100
Parksville-Qualicum
Ron Cantelon
ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 729-7041
Greater Victoria
Esquimalt-Royal Roads
Maurien Karagianis
maurine.karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 479-8326
Juan de Fuca
John Horgan
john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 391-2801
Oak Bay-Gordon Head
Hon. Ida Chong
ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 472-8528
Saanich North and the Islands
Hon. Murray Coell
murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 655-5711
Saanich South
Lana Popham
lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 479-4154
Victoria-Beacon Hill
Carole James
carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 952-4211
Victoria-Swan Lake
Rob Fleming
rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 360-2023
WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT THE BC SITUATION?
“[The Arts] has to be a central component—in our judgment—if we’re going to deal with economic recovery, support the quality of life in our cities, and support the creative economy in this country… The province of British Columbia has made its own decisions and they will, politically, live with them… [The proposed cuts to the arts are] devastating, and may not be recoverable.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore
“What is it that power-hungry politicians want from artists? Control over the story through the annihilation of the former story-tellers? Is this the agenda behind the recent decapitation of arts funding in British Columbia, while mega-millions are poured into the Olympics? The BC arts community will retaliate, of course. Over the past 50 years they've put BC on the map, and now they’re being told that their sorts of contributions are without value. They’ve always been a scrappy lot: Watch that energy bite back at Mr. Campbell – that would be my guess.” Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale”
“I would also like to thank the BC provincial funding for the arts, something that is lacking at the moment if you’ve read your local newspaper... Without that funding, I don’t think that I would be standing here this evening.” Actor Kim Cattrall, in accepting her star on Canada’s Walk of Fame
“People come to BC not just because of the pretty mountains. They come here because they expect a place where society is both different and better. Haven't you noticed that when you say 'Vancouver' to people, their eyes light up? For foolish short-term reasons we're killing that light, and all the money in the world can't buy it back once it's gone. We become a parking lot with mountains and it doesn't have to happen.” Douglas Coupland, author of “Generation X”
[Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance]
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