Over the last month there has been a lot of discussion surrounding the cuts to Arts and Culture programs in BC. Attempts by reporters from Vancouver’s Georgia Straight to interview the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Arts Kevin Krueger have been declined, and the Minister has avoided responding directly to questions during a Question Period at the Legislative Assembly of BC. This lack of respect and integrity regarding the issue and how it affects the people behind the scenes is very disheartening. Many arts and culture programs throughout BC were promised funding, only to later receive letters cancelling the funding.
On a personal note, I am quite tired of broken promises from various levels of government who seem to lack the ability to tell the truth and hold true to their word. Below is a transcript of a Question Period at the Legislative Assembly of BC from Monday August 31, 2009
FUNDING FOR ARTS AND CULTURE
C. James: Every single day brings new evidence of this Premier’s broken promises. On Friday afternoon the government sent letters to arts groups across B.C. informing them that their direct access grants had been cancelled — cancelled abruptly in spite of written and signed contracts, in spite of the minister’s consistent reassurance that the money would be coming, cancelled after the groups had already planned programs and, in some cases, after the events had already taken place. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
My question is to the Finance Minister. Will he explain his government’s betrayal to B.C.’s arts communities, and will he explain why this government told them one thing before the election and did just the opposite after the election? [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Hon. K. Krueger: This government places a tremendously high value on the contributions of the arts and cultural community to the social fabric of British Columbia as well as to our economy. It is a remarkable achievement that we have been able to fund, through the B.C. Arts Council, grants to these communities in almost the same amount, at almost the same levels as last year. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Turning to the matter of direct-access gaming, I’d welcome a follow-up question. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Mr. Speaker: The Leader of the Opposition has a supplemental. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
C. James: If this is the way the government shows their support for arts and culture, we have a real problem in British Columbia, and the arts community has a big problem in British Columbia. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Interjections.
Mr. Speaker: Members. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Continue, Member. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
[1355]
C. James: I know this minister has his answer ready. I’d like to ask the question first, and perhaps he can listen, unlike what he’s been doing with the arts communities across British Columbia. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
I’ll read out a few groups that the minister might want to go and meet with right now: Museum of Northern B.C., Carousel Theatre, Victoria Symphony, Touchstone Theatre, Intrepid Theatre, Fraser Valley Gilbert and Sullivan Society, Vancouver International Dance Festival. These are just some of the groups that this government misled. They were told in writing that the government money would be coming, and then on Friday, all of a sudden, they were told: “Sorry, no funds for you.” [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Again, my question is: how does this government explain throwing thousands of people out of work after they were told that the funds were secure and they’re waiting for them? [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Hon. K. Krueger: I forgot that it’s question period, not answer period. I’m sorry for starting early there. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Interjections.
Mr. Speaker: Members. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Hon. K. Krueger: As I mentioned, the groups who are funded through the B.C. Arts Council have substantially the same funding as last year. The direct-access gaming funds are very often oversubscribed in demand and in applications. The Ministry of Housing and Social Development published, on August 24, the priority order that it would follow in deciding where the funds would go from direct-access gaming. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
These priorities make sense to me, and I think they will to the members opposite. Firstly, programs that support low-income and disabled British Columbians; programs that provide food, shelter and support to at-risk individuals; programs that support community health services; programs that fund nutritional and similar programs in schools for underprivileged children; public safety programs; a limited number of arts and culture activities…. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Mr. Speaker: Thank you, Minister. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
The Leader of the Opposition has a further supplemental. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
B.C. LIBERAL PARTY
CAMPAIGN STATEMENTS
C. James: The facts are clear. These groups and organizations were told by this government that the funding would be coming over the next three years. On Friday they received a letter saying: “No funding. Sorry.” [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
That’s the fact, Minister. That’s the fact. You have cut funding for arts and culture that have provided funding for groups and organizations that provide support for jobs in British Columbia, and they will be hurting because of this government’s decisions. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
I’m sad to say that it isn’t simply the arts community that is suffering because of this government’s direction. Before the election we also heard the Premier say that he would support health services, that he’d strengthen seniors care, that he wouldn’t bring in an HST, that he’d improve education. Well, since the election it’s very clear that it’s a completely different story. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
My question goes to the Finance Minister. We have a budget coming in tomorrow. I’d like to ask the Finance Minister: will he stand up today in this House and apologize — apologize to seniors, to students, to small businesses, to the arts community — for this government’s betrayal of their trust? [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Hon. C. Hansen: Tomorrow’s budget is going to be a budget that is going to recognize that British Columbia, like the rest of the world, is going through very challenging economic times, but it is a budget that is actually going to show how we can protect essential health care, education and social services in British Columbia and how we can position British Columbia to make sure that we come out of this economic recession even stronger in the future. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
FUNDING FOR ARTS AND CULTURE
S. Herbert: My question is to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, who seems to think it’s funny that he’s not answering questions. Hopefully, this’ll be different. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
The B.C. Liberal government promised $95,000 last year, $95,000 this year and $95,000 next year to the Vancouver Children’s Festival, in gaming funds, to produce their festival. Now the festival is told that the government is tearing up this contract and that they won’t be getting the promised investment. The thing is that they already spent the money, which the Minister of Tourism also assured them would be coming before the election. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
How does the minister justify this betrayal and breach of trust? [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
[1400]
Hon. K. Krueger: These are tremendously challenging times around the world for all jurisdictions — their revenues, their finances, their programs — and the direct access gaming funds from which these grants flow are far oversubscribed. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
To continue the priority list that I offered to the Leader of the Opposition… [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Interjection.
Mr. Speaker: Members. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Hon. K. Krueger: …next are community education programs, such as day cares and preschools; public community facilities, like community halls and recreational facilities; youth and disabled sports; non-sport youth groups such as Scouts and cadets. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Surely, all members of this House respect these worthy organizations and believe that there has to be some sharing of the available funding. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
S. Herbert: The minister has got his message box down, but somehow it doesn’t actually relate to the questions that we’re asking here — because there is no answer to the question of how much the arts community has been betrayed by this government. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
A typical letter — I’ve got one here, so the minister might actually want to read it — says this: “The branch has selected your organization to pilot the new three-year direct access program grant approval. Accordingly, we have approved ’08-09, $95,000; approved ’09-10, $95,000; and approved ’10-11, $95,000.” [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Nowhere does it say: “maybe.” Nowhere does it say: “You can’t trust this government’s word.” [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
The children’s festival, like many other cultural organizations, performed the work the government required of them when they signed on. Now the government won’t pay them for the services that the government required them to perform, throwing their futures into doubt and non-profits provincewide into massive debt, forcing them to do massive layoffs. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Why should these charities pay for this government’s incompetence, mismanagement and betrayal? [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Hon. K. Krueger: To date, $53 million has been allocated to gaming grants for the year 2009-2010. The province considers applications for these grants four times per year. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Interjections.
Mr. Speaker: Members. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Hon. K. Krueger: I have explained to members opposite that — like all other jurisdictions around the world since the financial troubles began on September 12, 2008 — our revenues do not stretch to cover all of the applications. So I’ve read to the members opposite a priority order by which decisions are being made. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
D. Donaldson: On the second day of the 90th annual Bulkley Fall Fair this past weekend in Smithers, organizers received a letter stating that this year’s gaming grant of $20,000 was cancelled. The notice was received after the fair had started. The fair is an event that is key to the local economy and vital to the livelihood of so many members of the grass-roots community in the region. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
To the Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts: does the minister believe it is fair and honest for the government to promise funding, then cancel it partway through an important community event? [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Hon. K. Krueger: Fall fairs play a tremendous role in the communities and local economies where they occur. I’ve lived in Smithers. I’ve attended the Bulkley Valley Fall Fair, and it’s certainly something that everyone on this side of the House cares about. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Interjection.
Hon. K. Krueger: But I’d ask the member opposite who is heckling, does she think that…. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Mr. Speaker: Member, through the Chair, please. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Hon. K. Krueger: Thank you, hon. Speaker. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Does any member opposite think that a program that supports low-income and disabled British Columbians is a lower priority than a fall fair? These are tough decisions that have to be made in government. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Mr. Speaker: Member has a supplemental. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
D. Donaldson: It seems this government believes that making promises to the citizens of this province and then breaking them is a good thing. The coordinator of the Bulkley Valley Exhibition told me she broke down when she opened the letter this government sent in the middle of the fair, cancelling the funding. That is the human impact of this minister’s decisions. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
[1405]
Again to the minister: will the minister do his job, stand in support of grass-roots community groups and commit to reinstating the promised funding that this government cut? [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Hon. K. Krueger: There are few easy choices in tough times. To the great volunteers who serve in the Bulkley Valley Fall Fair: would they agree with that member that the fair is a higher priority than providing food, shelter and support to at-risk individuals? [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Interjections.
Mr. Speaker: Members. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Minister, just take your seat for a second. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Continue, Minister. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Hon. K. Krueger: Would any member on the opposite side of the House argue that a program to fund nutritional and similar programs in schools for underprivileged children is a lower priority than fall fairs? Not everyone can be funded, and tough decisions have to be made. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
S. Simpson: If this minister or this government –– anybody in this government –– had lifted one finger to deal with the question of the highest levels of child poverty for the last six years in this country, maybe you’d be more believable when you wring your hands on these issues. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Yesterday the member for Vancouver–West End and I met with over a hundred members of the arts community in Vancouver. Not one of those members believes this minister. All of them represent groups that had three-year funding commitments before the election. All those groups have had those commitments broken and ripped up by this government after the election. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
My question to the minister is this: why would any organization in this province have any confidence in the believability of this government or this minister on any of their commitments? [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Hon. K. Krueger: There are far fewer children living in homes that are supported by income assistance now than there were in the ’90s. But those very children that the member opposite professes to be asking questions about are in those groups that I have listed as our priorities. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Interjections.
Hon. K. Krueger: The member says he can’t hear, and it’s because of his colleagues. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Those very children live in the homes that these programs that we’ve placed as priorities treat as priority –– programs that support low-income and disabled British Columbians; programs that provide food, shelter, and support to at-risk individuals; programs that support community health services; programs that fund nutritional and similar programs in schools for underprivileged children. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
We do, in these tough times, have to focus our resources, government’s resources, on the people who need the services the most. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
S. Fraser: You deceived the public. You deceived the artists. You deceived the public. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Mr. Speaker: Member. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Take your seat for a second. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Member for Alberni–Pacific Rim, will you withdraw those comments? [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
S. Fraser: I withdraw. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
More information: http://www.stopbcartscuts.ca
