Stephen Harper demonstrates once more that he understands nothing about culture
September 8, 2015
Open letter:
As authors and Liberal candidates, we understand the importance of reading, for Canadians of all ages. We are also aware of the role that our government must play in supporting authors and the publishing community in order to support books and culture in our own country and across the globe.
Unfortunately, we have known for a long time now that Stephen Harper understands nothing about culture. He demonstrated this once again when he refused the invitation extended to Canada to be the guest of honour at the world’s biggest book fair, the Frankfurt Book Fair, on our country’s 150th anniversary in 2017.
Attended by 275,000 visitors, 7,300 exhibitors, and 9,000 journalists annually, the Frankfurt Book Fair is the most important event of its kind in the world, bringing together editors, agents, distributors, wholesalers, librarians, and libraries from the four corners of world. It is the not-to-be-missed event for publishing professionals.
However, we now learn that, this past November, Stephen Harper’s Conservatives declined the invitation extended by the organisers of the event for budgetary reasons. This, even though the expected cost represented less than one percent of Canadian Heritage’s annual budget.
Needless to say that the Conservative government’s decision was a great disappointment to the Canadian publishing community, as this was a unique opportunity to showcase our authors and publishing professionals throughout the world.
As was the case in 2008 when they cut funding for programs to support arts and culture, and more recently when they drastically cut the budget for CBC/Radio-Canada, Stephen Harper’s Conservatives are demonstrating total ignorance of cultural issues and of the needs of this community.
Now more than ever, we need a new vision on cultural issues in Canada – a vision based on the idea that culture is an essential component of the fabric of our country. Justin Trudeau and the entire Liberal team understand the importance of arts and culture for Canadians. This is why we have committed to reinvest in this sector and ensure that this community can count on the Canadian government as a full partner in its projects, its growth, and its visibility, here and throughout the world.
Terry Beech, Liberal candidate for Burnaby North—Seymour
Stéphane Dion, Liberal candidate for Saint-Laurent
Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal candidate for Québec
Chrystia Freedland, Liberal candidate for University—Rosedale
Bill Morneau, Liberal candidate for Toronto Centre
Marlo Raynolds, Liberal candidate for Banff—Airdrie