September 24, 2020 – The Canadian Arts Coalition (CAC) is pleased to see, in the Speech from the Throne, the government’s commitment to address issues critical to the arts and culture sector.

“It is a relief to our sector that the government recognizes how severely artists and their organizations have been impacted by COVID-19” says Charles C. Smith, spokesperson for the Canadian Arts Coalition. “We are encouraged that the Throne Speech indicates the government’s understanding that cultural industries and the performing arts have been among the hardest hit industries. The government’s intent to continue the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy until next summer is very welcome news, as is the promise to transition to a Canada Recovery Benefit for gig and contract workers.”

Canadian arts organizations were among the first to shut down as a result of the pandemic and will be among the last to be able to re-open. This has been especially difficult for those artists who are already marginalized, including Indigenous, racialized, the deaf and the disabled. The Canadian Arts Coalition has presented the sector’s concerns to both the Minister of Canadian Heritage as well as to the Standing Committee on Finance. The Coalition has been encouraged by actions that the government has taken in the past six months to provide emergency supports. The Speech from the Throne indicates the government has heard the concerns that need still to be addressed, including the need to update the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Act and the Copyright Act to ensure that our creators are more fairly compensated.

Going forward the Coalition looks to the government to work with the sector to build an equitable arts ecosystem that is relevant to the Canadian population, contributes to social cohesion, supports economic recovery and showcases Canadian arts and culture both at home and abroad.

About the CAC

The Canadian Arts Coalition is a collaborative non-partisan movement spearheaded by a group of national arts service and membership organizations. We are united in the belief that the future of our citizens, their towns and cities, and the nation itself depends on a rich, vibrant and diverse arts and heritage community. Since its inception, the CAC has successfully advocated for increased support for the arts through the Canada Council for the Arts and the Department of Canadian Heritage.