Federal Budget 2021 – Question Period Card, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Quebec Lieutenant

Issue

Federal Budget 2021

Update

January 25, 2022

Source

Federal Budget 2021

Synopsis

Budget 2021 was tabled by the Minister of Finance on April 19, 2021

Recommended response

• The Budget will provide $1.6 billion in funding to Canadian Heritage and $346 million in funding to Canadian Heritage Portfolio organizations. In total, that is $1.9 billion in new supports to the culture, heritage, sport and official languages sectors.
• Budget 2021 represents a major infusion of funding for the arts, culture, heritage and sport sectors, which have faced some of the most severe impacts from the pandemic. To promote the recovery of these sectors that contribute so much to the cultural life of Canadians, Budget 2021 provides $300 million to establish a Recovery Fund.
• When we get through this pandemic, Canadians will be eager to come together and celebrate what makes Canada great. Budget 2021 includes a $200 million fund to support local festivals, community cultural events, outdoor theatre performances, heritage celebrations, local museums, amateur sport events, and more.
• The government must continue building a more inclusive and equitable Canada. Budget 2021 proposes investments such as $60 million to the Canada Media Fund to provide opportunities for equity deserving creators to build skills and experience, and to support greater diversity in top-tier productions.
• Budget 2021 furthers the government’s historic support to address the unique challenges faced by Indigenous peoples. This is why Budget 2021 is proposing an investment of $275 million to support the efforts of Indigenous peoples in the reclamation, revitalization and strengthening of Indigenous languages as a foundation for culture, identity and belonging. This investment also addresses one of the key Calls for Justice by the National Inquiry for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
• The Government is making daily progress to implement many recovery and reopening support measures for the arts, culture, heritage and sport sectors.

Background

Relevant Budget 2021 initiatives

Support the Performing Arts Festivals and Community-based Cultural Events, Celebrations and Commemorations

To support the performing arts festivals and community-based cultural events, celebrations, and commemorations that make our communities stronger:

Budget 2021 proposes to provide $49.6 million over three years, starting in 2021-22, to Canadian Heritage for the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage Program ($14 million over two years, starting in 2022-23), the Canada Arts Presentation Fund ($16 million over two years, starting in 2022-23), and the Celebration and Commemoration Program ($19.6 million over three years, starting in 2021-22). (p.203)

Canada Music Fund

To help Canadian musicians, concert venues, producers, and distributors:

Budget 2021 proposes to provide $70 million over three years, starting in 2021-22, to Canadian Heritage for the Canada Music Fund. This includes up to $50 million in 2021-22 to help the live music sector, including music venues, weather the pandemic. (p.203)

Telefilm – Short-Term Compensation Fund

In February 2021, the government extended the fund into 2021-22 and doubled the funding to up to $100 million so that, during the peak spring and summer production period this year, filmmakers and producers have access to this critical backstop that reduces the financial risk productions face amidst ongoing COVID-19 shutdowns.

The fund is administered by Telefilm Canada and will support the resilience of this important $9.3-billion industry and help maintain well over 150,000 jobs for the industry’s artists and workers. (p.204)

The Indigenous Screen Office

Budget 2021 also proposes to provide $40.1 million over three years, beginning in 2021-22, to Canadian Heritage to support the Indigenous Screen Office and ensure Indigenous peoples can tell their own stories and see themselves reflected on-screen. (p.257)

Support the efforts of Indigenous peoples in the reclamation, revitalization and strengthening of Indigenous languages as a foundation for culture, identity, and belonging

Budget 2021 proposes to provide $275 million over five years, beginning in 2021-22, and $2 million ongoing to Canadian Heritage, to support the efforts of Indigenous peoples in the reclamation, revitalization, and strengthening of Indigenous languages as a foundation for culture, identity, and belonging. This funding will support various initiatives such as languages and culture camps, mentor-apprentice programs and the development of Indigenous languages resources and documentation. (p.257)

Emergency investment for the six national museums and the National Battlefields Commission, and additional funding

Funding proposed for Canada’s six national museums and the National Battlefields Commission to address financial pressures caused by COVID-19 and program integrity issues. Funding is also proposed for the RCMP Heritage Centre as it begins the process of transitioning to a new national museum, and to support the completion of the National Museum of Science and Technology’s Ingenium Centre. Finally, funding is proposed for the Canadian Museum of History to support the purchase of the collection of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. (p.223)

Telefilm – Parliamentary Appropriations

The shift to digital media is changing the landscape for Canadian film and television production and increasing global competition for online streaming content. To make sure Canadian film tells the story of all of Canada’s diverse peoples and reaches audiences all over the world:

Budget 2021 proposes to provide $105 million over three years, starting in 2021-22, for Telefilm Canada to modernize its current suite of programs to provide better access to a diverse range of creators and producers, support green practices, and respond to increasing digitization in the audiovisual industry. (p.204)

Canada Media Fund

To provide opportunities for equity deserving creators to build skills and experience, and to support greater diversity in top-tier productions:

Budget 2021 proposes to provide $60 million over three years, starting in 2021-22, to the Canada Media Fund to increase support for productions led by people from equity deserving groups working in the Canadian audiovisual industry. (p.204)

Support for the Canadian Book Industry and the Frankfurt Book Fair

Canadian book publishers and booksellers make sure Canadian stories get told and shared with the world. With the rise of e-commerce giants, investment is needed to help Canadian books find their way into the hands of readers.

Budget 2021 proposes to provide a total of $39.3 million over two years, starting in 2021-22, to Canadian Heritage to support the Canadian book industry. This includes $32.1 million over two years, starting in 2021-22, to help bookstores increase online sales and $7.2 million in 2021-22 to promote Canada’s book industry at the Frankfurt Book Fair, the world’s largest trade fair for books. (p.205)

Cultural Infrastructures – Canada Cultural Spaces Fund

To help arts and heritage institutions upgrade their facilities to meet public health guidelines:

Budget 2021 proposes to provide $15 million in 2021-22 to Canadian Heritage for the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund. (p.203)

Bringing a Digital Library and Archives Canada to Canadians

Budget 2021 also proposes to provide $14.9 million over four years, beginning in 2021-22, to support the preservation of Indigenous heritage through Library and Archives Canada. This will ensure that Indigenous women, girls, 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, and all people in Canada have meaningful access to their cultures and languages. (p.257)

National Film Board

Funding proposed for the National Film Board to address immediate funding pressures and ensure that it can continue its production and distribution activities and maintain its capital investments. (p.223)

National Arts Centre – Equity Deserving Groups

Budget 2021 also proposes to provide $6 million over two years, starting in 2021-22, to the National Arts Centre to support collaborations with equity deserving groups to help relaunch the performing arts sector. (p.204)

CBC/Radio-Canada

Budget 2021 proposes to provide $21 million in 2021-22 as immediate operational support to the CBC/Radio-Canada. This funding will ensure its stability during the pandemic and enable it to continue providing news and entertainment programming that keeps Canadians informed. (p.205)

Digital Access to Heritage

Funding proposed for Canadian Heritage’s Museums Assistance Program to support the digitization of information and collections by non-national museums and heritage institutions, which will allow these institutions to create original content such as educational materials, apps or other virtual activities to enhance the visitor experience. (p.223)

Memorial to Victims of Communism

The Memorial to the Victims of Communism will recognize Canada as a place of refuge for people fleeing injustice and persecution and honour the millions who have suffered under communist regimes. The memorial is currently under construction in Canada’s National Capital Region and needs additional funding in order to be completed:

Budget 2021 proposes to provide $4 million in 2021-22 to Canadian Heritage to support the completion of the Memorial to the Victims of Communism. (p.206)

National Arts Centre – Financial Pressures

Budget 2021 proposes to provide $17.2 million in 2021-22 to the National Arts Centre to address financial pressures caused by COVID-19 and to ensure the NAC will continue to support artists and celebrate Canadian culture. (p.204)

Recovery Fund for Heritage, Arts, Culture and Sport Sectors

To promote recovery from the pandemic for heritage, arts, and sport sectors that contribute so much to the cultural life of Canada:

Budget 2021 proposes to provide $300 million over two years, starting in 2021-22, to Canadian Heritage to establish a Recovery Fund for Heritage, Arts, Culture, Heritage and Sport Sectors. (p.203)

Community Festivals and Events

To support Canada’s many local festivals, celebrations, and amateur sport events that draw visitors to our communities:

Budget 2021 proposes to invest $200 million through Canadian Heritage to support local festivals, community cultural events, outdoor theatre performances, heritage celebrations, local museums, amateur sport events, and more. (p.201)

Commemorating the Legacy of Residential Schools

Budget 2021 proposes to provide $13.4 million over five years, with $2.4 million ongoing, to Canadian Heritage for events to commemorate the history and legacy of residential schools, and to honour survivors, their families and communities, as well as to support celebrations and commemoration events during the proposed National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. (p.263)

$500 Million Recovery and Reopening Fund Status

• As the Government makes daily progress to implement many recovery and reopening support measures for the arts, culture, heritage and sport sectors. Program launches, application assessment, and funding delivery continue to roll out on an ongoing basis.
• 24 of 25 Year 1 components are currently rolling out support measures, and 7 components should be launched in 2022 (as of January 25, 2022).