Who will answer?

On the 18th of November AABC sent a letter to each MLA in British Columbia. Yes, all 84 of them! See them here .

The letter posed the following two questions:

RE: Arts and culture funding in British Columbia

1. Are you satisfied with our standing in comparison with other provinces? If not, how would you like to see this changed?

2. What portion, if any, of gaming revenue do you think should go to charities?

To see the complete letter and accompanying background information, go to Questions for MLAs . You can find your MLA and ask them to reply to the questions from AABC.

UPDATE: On January 6th and 7th, we sent an email to each MLA that we had not heard from. All the replies will be posted below in alphabetical order. See what your MLA has to say on this issue.

Dawn Black, NDP, New Westminster

Hello Mr. Durrie,

Thank you for your letter re arts funding in BC.  This is a very important issue and my colleagues and I in the Official Opposition Caucus have been very concerned about the detrimental actions taken by the current provincial government.

Spencer Chandra Herbert, our spokesperson for arts and culture, responded to your questionnaire in early December and I am copying his letter below which summarizes our stand on this question.

Best wishes to all those involved in Arts Advocacy BC.  Your work in the community is worthwhile and appreciated!

Regards,

Dawn Black

Dawn Black, MLA (New Westminster)
Opposition Critic for Advanced Education
and Labour Market Development.
737 6th Street,
New Westminster, BC  V3L 3C6

Phone: 604-775-2101
Fax: 604-775-2121
[email protected]
www.dawnblack.ca

Iain J.S. Black, Liberal, Port Moody-Coquitlam

Dear Mr. Durrie,

A response is in the process from Minister Black’s staff in Victoria.

Linda Kingsbury
Constituency Assistant

Hon. Iain JS Black, MLA Port Moody-Coquitlam
#203 – 130 Brew Street
Port Moody, B.C.
V3H 0E3
Tel:  604-949-1226
Fax: 604-949-1281

Jagrup Brar, NDP, Surrey-Fleetwood

Dear Mr. Durrie,

I really appreciate that you have taken the time to write to my office regarding the arts funding. I apologize for the delay in responding to you as I had been away out of the country.

Our Official Opposition Critic for Arts and Culture, Spencer Chandra Herbert will be responding to your questions on behalf of our caucus. However, I would like to reassure you that the Official Opposition has been very active and very vocal opposing the cuts to arts investments.

Again, thank you for taking the time to write to me and I will continue to work with my colleagues to support BC’s Art and Culture Sector.

Regards,
Jagrup
Jagrup Brar, MLA
Surrey Fleetwood

Hon. Stephanie Cadieux, Liberal, Surrey-Panorama
Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development

January 19, 2011

Mr. Tom Durrie
Arts Advocacy British Columbia
307—1683 Adanac Street
Vancouver, BC  V5L 2C7

Dear Mr. Durrie

Thank you for your recent letters regarding arts and culture funding in British Columbia.  As Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, I am pleased to respond on behalf of the Province of British Columbia (Province).

As you note in your letters, the Province has made a decision to provide the British Columbia Arts Council (Council) with $7 million in additional funding through the 2010 Sports and Arts Legacy (Legacy).  The funds are helping to achieve the Council’s strategic goals and priorities including providing support for operating clients, innovation, commissioning, capacity building, sustainability and professional work experience.

I am proud of the Province’s track record.  We have provided unprecedented support to the arts and cultural community in the province, totaling more than $500 million since 2001.  This includes direct funding to artists and groups as well as long-term support for the arts through major endowment funds, continued funding to major institutions such as the Royal British Columbia Museum and funding for several significant arts and culture projects including the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Vancouver East Cultural Centre, the 2009 Juno Awards and the 2009 Canadian Country Music Awards.

My cabinet colleagues and I recognize the critically important role that arts and culture play in the lives of British Columbians and we are committed to the long-term health of the arts and culture sector.  We continue to make the arts a priority and invest in the creative sector. Even in the midst of a recession, the Province is providing over $30 million directly to artists and art organizations in 2010/11, including:

Ÿ $10 million a year over three years to enhance opportunities in the arts through the new Legacy;
Ÿ Over $16 million in grants funding through the Council, ($7 million of which is  coming from the Legacy);
Ÿ $1.5 million in interest earned on the $170 million BC Arts and Culture Endowment  fund;  and
Ÿ $11.5 million in gaming grants to arts and culture groups for youth, fairs, festivals,  museums, and groups with three-year gaming grant commitments throughout  British Columbia.

My cabinet colleagues and I strongly endorse the Council’s independence, and believe that its arm’s length relationship is critical to the fulfillment of its mandate as it is well positioned to adjudicate questions of artistic excellence.  No one would question the Council’s record when it comes to this critical issue.  The Council also plays a critical role in informing art policy and decisions the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development make on behalf of the arts community.  The Council, particularly Board Chair Stan Hamilton, played a vital role in putting together the plan that led to allocation of the Legacy funds.

I believe through our support of programs such as the 2010 Sports and Arts Legacy, which honours the cultural legacy of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and with guidance and strategic direction provided by organizations such as the BC Arts Council, the Province has made an important impact on the arts in British Columbia.

I look forward to working with artists, arts organizations, members of the creative sector and the public at large to ensure that the arts and culture community in the province continues to thrive and flourish.

With regard to gaming grants, this fiscal year the Province committed $120 million for community gaming grants, up from $113 million last year.  This funding will go to approximately 6,000 community organizations that assist public safety, youth and disabled sports, people in need, fairs, festivals and museums, community services such as preschools, and Parent Advisory Councils.  Almost $79 million has been allocated to date.

In order to ensure these core priorities continue to receive support, grants for adult arts events and programs will not be available in 2010/11, unless the organization previously received a multi-year commitment.  Organizations offering arts and culture programs for youth and persons with a disability may be eligible for grants supporting those programs.

It should be noted that funding to arts and culture organizations are also made through a variety of other avenues including local governments who use their gaming revenues to fund the arts at the community level.  Other provinces have different funding models and I am not in a position to comment on decisions made by other jurisdictions.

It is too early to speculate about funding levels and eligibility for communty gaming grants in future years.  Such funding decisions are determined through the annual budget planning process and are tabled as part of the provincial budget each year.

It is also important to note that over $648 million in gaming revenue was allocated for other government programs that directly benefit British Columbians, primarily health care and education. More information about how gaming revenues are distributed can be found at: www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/gaming/revenue/index.htm .

The Province remains steadfast in its commitment to help build strong communities through community gaming grants and other programs.

Thank you again for writing to convey your support of this decision and for your ongoing support of the arts in this province. I look forward to further discussions when we meet in January.

Sincerely,

(signed)

Stephanie Cadieux
Minister

Gordon Campbell, Liberal, Vancouver-Point Grey

December 1, 2010

Dear Mr. Durrie:

Thank you for your letter and accompanying notes and citations relating to provincial funding for the arts in British Columbia. I appreciate the time you have taken to bring this information to my attention.

Since 2001, the BC Arts Council has provided over $124 million to assist artists and arts organizations. We look forward to better days when we can be even more supportive of our lively arts and cultural sectors–not just because of their great importance to individuals and communities but to British Columbia’s overall economy as well.

I have shared a copy of your correspondence with the Minister responsible for gaming grants, the Honourable Rich Coleman and the Minister of Community Sport and Cultural Development, the Honourable Stephanie Cadieux, for their review as well. Minister Coleman will ensure that the appropriate ministry official responds directly to your specific questions at the earliest opportunity.

Again, thank you for writing.

Sincerely,
(signed)
Gordon Campbell

Spencer Chandra Herbert, NDP, Vancouver-West End

9 December 2010

Dear Tom,

Thank you for contacting me and for your ongoing advocacy for a strong arts and culture sector in our province.

I am responding to your letter both as an MLA who supports the arts and culture sector but also as the Official Opposition Critic for Arts and Culture to let you know what we in the New Democratic Opposition believe.

As you are no doubt aware, the Official Opposition has been very vocal—both in the legislature, and in the communities we represent—in support of the arts and in opposition to the current government’s devastating cuts to arts investments. I have been proud to stand with many of my caucus colleagues at rallies, forums, and roundtables, in support of arts and culture in communities all across our great province.

The arts are vital to our quality of life, our economy, and our future. The arts help us dream and see beyond the realities of the present day, and can open up real possibilities for change that would never have been achieved through other means. The arts also bring to light those things we miss in our busy days, and make us see the world in completely different ways—something that is very helpful in a society which too often can fall into black and white, or ‘with us or against us’ kind of thinking.

I know you didn’t write to hear me expound on why I love art, but I believe it’s important to share why we love art before we get to the numbers. Talking numbers just doesn’t do justice to the full importance of arts and culture in our society.

You have, however, written to ask what we believe government should do in regards to arts investment.

I am not satisfied with the current level of investment in arts and culture which has fallen drastically since the BC Liberals’ disastrous cuts beginning in 2008. But I’m also not satisfied with the level of support the government was putting towards arts and culture before the major cuts. Depending on who is ranking, one reads that B.C. ranges from last place to second or third last in terms of per capita investment in the arts.

This puts us at a competitive disadvantage nationally, and internationally, and does not create a welcoming environment for risk-taking innovation, and growth in our cultural sector. It has also led some of our great creative minds to relocate to other provinces and countries, where their skills are more sought after. This is not right, and it short-changes the huge potential we have to create a vibrant creative economy.

In the last election, New Democrats pledged to increase investments in B.C.’s cultural sector. In addition, we called for a dedicated infrastructure fund to support arts and culture facility renovation, expansion, and creation. Both are commitments that New Democrats continue to believe and fight for.

I am proud that we have stood with the many British Columbians who support arts and culture, and, together, forced the B.C. government to back down on its plan to snatch 11 million dollars of gaming funds away from charities who had written multi-year agreements for the funds.

I am proud that we stood against the B.C. Liberal government’s plans to take seven million dollars away from the B.C. Arts Council to put towards politically motivated Olympic spirit celebrations, and won that fight when the government backed down and gave the money back to the Arts Council, where it should have gone in the first place.

I am also proud that we have stood by small community charities, which have seen gaming funds either eliminated completely or cut back drastically, and called for the B.C. Liberals to restore gaming funds to their former levels. We also called on the government to involve the community if new grant categories are to be created or older ones eliminated.

New Democrats have been standing up for the arts and culture sector in this time of need. As the Critic, I have had meetings with all three of the Arts and Culture Ministers we have had in the last 18 months to make the case for the arts.

I have been travelling around B.C. to learn from and support efforts, both locally and provincially, to grow our arts and culture sector. What I have seen is that there is a real hunger in communities, large and small, for the connections and community that arts and culture bring. I have seen how much impact a small government investment can make when the community receives funding, and through volunteer efforts, fundraising, sales, and other means, creates something that will be remembered for a lifetime. The arts are who we are.

I thank you for writing me, and I look forward to continuing to work together to support B.C.’s vital arts and culture sector.

All the best,

(signed)

Spencer Chandra Herbert
Official Opposition Critic for Tourism, Culture, and the Arts
MLA, Vancouver West-End

Hon. R ich Coleman, Liberal, Fort Langley-Aldergrove, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General

February 2, 2011

Mr. Tom Durrie
Executive Director
Arts Advocacy British Columbia
307—1683 Adanac Street
Vancouver, BC  V5L 2C7

Dear Mr. Durrie:

Thank you for your November 18, 2010 letter regarding arts and culture funding in British Columbia.

This fiscal year, the provincial government committed $120 million for community gaming grants, up from $113 million last year. This funding will go to approximately 6,000 community organizations that assist public safety, youth and disabled sports, people in need, fairs, festivals and museums, community services such as preschools, and Parent Advisory councils. Almost $79 million has been allocated to date.

In order to ensure these core priorities continue to receive support grants for adult arts events and programs will not be available in 2010/11, unless the organization previously received a multi-year commitment. Organizations offering arts and culture programs for youth and persons with a disability may be eligible for grants supporting those programs.

It should be noted that funding to arts and culture organizations are also made through a variety of other avenues including the British Columbia Arts Council and local governments who use their gaming revenues to fund the arts at the community level. Other provinces have different funding models and I am not in a position to comment on decisions made by other jurisdictions.

It is too early to speculate about funding levels for community gaming grants in future years. Such funding decisions are determined through the annual budget planning process and are tabled as part of the provincial budget.

It is important to note that over $648 million in gaming revenue was allocated for other government programs that directly benefit British Columbians, primarily health care and education. More information about how gaming revenues are distributed can be found at: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/gaming/index.htm .
The provincial government remains steadfast in its commitment to help build strong communities through community gaming grants and other programs.

Sincerely yours,

(signed)

Rich Coleman
Solicitor General

pc:  The Honourable Gordon Campbell
The Honourable Mary Polak

Kathy Corrigan, NDP, Burnaby-Deer Lake

Thank you for contacting me about arts funding. I have had the opportunity to review the response my colleague Spencer Chandra Herbert, the New Democrat Official Opposition Critic for Tourism, Culture and the Arts sent you.  Spencer is a tireless advocate for the arts and his response very clearly articulates our caucus’ position on funding for the arts. I am proud to stand beside Spencer on this very important issue. I would therefore like you to accept Spencer’s response as my own.

Sincerely,
Kathy Corrigan

Kathy Corrigan, MLA
Burnaby-Deer Lake
l P: 604.775.2414 | F: 604.775.2550| www.kathycorrigan.ca

Mable Elmore, NDP, Vancouver-Kensington

Dear Mr. Durrie,

Thank you for your email.  Mable is out of the office now so I am responding in her behalf.

Please be assured that Mable and her colleagues in the Opposition support the arts and believe that this government can do more to strengthen this important sector.

For more details about our Caucus’ stand regarding this issue, I understand that our Opposition Critic, Spencer Herbert will be responding to your office.

Thank you again for contacting us.

Sincerely,

Maita Santiago, Constituency Assistant
Mable Elmore, MLA
Vancouver-Kensington Community Office
6106 Fraser Street
Vancouver, BC V5W 3A1
T: 604-775-1033; F: 604-775-1330
[email protected]
mableelmore.ca

Rob Fleming, NDP, Victoria-Swan Lake

Dear Tom,

Happy New Year!!!  As you know, Spencer in capacity as Official Opposition Arts critic has already responded to your letter already on behalf of our entire Caucus. It’s my understanding Spencer will be following up with you to reconfirm caucus process.

Cheers,

Rob Fleming, MLA
Victoria-Swan Lake
Official Opposition Environment critic

Sue Hammell, NDP, Surrey-Green Timbers

Hi Tom,

We forwarded your questions to Spencer Chandra Herbert our critic of arts for the BC NDP.

I believe he has sent you on December 9, 2010 the following reply:

(The letter from MLA Chandra Herbert was attached.)

Randy Hawes, Liberal, Abbotsford-Mission

As you are doubtless aware we are currently in the midst of a leadership review. Once we have a new leader we will be reviewing policy on many matters and I am sure arts funding will be one of them. I generally do not respond to blanket questionaires and they tend to create a divisive atmosphere.
I am confident you will hear much about arts funding policy over the next couple of months.
Regards
Randy Hawes

Vicki Huntington, Independent, Delta South

Dear Mr. Durrie,

I apologize for the lateness of this reply.  Our office was unusually busy in December, and this request seemed to escape my attention.

In answer to your two question:

1.       I am not satisfied with our present standing.  I believe that the original MOA (referred to in your letter), i.e. 30% of gaming revenues, is a social contract that must be honoured.

2.       I would like to see the charitable portion rise to 50%.

Again, thank you for your patience.
Sincerely,

Vicki Huntington

Vicki Huntington, MLA
Delta South Constituency Office
4805 Delta Street
Delta BC  V4K 2T7
Phone:  604-940-7924
Fax:      604-940-7927

Leonard Krog, NDP, Nanaimo

Dear Mr. Durrie,

Thank you for your letter of November 18 ^th and your recent email of January 6 ^th . Given that your letter was directed to all the MLA’s, our critic Spencer Herbert responded as official critic on behalf of the Opposition by letter of December 9 ^th, . The fact that you have not received my individual response does in no way reflect my commitment to the Arts and Culture sector of our province, nor diminish my belief in its incredible importance to our province and my community in particular.

I agree with everything Spencer has had to say in his letter and accept completely the advantage of a vibrant arts and cultural community in the province. So to answer your questions very specifically:

1.      I am not satisfied with our standing and would like to see our standing improved.

2.      With respect to the portion, I think 30% seems reasonable, but I am not prepared at the present time without all of the information available to me to say that should be the figure. Indeed it may be appropriate to have a higher percentage. As you are aware with all of the tax cuts given by the Liberals in the last 10 years to both individuals and corporations, governments ability at addressing that issue, to fund arts and culture, housing health, etc. has been severely limited.

3.      I have read enough history to understand how valuable it was in difficult economic times to have government support the arts and culture and what a flowering followed those minor investments. The United States under the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt is a prime example. So if it gives you any further comfort, although I am not the critic, I strongly support what Spencer is doing as our critic and indeed Doug Routley, my fellow MLA for Nanaimo when I hosted the Arts and Culture Community last fall for a meeting.

I will continue to advocate on behalf of Arts & Culture and appreciate how much work your organization continues to do.

All the best for 2011.

Leonard Krog, MLA
Nanaimo

Joan McIntyre, Liberal, West Vancouver-Sea to Sky

From: Fee, Judi [[email protected]]
Sent: November 23, 2010 3:34 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Attn: Mr. Tom Durrie

Dear Mr. Durrie:

Joan McIntyre thanks you for your letter of November 18, 2010 and asks me to reassure you that she remains an avid supporter of Arts and Culture in BC.

Regards,

Per/Judith Fee, Constituency Assistant to
Joan McIntyre, MLA
West Vancouver-Sea to Sky

Bruce Ralston, NDP, Surrey-Whalley

Tom Durrie, Executive Director
Arts Advocacy BC
307—1683 Adanac St
Vancouver, BC  V5L 2C7

January 11, 2011

Dear Mr. Durrie,

I would like to thank you for contracting my office with your concerns regarding the level of funding for the Arts in British Columbia and I apologize for my delay in responding.

The spokes person for the official opposition, MLA Spencer Chandra-Herbert, Critic for Tourism, Culture and the Arts has issued a statement that I have enclosed with this letter.

However I would like to respond to your questions as I believe the issues you highlighted are troubling.

First, I am not satisfied with our standing in comparison with other provinces. In a province such as ours with its rich and vibrant culture it is shameful that not only are we the lowest in the country in funding per capita, but that we are so far below the national average that it is a disgrace. Arts and culture enrich out lives and strengthen our communities. The Government of BC needs to reevaluate its priorities and raise arts and culture funding to reflect its importance to our communities and to our economy.

Second, there should be no question of what portion of gaming revenue should be allocated to charities. The 1999 Memorandum of Agreement between the BC Association for Charitable Gaming and the Government of BC is a valid document. Until that Memorandum of Agreement is changed funding should be maintained as agreed.

Your hard work and dedication is appreciated.

Sincerely,

(signed)

Bruce Ralston, MLA
Surrey-Whalley

Shane Simpson, NDP, Vancouver-Hastings

Hi Tom,

Our Arts Critic Spencer Chandra Herbert has responded to these questions regarding arts funding on behalf of our caucus and I’m told that he has also been in touch with you about this issue as well. I am supportive of Spencer’s points on this issue and confident that he is representing the views of the rest of our caucus on this important matter. I hope that helps. Thanks.

Sincerely,

Shane Simpson MLA Vancouver-Hastings
t: 604-775-2277 | f: 604-775-2352 | shanesimpson.ca

Claire Trevena, NDP, North Island

January 12, 2011

Tom Durrie, Executive Director
Arts Advocacy British Columbia
307—1683 Adanac Street
Vancouver, BC  V5L 2C7

Dear Mr. Durrie,

I must apologise for my slow response to your letter about my position about funding for the arts. I had left it up to my colleague Spencer Chandra Herbert to respond on behalf of our caucus.

The present government’s lack of support for the arts in BC is shocking. There is no question that there should be greater assistance.

Campbell River, the main community in the constituency I represent, is extraordinarily lucky to have a high quality art gallery, an active arts council, a theatre, an excellent museum and many people willing to dedicate themselves to the arts. These organizations struggle to keep going, but are an essential part of the fabric of our community. If we did not have the arts, our lives here, and across the province would be much poorer.

Instead of putting monies from gaming into the arts and other community organizations, the government cynically is pouring it into general revenues. A one-third contribution from gaming money to the arts seems fair and just. However it seems highly unlikely that any expansion in gambling planned by the present government will be reflected in increased money for the arts.

Fundamentally however the arts need stable funding. They do not need the constant hand to mouth existence where everyone is living in a cycle of grant applications. The arts need to be recognized as part of our society, not an extra to be only enjoyed in the good times: arts are a part of our economy as well as part of our culture.

I would be happy to talk further about any assistance I can provide, either locally or provincially.

Yours sincerely,

(signed)

Claire Trevena, MLA
North Island