[Bcma-l] CMA, Communique: Canada Council welcomes extension of budget increase

[bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	CMA, Communiqué: Canada Council welcomes extension of budget 
increase [REF5360000387000003851]
Date: 	Mon, 23 Jul 2007 10:56:00 -0400
From: 	Canadian Museums Association des musées canadiens 
<lmcconnell@museums.ca>


    Canada Council welcomes extension of budget increase


*Media release from the Canada Council.*

*Ottawa, July 23, 2007 —* The Canada Council for the Arts has described 
as “wonderful news" the federal government’s announcement that a $30 
million funding increase for 2007-08, which was originally included in 
the May 2006 federal budget, will now be ongoing.

The Honourable Bev Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage, announced today 
in Toronto that the Canada Council will continue to receive the 
additional $30 million, bringing the total funding it receives from 
Parliament to more than $180 million a year.

The May 2006 federal budget included a two-year increase to the 
Council’s funding amounting to $50 million: $20 million in 2006-07 and 
$30 million in 2007-08. However, the additional funds were not 
guaranteed to continue into the future, until Minister Oda’s 
announcement today.

Canada Council Director Robert Sirman was delighted with the Minister’s 
announcement. “This is wonderful news, not only for the Canada Council 
and the arts community, but for all Canadians whose lives are touched by 
the arts," he said. “It will allow us to plan for the future, with a 
view to strengthening the capacity of artists and arts organizations to 
contribute to the lives of Canadians and the communities where they live."

Mr. Sirman said the timing of the announcement is ideal because the 
Council is in the process of developing a strategic plan which will 
guide its priorities and activities from 2008 to 2011. The Council 
recently completed a series of consultations aimed at seeking input to 
the plan, including an on-line survey which attracted more than 1,400 
responses.

“Until now, we faced the difficult challenge of making plans without 
knowing what financial resources would be available to us," he said. 
“Now, we can move ahead boldly, knowing that the additional funding is 
secure for the future."

Mr. Sirman said that details about how the additional funds will be 
allocated will be included in the Council’s corporate plan for 2008-2011.

“The strategic plan, which we expect to announce in the fall, will be a 
statement of principles and priorities that will guide the allocation of 
the new funds. This will be followed in March 2008 by the corporate 
plan, which will translate those principles and priorities into concrete 
actions."

-30-

*Media contact: Canada Council for the Arts
Public Affairs, Research and Communications*
Carole Breton: 613-566-4414 or 1-800-263-5588, ext. 4523
E-mail: carole.breton@canadacouncil.ca 
<mailto:carole.breton@canadacouncil.ca>


Donna Balkan: 613-566-4305 or 1-800-263-5588, ext. 4134
E-mail: donna.balkan@canadacouncil.ca <mailto:donna.balkan@canadacouncil.ca>

www.canadacouncil.ca <http://www.canadacouncil.ca>

www.museums.ca <http://www.museums.ca>


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