A "secret" Newfoundland and Labrador film project valued at $3 million raised the eyebrows of Liberal MHA Kelvin Parsons during a legislative budget estimates meeting Tuesday evening at Confederation Building in St. John's.
Parsons, who asked about details of the fund (on behalf of absent NDP leader Lorraine Michael) received no answer to his question about the budgeted amount, which allocates $3 million to the Newfoundland and Labrador Film Development Corporation for 2009-10. This is almost double the $1.75 million in last year's budget, an amount that may - or may not - have been spent.
In response to questions, Tourism, Culture and Recreation Minister, Clyde Jackman, would only reply that the funds are set for a "secret project."
No word as to whether the Tory government is stashing away public funds for any further "secret" projects, such as, say, for the Churchill Falls hydro project.
Showing posts with label budget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label budget. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Have-not Ontario tosses tasty nibbles to book publishers
Ontario's pulverized manufacturing sector may have turned that province into a welfare case, but this has not stopped its government from helping book publishers and other sectors of the cultural industry. On Thursday, Finance Minister Dwight Duncan announced that he will enhance the refundable tax credit to publishers and other arts organizations. In all, Ontario will provide $100 million annually in new tax relief to the arts sector in that province.
It is worth pointing out that these tax credits are an improvement on a program that has existed for years; Ontario, it seems, has long recognized the importance of cultural industries to its long term economic prospects.
Ironically, Newfoundland and Labrador's provincial budget was released on the same day, and what did we see for arts from Danny Williams (who apparently heads a "have" province)? Not much; in fact, while there are some minor investments in tourism and the film industry there is almost no new money for music, literature (except for a little more prize money), visual arts, theatre, etc.
As usual, culture will be trotted out by government when promoting this province abroad, like prize tigers taken during a seventeenth century conquest of Africa. Unlike Ontario's government - which apparently can differentiate between real action and slick public relations - the Williams administration is unwilling to make the investments necessary to create a self-sustaining cultural sector.
Oh well, like the Toronto Maple Leafs, we'll have to wait until next year.
It is worth pointing out that these tax credits are an improvement on a program that has existed for years; Ontario, it seems, has long recognized the importance of cultural industries to its long term economic prospects.
Ironically, Newfoundland and Labrador's provincial budget was released on the same day, and what did we see for arts from Danny Williams (who apparently heads a "have" province)? Not much; in fact, while there are some minor investments in tourism and the film industry there is almost no new money for music, literature (except for a little more prize money), visual arts, theatre, etc.
As usual, culture will be trotted out by government when promoting this province abroad, like prize tigers taken during a seventeenth century conquest of Africa. Unlike Ontario's government - which apparently can differentiate between real action and slick public relations - the Williams administration is unwilling to make the investments necessary to create a self-sustaining cultural sector.
Oh well, like the Toronto Maple Leafs, we'll have to wait until next year.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
