Cutting Funding to Confederation Centre Upsets Island Senator

Charlottetown Senator Percy Downe says he is very disappointed with the decision of the federal government to cut funding to Confederation Centre of the Arts by $5.8 million.
In a statement issued Friday, Downe said the cuts just don't make sense. He criticized what he sees as the failure of the federal cabinet minister responsible for P.E.I. to stand up for P.E.I. on this issue.

"The regional minister responsible for Prince Edward Island, Peter MacKay, came to Charlottetown with great fanfare only two weeks ago when he announced $1 million to help with renovations to the Confederation Centre," Downe said. "But there is no sign of him after the federal budget reduced funding for the Confederation Centre by almost $6 million."

Downe said in addition to playing an important role in Island tourism Confederation Centre is a national memorial to the Fathers of Confederation, an institution that celebrates culture, the arts and Canada's history and heritage.

Why this cut is being made at this time is particularly difficult to understand, he said.

"This is a time of tremendous prosperity in the nation's finances. The minister responsible for Prince Edward Island, Peter MacKay, should stand up and deliver for Island residents by ensuring that the full funding for the Confederation Centre is restored."

Confederation Centre was not the only arts body to lose agency money in this week's federal budget. The vast majority of the $342 million the Liberals promised to pump into arts funding prior to the last federal election was canned by the Tories in that budget.

A bright spot for the arts community was an additional $50 million over two years for the Canada Council for the Arts, the government's main body for distributing grants and subsidies to artists, dancers, musicians and actors.

Under the Liberal plan, the Canada Council would have received $150 million in new funds after three years, doubling the agency's total budget.

In addition to the Confederation Centre of the Arts those on the losing end include: the National Arts Centre, $6.5 million; international touring operations of the Foreign Affairs Department, $11 million; and the National Arts Training Contribution Program, $12 million.