Election '08 Action Centre
Related Documents:
October 1, 2008 - News Release - Canadians think CBC is a good investment. What does Prime Minister Harper think?
According to a Nanos survey, nearly two-thirds of Canadian voters (63%)
think the government's investment in CBC is a good use of taxpayers’
dollars.
September 23, 2008 - CTV: Video: Stephen Harper calls the arts a "niche" issue
Video
of Prime Minister Harper at a press conference in Saskatoon, SK
responding to criticism of cuts to arts and culture funding.
September 15, 2008 - News Release - Mr. Harper, is CBC a good or bad use of tax dollars?
In
light of controversial comments and a provocative fundraising letter
from his party, FRIENDS says Prime Minister Harper should tell
Canadians where he stands on the CBC.
November 6, 2007 - Briefing Note - The Conservatives' Hidden Agenda For Public Broadcasting And Cultural Sovereignty
A briefing note to FRIENDS supporters outlines how contradictions
between 2006 election policy statements of Stephen Harper's
Conservatives and their past comments on public broadcasting and
cultural sovereignty have grown more pronounced since coming to power.
May 19, 2004 - CBC News - Harper Comments on the CBC
Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper suggests his party may revisit
government funding of CBC English television and Radio Two.
In the News:
October 9, 2008 - Canadian Press: Artists happy with Tory decision to reverse plans to scrap film and TV tax credits
Conservative
Leader Stephen Harper's promise to reverse plans to scrap tax credits
for productions deemed offensive to Canadian viewers came as a pleasant
surprise to those in the film and television business and a major blow
to the religious right.
October 9, 2008 - Toronto Star: 2008 Election - Arts platforms of major political parities
Article analyzes the arts and culture platforms of the NDP, Liberal Party, Conservatives, Green Party and Bloc Québécois.
October 8, 2008 - Playback: Writers, actors rally for culture by Marise Strauss
Media
union tells arts supporters "If we lose control of our media, we lose
control of the messaging of our national identity and democratic
debate."
October 8, 2008 - CBC News: 'Vote culture, eh?' artists urge
Canadian
actors, writers and other artists rallied in Toronto to send the
message voters should consider culture when they go to the polls.
October 7, 2008 - Playback: Tories remain mute on CTF by Patricia Bailey
Although
the three main opposition parties say they would renew the Canadian
Television Fund, the Conservative Party has remained mute on the issue,
contributing to worries about the future of Canadian TV.
October 7, 2008 - CBC News: Conservatives pledge to reintroduce copyright reform by Peter Nowak
The Conservatives are promising to reintroduce controversial copyright-reform legislation if they are re-elected.
October 5, 2008 - Ottawa Citizen: NAC Gala raises $835,000 for youth by Tim Shufelt, and Joanne Laucius
Columnist
says the Tories kept a low profile at the National Arts Centre's annual
fundraising gala that was politicized this year by the prime minister's
recent criticisms of the arts community.
October 4, 2008 - Globe & Mail: Atwood rallies anti-Tory votes by backing Bloc by Joe Friesen, Omar el Akkad and Bill Curry
Author
Margaret Atwood says she would - if she lived in Quebec - vote for the
separatist Bloc Québécois to stop Stephen Harper from forming a
government.
October 3, 2008 - Vancouver Sun: Opinion: The bottom line on arts funding by Mark Leiren-Young
Author
and filmmaker says ordinary working people should be outraged by how
little the Canadian government supports arts and culture.
October 3, 2008 - Globe & Mail: A Harper majority would tread lightly by Steven Chase
Senior
Conservative official says selling off the CBC "would ensure that a
future Conservative government majority would be a one-term majority
and that's not what [Mr. Harper's] about".
October 2, 2008 - Globe & Mail: Bowing to the majority? (The potential Tory one, that is) by Russell Smith
Columnist
wonders if recent decisions by CBC management are a result of the
public broadcaster trying to make itself more palatable to a possible
majority Conservative government.
October 2, 2008 - Ottawa Citizen: Most voters support public funding for CBC, poll finds by Chris Cobb
New
poll released by FRIENDS says almost two-thirds of Canadian voters
consider the $1.1 billion the federal government spends on the CBC to
be a good use of taxpayers' money.
Stephen Harper has pledged a re-elected Conservative government would create a tax credit for children's artistic activities.
September 29, 2008 - Toronto Star: Let's hope arts bashing just a pose by Martin Knelman
Columnist
says Stephen Harper could be the first politician to show contempt for
culture during a campaign, then reverse himself in office by showering
money on the arts.
September 28, 2008 - Ottawa Citizen: There's money in that entertainment industry by Randall Denley
Columnist
says Stephen Harper's comments about culture being a "niche concern"
shows the narrowness of the Conservative vision for Canada.
September 26, 2008 - National Post: Provinces slam Harper arts cuts by Marianne White
Provincial
and territorial culture ministers slam the Conservative government's
$45-million cutbacks to arts programs and call for a special meeting
with the federal government after the election.
Columnist says Stephen Harper's comments on the arts show he is out of touch with what Canadians want from their country.
September 24, 2008 - Globe & Mail: How will voters respond to Harper's battle with the arts community?
Political
analysts says the arts may play a role in this election because it is
throwing the Conservative's Quebec strategy off target.
September 24, 2008 - Globe & Mail: To be creative is, in fact, Canadian by Margaret Atwood
World
renowned author says Stephen Harper has demonstrated that he has no
knowledge of, or respect for, the capacities and interests of "ordinary
people."
Stephen Harper takes a swipe at members of the arts community in Quebec who have opposed his party's funding cuts.
September 24, 2008 - Vancouver Sun: Dion blasts Harper's arts censorship by Doug Ward
Liberal
leader Stephane Dion attacks Conservative leader Stephen Harper for
censoring Canada's artists and underfunding cultural industries.
September 23, 2008 - Maclean's: Lost in translation by Kady O'Malley
Blog post contains the text of Stephen Harper's controversial comments on arts funding during a campaign stop in Saskatoon, SK.
September 23, 2008 - Toronto Star: Layton vows to restore arts funding by Robert Benzie
NDP Leader Jack Layton warns that a Conservative majority government would slash or privatize the CBC.
September 23, 2008 - CTV: Flap over arts cuts is a 'niche' issue: Harper
Conservative
Leader Stephen Harper has dismissed mounting criticism of arts cuts by
calling culture a "niche" issue that doesn't resonate with "ordinary"
Canadians.
Columnist says that in Quebec the Conservatives' recent $45-million cuts to the arts has morphed into an issue of cultural survival.
September 22, 2008 - Globe & Mail: Tories lose candidate after blog postings revealed by Steven Chase
Former Conservative candidate recommended closing down the CBC.
September 21, 2008 - Vancouver Sun: Dion comes out swinging for the arts by Norma Greenaway
In
an announcement about arts funding, Stéphane Dion says "I challenge
Stephen Harper to be honest with Canadians and admit he dreams of
shutting down the CBC".
September 21, 2008 - Globe & Mail: Liberals pledge to reverse Tory culture cuts by Sarah Boesveld
The
federal Liberals have pledged to reverse millions in Tory cuts and also
boost arts and culture spending by $530 million over the next four
years.
September 20, 2008 - Ottawa Citizen: Tomorrow's CBC by Glen McGregor
Columnist
says that when asked if the CBC is a good use of taxpayers' money,
Prime Minister Harper responded with telling brevity: "All I can say is
I support government budgets."
September 20, 2008 - CBC News: Dion promises more support for arts
Liberal
Leader Stéphane Dion questions a Conservative party fundraising letter
(released by FRIENDS) in which supporters are asked if the CBC is a
good or bad use of taxpayers' dollars.
September 20, 2008 - Globe & Mail: Dion makes $530-million in promises for arts, culture by Andy Blatchford
Liberal
Leader Stéphane Dion says the Conservatives are polling people about
whether they feel the $1.1-billion budgeted for the CBC is money
well-spent.
September 20, 2008 - Ottawa Citizen: Cuts to arts funding could kill film school Tony Lofaro
The
executive director of the Canadian Screen Training Centre says the
school may have to close if Conservative cuts to arts spending are
implemented.
September 19, 2008 - Toronto Star: PM stands ground on cuts to culture by Tonda MacCharles
Prime
Minister Stephen Harper has lashed out at criticism of federal cuts to
arts programs and lectured the Quebec government to get its priorities
straight.
September 18, 2008 - Canadian Media Guild: The federal election: voting for our work
Election
briefing note to Canadian Media Guild members on matters such as the
CBC, foreign ownership and local news requirements.
