More ammunition

The industrious bunnies of the Department of Culture have been working steadily to increase awareness of Harper’s ass-backwards cultural policies pending next month’s election, so the least I can do is follow their lead in directing folks to this Globe and Mail article in which James Bradshaw outlines, in lovingly rational detail, the devastating gap in Harper’s seemingly cultural spending since coming into power:

A close look at federal budget documents suggests that nearly $45-million in recent federal funding cuts are symptomatic of a larger trend under the Conservatives that has seen dollars gradually shifted away from arts and culture, and funnelled instead into other branches of the Department of Canadian Heritage that focus on the department’s social mandate.

The analysis also calls into question the rosy picture the Conservatives have sought to paint about their support for the arts: Although there is some truth to the government’s claims, they derive their force from a vague definition of “culture” – which can comprise everything from piano recitals to ESL classes.

Again, for the full article, click here.

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