Ford strikes wrong chord with more cuts to the arts: Ontario NDP Culture critic

QUEEN’S PARK — Jill Andrew, Ontario NDP Culture critic, said it’s shameful for Doug Ford to step up his attack on the arts by cutting the Ontario Music Fund by more than 50 per cent.

Yesterday, Billboard reported that the Ontario Music Fund’s budget has been slashed to $7 million, down from $15 million. The fund is designed to promote the province’s music industry through funding streams that support everything from live music events to music company development.

“Doug Ford has hit another bad note on the culture file, this time ripping away opportunities from everyone from aspiring artists to the domestic music companies that nurture their budding talent,” said Andrew. “This showcases just how out of touch the Ford Conservatives are with how important it is to support the local cultural sectors that contribute so much to our economy.

“Doug Ford’s cuts to the music fund will make it harder for homegrown talent to flourish at home. If we want a competitive music industry, we must provide the resources for our artists to make it here and for their musical artistry to be recognized internationally.”

The 2017-18 list of Ontario Music Fund recipients is a who’s who of homegrown talent. A Tribe Called Red Inc., Arkells Music Inc. and City and Colour are identified as being among the domestic music companies that received funding through the stream for music company development.

“Doug Ford is taking things from bad to worse for Ontarians who enjoy and take part in the arts,” said Andrew. “This piles onto a $5-million cut to the base funding at the Ontario Arts Council, a $2.25-million cut to the Indigenous Culture Fund and cuts to the North and Southern Ontario Library Services of 50 per cent and more.

“Ontarians deserve to have opportunities to pursue their passion through careers in the arts. We should be doing more to support homegrown talent in cultural sectors like the music industry, not less.”