CAC Welcomes Steps Forward in Budget 2025

Ottawa, ON — The Canadian Arts Coalition  (CAC) applauds elements of Budget 2025, which includes increased support for cultural and media programs, and stated recognition of the importance of arts, culture, and heritage to Canada’s economy, social fabric and identity.

The Canadian Arts Coalition works on behalf of artists and cultural organisations to increase investment in the sector and to advise the government on policies that will positively impact both the sector and all of Canada. In the past two years, that focus has been a recommendation on two main investments: the Canada Council for the Arts and the Department of Canadian Heritage. Recently, the Coalition’s Campaign for Culture inspired over 50,000 letters to the government in support of that ask for new investment and no cuts to the Council, and we are pleased to see that the Government heard that message.

The CAC welcome the inclusion of new and renewed investments in many vital programs that serve artists and cultural organizations across Canada, such as the Canada Music Fund, Building Communities through Arts and Heritage, and the Canada Arts Presentation Fund. Communities will benefit from the increased investment in Heritage’s Celebration and Commemoration Program to support Canada Day celebrations, and Canadians will benefit from the opportunity provided through the Canada Strong Pass to visit their art galleries and museums. The investment in Canada Summer Jobs will positively impact many cultural organizations across the country as well as providing essential employment opportunities for young Canadians. The Coalition also applauds the various important investments in media through the Canada Media Fund, the National Film Board, Telefilm Canada and the CBC, all committed to helping tell the stories of Canada. These targeted investments will ensure that many artists, ensembles, festivals, and cultural institutions across the country receive the predictable funding they require to plan and thrive.

The Coalition also recognizes that the Liberal government has acknowledged the importance of individual artistic creation through proposed changes to the Copyright Act to include an Artist’s Resale Right. This ensures that Canadian visual artists benefit from future sales of their work.

While the CAC is pleased with the demonstrated commitment to the Arts and Culture sector there is still work to be done. Budget 2025 does not yet adequately address the need for significant new investment in the Canada Council for the Arts. The Canadian Arts Coalition will continue to work on behalf of its members and the sector to ensure that the Council’s role is recognized with appropriate funding for the benefit of all Canadians.

However, the recognition of the arts expressed in this budget, along with the listed investments demonstrate that arts and heritage remain part of the national conversation, which we deeply welcome, and offer a foundation upon which further commitments can be built. We congratulate the Government on the positive initiatives in Budget 2025, and we commit to working constructively with ministers and parliamentary committees to continue to strengthen arts and culture in Canada.

You can see the full budget here and on the relevant sections on the CAC site.