Question Period Note: Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister tabled the federal Budget on April 16, 2024.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister tabled the federal Budget on April 16, 2024.

Our government understands the power of vibrant, resilient and inclusive communities. Budget 2024 prioritized the arts, culture and heritage, which bring people together and improve our quality of life.

Budget 2024 allocated significant new investments to sustain and stimulate our cultural and artistic industries. This includes over $1 billion in new funding over five years aimed at supporting professional arts festivals across Canada, supporting indigenous languages and cultures and promoting local journalism.

There has never been a more important time to share the best of our creativity and to celebrate our diversity. We are here to help make this happen for communities in all parts of the country.

Budget 2024 Announcements

Vibrant Festivals and Performing Arts

$31 million over 2 years, starting in 2024-25, to the Department of Canadian Heritage for the Canada Arts Presentation Fund to help support organizations that professionally present arts festivals or performing arts series. A portion of this funding will be used to support the following: La TOHU in Montreal, to support the Festival Montréal Complètement Cirque; the Festival TransAmériques in Montreal; the Sherbrooke Film Festival; the Festival des traditions du monde in Sherbrooke; the Vancouver Fringe Festival.

$23 million over 3 years, starting in 2024-25 for the Toronto International Film Festival, which attracts leading filmmakers and actors from around the world, playing an important role in Toronto’s entertainment and tourism industries.

$15 million in 2024-25 for the Shaw Festival Theatre in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, which showcases plays by George Bernard Shaw and his era. Funding will support their ambitious All.Together.Now expansion campaign.

$10 million over 2 years, starting in 2024-25, to support Harbourfront Centre’s ability to make critical capital repairs.

Sustaining Canada’s Live Events, Festivals and Music Industry

On March 24, 2024, the government announced $32 million over 2 years starting in 2024-25 for the Canada Music Fund to support the development and promotion of Canadian musicians and Canadian music. On April 16, Budget 2024 announced $2M over 3 years starting in 2024-25 for the Celebration and Commemoration Program – National Acadian Day.

Supporting Diverse Canadian Media

$40 million over 2 years for the Canada Media Fund to continue to support media productions, including those led by people from equity deserving groups.

Building New Museums and Cultural Centres

$11 million over 2 years, starting in 2024-25, to support the Sikh Arts & Culture Foundation and the Royal Ontario Museum to create a museum space in Toronto dedicated to Sikh arts, culture, and heritage; and to support the operations of the Hellenic Community of Vancouver.

Beyond these funding allocations, the federal government is committed to being a funding partner for a new museum and a new cultural centre in British Columbia. Once further details are announced, the federal government will contribute to build a new museum highlighting the histories, cultures, and contributions of Canadians of diverse South Asian heritages, as well as a new Filipino cultural centre that will create a designated space for the Filipino community to come together and celebrate its culture and heritage.

Supporting the Canadian Book Industry

$10 million over 3 years, starting in 2024-25, for the Canada Book Fund to elevate Canadian authors and stories both at home and abroad through increased supports for Canadian authors and book publishers.

Supporting Portfolio Organizations

$42 million in 2024-25 for CBC/Radio-Canada news and entertainment programming, ensuring Canadians across the country, including rural, remote, Indigenous, and minority language communities, have access to high-quality, independent journalism and entertainment.

$45 million over 3 years, starting in 2025-26, for the National Arts Centre to ensure continued support for artists and productions across the country.

$84 million proposed for the Treasury Board Secretariat and Library and Archive Canada to maintain the Access to Information and Privacy regime.

On January 31, 2024, the government announced $100 million over two years, starting in 2024-25, for Telefilm Canada to elevate a diverse range of content creators and producers across Canada’s vibrant film industry.

Preserving Holocaust Remembrance

$5 million over two years, starting in 2024-25, to support the construction of the new Montréal Holocaust Museum, which will greatly expand the number of people, including schoolchildren, who can learn from its important collections.

Launch of a project to review and renew Canada’s National Holocaust Monument, using existing resources, including to broaden its visibility and engagement in Ottawa and with Canadians across the country.

Promoting Local Journalism

To support the production of independent, reliable, and diverse local news across the country, the government announced $58.8 million over 3 years, starting in 2024-25, for the Local Journalism Initiative. This support would be available to written press, community radio and television, and online news services.

Investing in Public Interest Programming Services

$15 million over 2 years, starting in 2024-25, to support public interest programming services, including $5 million in 2024-25 to support CPAC’s capital requirements.

Supporting Indigenous Cultures

$225 million over 5 years, starting in 2024-25, with $45 million per year ongoing to Canadian Heritage for Indigenous languages and cultures programs, in support of Indigenous Languages Act, which is set for its first 5-year review in October 2025.

$65 million over 5 years, starting in 2024-25, with $13 million per year ongoing to Canadian Heritage to permanently support the Indigenous Screen Office and ensure Indigenous Peoples can tell their own stories and see themselves reflected on screen.

Additional Investments

$12 million over five years to Canadian Heritage to support the Glenn Gould Foundation to expand the stature and visibility of the Glenn Gould Prize that recognizes unique lifetime contributions in the arts.

$10 million to Canadian Heritage in 2024-25 to support scholarships for post-secondary students through the Terry Fox Humanitarian Award.

$1.8 million in 2024-25, to Canadian Heritage to support the Indus Media Foundation, in Surrey, British Columbia, to support completion of their short film that highlights the shared military heritage of Canadian and Indian soldiers in the First and Second World War.

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