November 23, 2008
Honorable Larry O'Brien
City of Ottawa
110 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 1J1
Dear Honorable Larry O'Brien:
As a contributing member to the socio-economic health of our community, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the cuts to cultural funding proposed in the City of Ottawa's 2009 Draft Budget. This cut demonstrates a lack of vision for our community and completely disregards the work that has been accomplished by our local arts, heritage and festival communities in cooperation with Ottawa City Council over the last four years.
During this time, the arts, heritage and festival stakeholders have worked together to establish investment and sustainability programs that have helped to build increased stability, security and capacity within our industry. Ottawa City Council has been involved in that process and approved every step over the past five years.
With a City Budget of $2.5 billion, it is incomprehensible that solutions are being sought through such destructive measures. This is the second time in five years that the city staff who prepared the draft budget have attacked the arts disproportionately. Slashing the cultural sector to make a difference of one-fifth of one percent of the total budget defies all logic.
It equally defies logic to cut 100% of funding for festivals that are able to leverage every dollar of city investment into $21 of direct investment within the local community. Making such cuts will not only threaten the longevity of festivals themselves but will also have serious economic consequences.
Drastic cuts to cultural funding will impact local businesses that directly supply goods and services to festival organizers and gain business from festival goers. Such losses will result in severe multiplier effects throughout the local economy. In a time of economic crisis, such cuts are not optimal. While the City of Ottawa is largely sheltered from the economic effects of a recession, as revenues and expenses are likely to undergo only small immediate impacts, such belt-tightening would worsen any economic downtown for the City.
In addition to the monetary impacts, these cuts will have harsh socio-economic effects for the citizens of Ottawa. Whether it is the food enjoyed at Greekfest and Italian Week; the performances at the Fringe Festival, Bluesfest and Canadian Dance Festival; the sites at Winterlude, the Lumière Festival and the Tulip Festival; or the culture celebrations of Capital Pride Ottawa, the Caribbean Festival and the Franco-Ontarien Festival, all citizens gain satisfaction from Ottawa's festivals in a multitude of ways.
These and other numerous festivals help promote and foster diversity and create an incredible intangible benefit to the spirit of community and culture in our city. As your constituent, I trust that you will represent my concerns and that the work and value of our cultural community is respected in your vote.
