Government spending on culture on the rise
The three levels of government combined spent almost $5.9 billion on culture in the fiscal year 1999/2000, the second consecutive increase, according to data released this week by Statistics Canada. The increase in the two years follows eight years of decline, when spending is adjusted for inflation. Spending on culture includes everything from libraries to nature parks and broadcasting. The film and video industry was the major beneficiary of federal grants, accounting for about one-half the increase between 1993-94 and 1999-2000. The film and video industry’s share of the grant budget was 37 per cent in 1999-2000 compared to 32 per cent in 1993-94. More details.