Meeting of Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers Responsible for Culture and Heritage

Provincial and Territorial Ministers responsible for Culture and Heritage put forward a common position on the renewal of the Tomorrow Starts Today initiative and the Historic Places Initiative, as follows:

   

   

• Whereas the Government of Canada’s multi-year Tomorrow Starts Today Initiative has provided much needed resources to strengthen cultural infrastructure, conserve heritage, increase organizational capacity, support creation and improve access to the arts throughout this country; and
  
   
   
• Whereas this initiative has generated momentum resulting in significant social and economic benefits for all Canadians; and
  
     
   
• Whereas the Government of Canada has recently consulted with provinces and territories on the future development of this initiative;  
  
   
   
• Therefore the Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Culture and Heritage strongly urge the Government of Canada to renew the Tomorrow Starts Today initiative and the Historic Places Initiative, and to continue the programs for at least five years at the current or an increased level of investment.
  
     
   
• Further, the Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Culture and Heritage urge the Government of Canada to involve the Provinces and Territories in a meaningful fashion when investing funds from this initiative.  
  
     
   
• Further, the Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Culture and Heritage urge the Government of Canada to increase resources for the Cultural Spaces Program.
  
     
   
• Further, the Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Culture and Heritage urge the Government of Canada to consider, in future infrastructure programs, when applicable, that in the non-green component, a percentage be allocated toward cultural venues.  
   

Ministers also

   

   

• Urged the Government of Canada to formally launch the Historic Places Initiative, recognizing and promoting this important collaboration, and engaging the Provinces and Territories in a meaningful way; and  
  
     
   
• Urged the Government of Canada to consider changing the mechanism for delivering the Commercial Heritage Properties Incentive Fund from a grant to a tax credit system.