| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 25, 2008
NO NEWS FOR MUSEUMS IN ONTARIO BUDGET
2008
Toronto – Today’s budget announced by
Finance Minister Dwight Duncan holds little specifically for Ontario’s
museums. Under the banner of Growing a Stronger Ontario, the 2008
Ontario budget focused on investments in Skills Training and Infrastructure
and “with no tax increases in this budget, the McGuinty government
is on track to achieve its third consecutive surplus”.
In this budget, the Entertainment and Creative Cluster, which includes
the museum sector, will see the government increasing the Ministry
of Culture’s funding by $63 million over the next 4 years.
We will keep members notified when further information on the allocation
of this increase becomes available.
While some of the Infrastructure investments may support museum-related
projects, there is mention that “over the next 12 months,
the Ministries of Culture, Health Promotion, and Citizenship and
Immigration will consult with key stakeholders on the design and
criteria for a new capital program to strengthen the cultural and
recreational assets of Ontario communities and improve their economic
and social health.”
Also of note for Northern Ontario museums, this budget is increasing
funding to the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)
by $10 million per year from $60 million in 2007-08 to $100 million
in 2011-12. The NOHFC works with northern entrepreneurs, communities
and business organizations to support vital community infrastructure
and economic development projects that create jobs and enhance the
quality of life in the north.
Within the Entertainment and Creative Cluster, the government is
investing:
- $2.5 million in 2007-08 in the Canadian Film Centre, to help the
Centre undertake critical capital repairs and provde and improved
training facility.
- $7 million over the next four years to increase the market share
of Ontario-produced digital content and support new content production
for mobile and online use, by expanding Ontario Media Development
Corporation’s Interactive Digital Media Fund
- $4 million over the next four years in the International Fund,
to support international marketing and touring initiatives, co-productions
and cultural participation in trade missions and fairs to increase
the profile of Ontario’s artists and cultural industries on
the world stage.
Tax measures of note include “making permanent the Retail
Sales Tax (RST) exemption on admissions to live theatres of not
more than 3,200 seats”. Along similar lines, to support Ontario
tourism, this budget is “proposing to extend the RST exemption
for Destination Marketing Fees - $ 6 million over two years ending
June 30, 2010".
As members are aware, the OMA requested a similar exemption for
museums and we intend to bring this matter to the Ministries of
Culture and Finance again and encourage museums to continue to work
with us.
To support Tourism, the government is:
-investing $8 million over the next two years to conduct research
on new tourism markets, inform Ontario’s tourism strategy
and investments, and determine the steps necessary to attract and
increase tourists to Ontario. (The OMA was at the media event, on
March 10, when it was announced that Vaughan MPP Greg Sorbara, former
Finance Minister, will chair this new study to strengthen the competitiveness
of Ontario’s Tourism industry.)
-investing $50 million over the next four years in tourism marketing
and the Festival and Events Attraction and Support Program, to support
Ontario’s festivals and events, and promote Ontario as a major
tourist destination.
Also of note, this budget invests $9 million in 2007-08 in the
Ontario College of Art and Design for a research and innovation
laboratory in interactive design and digital media, under the heading
of “strengthening the environment for innovation”.
Contact:
Marie G. Lalonde
Executive Director
ONTARIO MUSEUM ASSOCIATION
Toll free (ON) : 1-866-OMA-8672
Tel: 416-348-8672
mlalonde@museumsontario.com
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