[TORONTO, ON – November 14, 2023] This morning CIMA President Andrew Cash appeared jointly with ADISQ’s Executive Director Eve Paré to fight for increased funding to the Canada Music Fund to $60 million annually. This is the federal fund that invests in artists and music companies through FACTOR and Musicaction programming.
The House Finance Committee travelled from Ottawa today as part of its cross Canada Pre-Budget consultations in advance of the 2024 Budget.
This is a key budget for the Canadian Independent Music sector. The Liberal government, in its 2021 election campaign, promised to permanently increase funding to the Canada Music Fund to $50 million. It is currently $25 million annually. In his comments to the Committee Cash described the importance of the CMF funding; the FACTOR success story, which includes supporting over 6500 artists over the last five years and the dire consequences if the government does not make good on its promise to increase the fund.
“If that happens, companies will close, those that don’t will shed staff and release fewer artists, this will result in fewer shows across the country, harming an already precarious live music sector, affecting local economies, and reducing revenues to government.” Andrew Cash, The House of Commons Finance Committee November 14, 2023.
“It isn’t every day that cultural groups, let alone the Canadian-owned music sector appear before the House Finance Committee”, says Cash. “I’d like to thank all members of the Committee for listening and engaging with us on the importance of investments in artists and music companies and why it is so necessary for the government to make good on its promise to increase the CMF budget.”
In other developments today the Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage, released the long-awaited policy direction to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for the Online Streaming Act. Ministerial directives are broad policy directions to guide, in this case the CRTC as it carries out the implementation of government legislation.
Cash congratulates the government on releasing the policy direction saying: “CIMA looks forward to engaging with all music sector stakeholders in the current CRTC regulatory process as we work together to create a stronger Canadian-owned music sector where artists and music companies are supported at home and succeed on the world stage.”
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Media Contact:
Jenia Schukov
Communications & Export Programming Officer
E: jenia[at]cimamusic.ca