Promoting Arts, Culture and Heritage at the Annual Meeting of Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers

SAINT ANDREWS, NEW BRUNSWICK--(Marketwired - July 8, 2015) - Federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for culture and heritage met today to discuss topics of mutual interest. In particular, they agreed to continue to work together toward marking the 150^th anniversary of Confederation throughout the country. The meeting was co-chaired by the Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, and the Honourable Bill Fraser, New Brunswick Minister of Tourism, Heritage and Culture.

The 150^th anniversary of Confederation in 2017 represents a unique opportunity for all Canadians. It will provide an occasion for us to connect with our past, celebrate our achievements and give back to Canada as a legacy for future generations. The ministers acknowledged that a key factor in successfully recognizing this milestone is for all partners-from private and public sectors, community and non-profit settings-to come together. They agreed that by aligning their efforts, they will maximize the cultural, heritage and economic impacts of this historical moment in which Canada will showcase its cultural diversity and its rich history and heritage.

Many other priorities and mutual projects were addressed at today's meeting:

• The ministers talked about the results of the first provincial and territorial data stemming from the Culture Satellite Account, whose success is due to their collaborative efforts.
• They discussed ways to stimulate, advance and grow our creative industries; the sustainable conservation of heritage buildings in Canada; and the socio-economic conditions of artists.
• The ministers also endorsed their 2015-18 strategic framework, which will guide their work on culture and heritage for the next three years.

At the end of the meeting, the ministers reiterated the importance of continuing to encourage and promote arts, culture and heritage. The British Columbia delegation officially invited the federal, provincial and territorial ministers to their province in 2016 to continue working together on the 150^th anniversary of Confederation and pursue discussions on cultural and heritage matters.

Quick Facts

• Arts, culture and heritage represent close to $50 billion in the Canadian economy and more than 640,000 jobs across the country.
• The Culture Satellite Account is a precise and reliable source using the most rigorous and transparent methodology to date to measure the economic importance of arts, culture and heritage in Canada. It stems from a partnership between Statistics Canada, Canadian Heritage, all of the provinces and territories, numerous municipalities and several non-governmental organizations.
• The first provincial and territorial data originating from the Culture Satellite Account was released on June 9, 2015.

Quotes

"As Minister of Tourism, Heritage and Culture for New Brunswick, I am very proud to have hosted colleagues from all jurisdictions and was pleased to welcome everyone to the beautiful seaside community of Saint Andrews. We were thrilled to showcase our rich cultural heritage and diversity and to extend our warm New Brunswick hospitality to all those who were able to join us this week. We held meaningful discussions around arts, heritage and cultural issues, including the socio-economic conditions of professional artists.

New Brunswick was grateful for this wonderful opportunity to share with colleagues our deep commitment to arts and culture, as we implement the province's Cultural Policy with increased funding support. Support for the Policy reflects our province's recognition of the importance of investing in culture, both from an economic and social perspective-further enabling the arts and the economy to interconnect and interrelate."

-The Honourable Bill Fraser, Minister of Tourism, Heritage and Culture, New Brunswick

"As the 150^th anniversary of Confederation approaches, we remain committed to working cooperatively with our provincial and territorial partners to strengthen our communities, enrich the quality of life of Canadians and provide a lasting legacy for our future generations."

-The Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages

Associated Links

Canada 150

Culture Satellite Account

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