CBC Petition to ask the Federal Government of Canada to keep its election promise

Harper government, enemy of the arts?

Harper government, enemy of the arts?

Excellent article on the Conservative party's complete absence during the election campaign whenever an arts and culture debate presented.

EXCERPT

OTTAWA — Liberal, NDP and Green Party representatives were there. Even Communist and Marijuana candidates made it to Ottawa’s Cube Gallery last week for an all-party debate on arts policy. But there was no Conservative representation — and should we be surprised?
A couple of nights later, the Canadian Conference of The Arts, the country’s leading cultural service organization, organized another such gathering in the national capital — and again, the Tories did not attend.
Meanwhile, in Montreal, more than 70 arts organizations from across the country unveiled a major election manifesto calling for a renewed commitment by all political stripes to support the arts. Arts leaders also requested meetings with party representatives to discuss the document. Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff was quick to oblige, as were NDP and Bloc Quebecois candidates. Again, there was no response from the Conservatives.
There’s a pattern here, and it runs across the country…

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Stephen Harper sings Beatles With a Little Help From My Friends

Click on the title to watch the video.

What this means to me.

Stephen Harper can sing a song! Just like millions of Canadians, he sings his favourite songs. He wants you to know how HUMAN he is, unlike the stiff image that is sometimes presented in the media.

Some say this is evidence that Harper's a nice guy and we should give him a break on his policies. I say it just proves that music is universal and that countless politicians with objectionable policies like to sing and/or appreciate the arts. (I also think this particular appearance is a branding/market strategy that likely comes out of the Harper war-room.)

Singing a song on stage with a famous popularizer (Yo-yo Ma) does not change the cultural fallout from Harper policies. One could also say this is more evidence why CBC Radio 2 is now the Singer-Songwriters' network.  (Remember that the Board of Directors of the CBC is appointed by the Prime Minister's Office.) I don't think Canada's cultural life should be defined by the likes and dislikes of the Prime Minister and his party, do you?