The 2008 Manitoba Budget Address

Arts and Culture

The vision, skill, determination and commitment found in communities across the province drives our economic growth and speaks to the confidence and excitement Manitobans feel about where they live.

Culture and the arts are an integral part of the Manitoba way of life and the economy. Our strong cultural scene enriches our lives, and is built on our diverse ethnic fabric, world-class attractions, and the imagination and creativity of our citizens.

Our government actively supports culture and the arts with the second-highest level of per capita funding in Canada.

Public libraries are an important cultural, educational and community resource, and we are working to continue to extend access to library services.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that Budget 2008 provides new resources to support library development, including:

• more libraries, including several in First Nations communities;
  
  
• an annual rural and northern technology grant program; and
  
  
• a one-time grant to the Winnipeg Public Library for collection and technology upgrades.

Mr. Speaker, our government was proud to support the vision for a new Canadian Museum of Human Rights with our commitment of $40 million. This museum will make it possible for Manitobans, Canadians and international visitors to gain a deeper understanding of historical and present day human rights issues, struggles and victories worldwide.

This world-class museum will be the first national museum to be created since 1967 and the first to be located outside of Ottawa. Its creation is the result of a concentrated and sustained effort by the community that brought together the three levels of government, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations to pledge a total of $265 million for its construction.

Our government is also supporting the community-led effort to preserve the historic site of Upper Fort Garry. We have pledged $1.5 million in capital support and will designate the land a provincial park, providing funding for annual maintenance of the site in perpetuity.

This year, construction will begin on a new theatre for Le Cercle Molière on the Centre culturel franco-manitobain site in St. Boniface. We are looking forward to working in partnership with the community to help bring their vision for a new home for this historic theatre company into being.

More than 100 festivals held throughout the year reflect the richness of our cultural mosaic. We provide more than $1.5 million annually to support the continued success of our many festivals.

Our government is also taking part in the new tourism promotion strategy called the Road to 2010. This strategy will include significant new promotional campaigns to capitalize on the excitement generated by the 2010 Vancouver Olympics to showcase Manitoba on the world stage.

Improvements are continuing in our provincial parks. In the last four years, we have upgraded 544 campsites in 20 campgrounds and added 84 new campsites and 40 new yurts and family vacation cabins. Budget 2008 will continue our parks improvement with:

• more campground site upgrades;
  
  
• more new electrical campsites; and
  
  
• additional yurts and cabins.

Budget 2008 also provides new resources for the International Peace Gardens.