Supporting the arts is not cultural charity because stories are a nation’s memory

As the federal government charts Canada's economic future, it should stop treating investment in arts and culture as optional spending. Film, music, literature and the performing arts are economic drivers. They create jobs, strengthen communities, encourage innovation, and project Canadian identity to the world.

Red Sky Performance dancers perform on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que., Sept. 30, 2019. In an age where global streaming platforms dominate what we watch, hear, and consume, Canadian stories cannot be left entirely to market forces, writes Kelly Patrick. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Opinion

BY KELLY PATRICK

July 20, 2026

OTTAWA—Prime Minister Mark Carney's decision to roll back the CRTC's plan requiring foreign streaming services to contribute more to Canadian programming may have spared Canadians a few dollars on their monthly subscriptions. Affordability matters. But the decision also ex...

To keep reading, subscribe and become a political insider.

Only $7.76 a week for an annual subscription.

Enjoy unlimited website access and the digital newspaper.

Cancel anytime.

Already a Subscriber?

Get Weekend Point of View Newsletter

A round up of the past weekâ€™s opinion writers and columnists on Saturdays and Sundays.

By entering your email address you consent to receive email from The Hill Times containing news, analysis, updates and offers. You may unsubscribe at any time. See our privacy policy

FOLLOW THE HILL TIMES: