Comments on: Rob Ford’s ‘Arts Czar’ gets condescending with the blogosphere – requests positive comments only

By: Julian Brown

Julian Brown — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 16:03:10 +0000

The Canada Prizes announcement by Moore a few days ago confirms that they are still in limbo, though they may be held in 2012. The story seems to indicate that private contributions to the endowment will be expected.

By: Julian Brown

Julian Brown — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 01:51:04 +0000

With the election, the Canada Prizes seem likely to go into limbo for quite some time. However, there seems to be another “Canada Prize” for a book, announced by Quill and Quire in the last few days. No apparent connection, but the same name.

By: Michael Wheeler

Michael Wheeler — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 17:02:04 +0000

Oh cool. Thanks Julian. I had just been wondering aloud how one would go about asking an official about this. Thanks for the update.

By: Julian Brown

Julian Brown — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 16:32:51 +0000

In connection with Canada Prizes, the Ministerial Advisory Panel on the Canada Prizes apparently submitted its report on time to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages in late summer 2010. The Minister is currently reviewing the recommendations.

This information is from an official in the Department in response to a query. It will be interesting to see how long the Minister will spend on the review.

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 18:02:16 +0000

Okay, so there are a number of interesting comments here. Few things make me happier than a good discussion after a post on our website.

Christine: Good question – This federal government website says that details will be released at the end of summer 2010. As there is a snowstorm outside my window and the year is no longer 2010, we can assume that this information is incorrect. The minor scandal attached to this fact is that this money is being touted by the Conservative government as one of the successful initiatives created by stimulus spending. Really? That’s funny – cause it looks like 2 years after it was announced – not a single dime has gone into the economy from this program. I remember reading somewhere (in the Globe and Mail maybe?) that new details would be forthcoming soon.

Brandon: Yeah I agree that the arts are too often siloized as an issue unconnected to the other elements of society that citizens (yes “citizens” not “taxpayers”), interact with. Arts funding is important. So is transit, shelters, affordable housing, safe bike lanes, road work, waste removal, and community centers. I worry this administration wants to pit these groups against one another so we don’t emphasize this together, consistently, with mind-numbing repetition. Cause that would be a problem.

As for the discussion disappearing – I doubt it could be more hidden away and inaccessible than it was previous to recent events, so there’s really nowhere to go but up.

Thanks to everyone else for reinforcing that this is a conversation that should be happening with greater transparency.

By: Christine Armstrong

Christine Armstrong — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:53:24 +0000

Hey Mike,

the link to the CCA in your post says that there was an advisory panel of experts (Joseph L. Rotman, Simon Brault, Tony Gagliano, Liza Maheu, and Jennifer Clarke) that was supposed to generate a series of recommendations and options regarding the Canada Prizes. The group was supposed present a final report to the government during this past summer. Any idea what happened with that?

By: Brandon Moore

Brandon Moore — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 14:34:26 +0000

I wasn’t going to comment because it’s going a little off-topic from what you wrote about, but I was really put out by Mr. Melanson’s remarks about “world-class public transit” in the Ouzounian piece. Obviously, my experience of “going to the theatre” is driven first and foremost by the art itself and yes that is what I talk about. But how I get there and get home is pretty important too, and it really does impact my own theatre-going (and I’m someone you don’t have to convince very hard to come see a show!) I’m surprised that he doesn’t seem to appreciate that.

I also worry that this whole business means we’re going to hear a lot less from him in the public sphere, and that the conversation will stay among the Toronto arts elites.

By: rebecca picherack

rebecca picherack — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 15:52:51 +0000

Michael,
Great community service.
Thank You.
Rebecca

By: Harry Crane

Harry Crane — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 06:13:37 +0000

Awesome, awesome piece Mike, seriously. Informed, well written – excellent. I totally echo Dave Tompa’s remarks.

By: Michelle Bailey

Michelle Bailey — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 04:06:18 +0000

Let us remember that appointing a political czar is an admission that you don’t know the first thing about how to handle said subject. Just hire one more bureaucrat to make sure we all play nice.

If political czars made any difference whatsoever, William Bennett would have single-handedly won the war on drugs ages ago.

That being said, I look forward to more amusing gaffs from Mr Melanson. (insert massive eye roll here)