The Honourable Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport,Tourism and Culture Industries presentation to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs as they began their examination of the impacts of COVID-19 on the Culture, Heritage and Sport sectors.
You can watch the her presentation along with questions and answers at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO6roSrOPVc&feature=youtu.be
The full text of her presentation follows:
“Today I presented before the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs as they began their examination of the impacts of COVID-19 on the Culture, Heritage and Sport sectors.
I have enclosed a copy of my remarks to the committee for you below.
“Thank you chair and thank you colleagues, A few weeks back I was able to appear before this committee as we discussed the tourism and hospitality sectors of our economy. Today, I am here to share with you the challenges faced by our heritage, sport, culture and arts sectors and industries. And no doubt these have been challenging times. As you know, these areas were hit first, hardest and will take the longest to recover post Covid 19. I will spare the details of the breadth and depth of the entire ministry, as I shared that in the previous deputation. That said, I think it bears repeating that this ministry in all of its parts fuels a spectacular double bottom line – preserving and protecting – and in many ways evolving – our cultural fabric and social impact, while contributing $75 Billion toward the provincial economy. The work that our artists, archeologists, archivists and athletes do in each community across Ontario create jobs and our sense of pride in people and of place.
These sectors include our community museums, our art galleries, our public libraries, cultural events, multicultural festivities, film, television and animation production, book and magazine publishing, recording studies and live music, LGBTQ+ events, indigenous sport and wellness, Honours and Awards including the Lincoln Alexander Awards, the June Callwood Awards and the Trillium Book Awards. We support the Canadian Sport Institute of Ontario that trains our Olympic Athletes, Variety Village which provides opportunities for children with special abilities and we support 63 Provincial Sport organizations while at the same time contributing important dollars to international sport hosting events and high performance athletes. Culture, Heritage and Sport are what makes our communities come alive.
We have a quality of life in Ontario that is the envy of the world because we have world class organizations like The Thousand Islands Boat Museum in Gananoque, Fort Henry in Kingston, the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, and the Art Gallery of Algoma in Sault Ste Marie. In Ottawa, our Senators, RedBlacks and 67’s give us something to cheer about and for in every season, making the coldest capital in the world more than just the seat in parliament. In Mississauga, some of the most well attended multicultural festivals in North America, like Carrasauga and Bollywood Monster Mashup take place. And between Niagara’s Shaw Festival and Stratford’s namesake festival, some of the best live productions take place right here, at home. That is something that I am proud of, and it is something this ministry wants to protect.
Before I get into our response to the pandemic for Culture, Heritage and Sport. I ask all members to consider a very important question as you listen to the deputations and then begin to write your report together. It’s simple enough, but will define Ontario post pandemic. In 18 months what does your Ontario look like? Again, in 18 months what does your Ontario look like? Well, you and I may think the question is simple, but the answer is complex, and the stakes are high. Right now these heritage, culture and sport organizations are shuttered, reopening remains unpredictable.
Just as with tourism and hospitality – these sectors – also worth about $35 Billion to our provincial economy – are battling the triple threat – the public health crisis, the economic crisis and the social crisis. In other words, the public health crisis has shuttered them, the economic crisis has robbed them of their revenues and then when it is safe to reopen or start again they will confront a social threat that very likely will inhibit how they operate and whether or not consumers or patrons will want to attend. These are very real questions everyone from the Canadian Live Music Association, to the Windsor International Film Festival are looking at. Same with our minor soccer teams and our day camps for kids.
Let me share with you data obtained by the Ministry from IPSOS on the impact consumer sentiment has had on these sectors. This data is stark.
43 per cent of Ontarians surveyed are uncomfortable attending an art gallery for museum for at least the next 6 months 60 per cent are uncomfortable attending an outdoor entertainment facility
75 per cent are uncomfortable going to a large concert venue for live entertainment, and
55 per cent said they would not be comfortable allowing their child to attend theatre, dance, or music lessons
Now let me ask you again, in 18 months what does your Ontario look like? My Ontario has film and TV production and the ballet and other performing arts. It has recording studios, live music – like Massey Hall , the Toronto Symphony, the Canadian Opera Company. My Ontario has OHL hockey and figure skating, and skiing and canoeing. My Ontario has libraries, museums and art galleries. My Ontario in 18 months embraces the sectors that the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries supports.
This is a simple question, but it is not easy to solve. And given the data, it will not be solved with money alone, but money sure will be needed. If you agree with me that our Ontario should have all of these things – the things that make our hometowns liveable, worth celebrating, and frankly raising a family or growing old and retiring in – then you need to say so. You need to fight for our artists, our athletes, our archeologist, our archivists.
We as a government need to flow their funds, yes. But we as a legislature need to work with them to develop their safety and health protocols – so when they reopen they can safely serve their performers, staff and patrons – and to rebuild consumer confidence. We as community leaders must demonstrate our commitment to these organizations and institutions by showcasing how they are adapting to the Covid19 environment, showing our comfort by taking in a physically distanced performance or visit and encouraging others to support them. In order for us to preserve and protect – and in my hope grow – culture, heritage and sport we must challenge ourselves to look 18 months down the road.
To date, these are the actions I have taken as Minister to get us to here: For our film and tv industry, I have revised regulations, so contract and freelance workers are eligible for Ontario’s film and TV tax credits, while at the same time working to streamline the time it takes to complete them. With our tax credits stable, I have also asked that Ontario Creates build on our 5,000 film friendly locations, build on our above and below the line talent and invest in more Canadian content as we have done with the Canadian Film Centre. For our emerging music artists, I retooled the $7 Million Ontario Music Investment Fund to put more money into their hands immediately. I also worked with the music industry to create MusicTogether, so we could allow musicians to perform from the comfort and from the safety of their own home.
In sport, we invest $35 Million through the a variety of programs like Quest for Gold and Sport Hosting events. Despite these postponements and cancellations this money will still be available. Earlier this year, we flowed nearly $200 million to the Ontario Arts Council grants, Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund grants, Ontario Trillium Foundation grants, and provincial sport organizations funding. I want to make sure that in 18 months when we get through this crisis that our cultural and sport institutions don’t just survive – they thrive. This includes our local libraries, community museums, our heritage organizations, and our government agencies and attractions, so that when it is safe to do so, they can open their doors again to the public. All of these immediate measures are part of a proactive ministry plan that includes supporting everyone, because I firmly believe that the post COVID-19 economy and society will be driven by these sectors. Let me share why. My good friend Christina Jennings – an innovator in the interactive digital media space that you’ll be hearing from later today – announced earlier this week that her company has produced a new digital application called Bubble Bloom to help ease kids anxiety during these difficult times. The Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra has shared their talents with local seniors remotely through the power of ZOOM. Even the Canadian Screen Awards were hosted virtually this year to celebrate our achievements on the big and small screens. A a new drive-in immersive Van Gogh art exhibit will launch for all to enjoy while maintaining physical distancing protocols.
The Ontario Spirit is alive and well in the professional and amateur sports too. I’ve seen former professional athletes like Andy Fantuz – a Grey Cup Champion – host online workouts to help Ontarians stay happy and healthy. If COVID 19 ravaged these sectors, they certainly have not ravaged their spirits. I have seen creativity and advancement in these bleak days. I have seen silver linings in dark clouds. And I see my Ontario in 18 months not the same as it was pre Covid 19.
I see it coming back better. Coming back stronger. I see us as more competitive on the global production front – whether that’s the next Schitt’s Creek or Umbrella Academy. I see us continuing to support Ontarians top international charts and podiums – just like Shawn Mendes, Alessia Carra and Drake, or Penny Olesiak, Bianca Andreescu and Andre Degasse have done. I see us developing products and talent like never before – but it will take a collective lift and it will require all of us to lead in each of our communities. I am proud of the spectacular double bottom that this ministry fuels, but make no mistake, everything it represents is vulnerable right now and these hearings will be important insights for all of us as we hear directly from those creators on the impact Covid 19 has had on them, how they would advise us on how to get through this and how we can once again prosper.
All I ask, is that you keep in mind that one question – what does my Ontario look like in 18 months. Because I can assure you that your constituents, like me, see their community with books, with plays, with music, with minor sports. With the things we might hold dear, might even take for granted, but that make our community whole. The decisions we make today, the dollars we invest, the ideas we deliver on will create that Ontario in 18 months.”
Minister McLeod can be reached at minister.macleod@ontario.ca