A commentary by the CEO of the Museum of Vancouver.

Prime Minister Mark Carney campaigned on an “elbows up” approach to assert Canadian identity and resist American imperialism.

For the museums and the broader cultural sector, this brought hope of meaningful investment into the institutions most closely associated with Canadian cultural identity.

The federal budget shows that this hope was misplaced. Instead of recognizing the economic impact and social benefits of investing in the arts, the Carney government is continuing a decades-long trend of squandering the power of Canada’s arts, culture and heritage industries.

Data show that investment in the arts, culture and heritage sector strengthens Canada’s overall economic stability, providing a proven return.

At $73 billion in direct impact on the national GDP, Canada’s cultural industries contribute more than oil and gas extraction at $71 billion.

Public funds directly help artists and cultural institutions,........

© Times Colonist