[e-drive] [EQUIFLASH - "TOMORROW STARTS TODAY" CAMPAIGN A SUCCESS]

[caea-l at list.web.net]

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EQUIFLASH - "TOMORROW STARTS TODAY" CAMPAIGN  A SUCCESS
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Heritage Minister Liza Frulla has credited Equity's e-drive initiative
as a crucial factor in the federal government's decision to extend the
Tomorrow Starts Today programme for an additional five year, and with
increased funding.  

Letters and emails sent to Liza Frulla, Stephen Harper, and local
Members of Parliament successfully influenced the federal budget
recently announced by the Liberal government. The 2005 federal budget
provides for stabilized funding for arts and culture programs under the
Tomorrow Starts Today initiative in the amount of $860 million over the
next five years. This represents $172M annually in new funding and the
Tomorrow Starts Today programme has been extended to 2010. 

This budget represents the most important investment by the Government
of Canada in the arts and culture ever. Equity's efforts have made it
clear that arts and culture are a vital aspect of Canadian society, and
an important sector of the Canadian economy, deserving of recognition
and government support.

Congratulations to the Equity membership and to our industry colleagues
on a successful campaign for enhanced arts funding. The 2005 budget
reconfirms the Government of Canada's support of arts and culture and
our efforts were instrumental in securing an increased multi-year
funding commitment.
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Canadian Actors' Equity Association
44 Victoria Street, 12th Floor
Toronto, ON M5C 3C4