EQUIFLASH [B.C. PROVINCIAL BUDGET TABLED MARCH 2nd]

[CAEA e-drive]

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B.C. PROVINCIAL BUDGET TABLED MARCH 2nd
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Finance Minister Colin Hansen tabled the 2010-2011 budget in the British Columbia legislature yesterday.

At first glance it appears that provincial arts funding levels have at least been partially restored. However it remains unclear if re-stored funding is designated for programs recently cut or is intended for completely new programming.

The Vancouver Alliance for Arts and Culture has expressed disappointment at the budget's lack of full support for the arts in B.C. See http://www.allianceforarts.com/blog/breaking-news-arts-community-leaders-disappointed-budget

The Vancouver Sun reports the following financial analysis of arts and culture funding 2006-2010:
[Year: Ministry funding / Gaming grants / New money / Total]
2006-07: $37.3 / $18.8 / $0.00 / $56.1
2007-08: $33.3 / $17.5 / $68 / $118.9
2008-09: $37.8 / $18.27 / $0.00 / $63
2009-10: $18.4  / $23.6 / $0.00 / $42
2010-11: 24.6 / 11.5 / 10 / 46.1
See "B.C. puts $60 million back into sports and arts programs" for more information: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/budget+keeps+tight+spending+except+health+education/2633497/puts+million+back+into+sports+arts+programs/2633587/story.html

Today's Globe and Mail is reporting that the budget includes a spending increase for arts and culture of only just over $4-million from last year. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/money-restored-not-enough-arts-groups-say/article1487504/

Other links:
CBC: B.C. budget offers few surprises: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/03/01/bc-budget-highlights.html

Georgia Straight: B.C. government introduces $40.6-billion budget with $1.7-billion deficit: http://www.straight.com/article-295667/vancouver/bc-government-introduces-406billion-budget-17billion-deficit

Globe and Mail: Feeling glow of Olympics, B.C. rolls out rosy budget: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/feeling-glow-of-olympics-bc-rolls-out-rosy-budget/article1487362/
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