Martin Knelman - Toronto Star, 05/01/01:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><B>$560 million for arts revives national dream</B><P>When Sheila Copps, the federal heritage minister, announces tonight that Ottawa is about to shower money on culture, the subtext will be as intriguing as the big numbers being tossed around.<P>Of course it's a great day for anyone who cares about the future of the arts in Canada — probably the greatest day since the creation of the Canada Council in 1957.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><B>more...</B><P>Netscape Users: View the <B>Entertainment & Life</B> section of the <A HREF="http://www.thestar.com" TARGET=_blank>Toronto Star</A><P><p>[This message has been edited by Marie (edited May 02, 2001).]

Hurrah!

It was initially announced that a portion of this money was going to be distributed to individual artists but now I'm not so sure. Actually, I'll be surprised to see what the actual dollar amount ends up to be, and if it goes anywhere but to institutions--perhaps that's just the pessimist in me! Maybe it has something to do with seeing the Heritage Minister, Sheila Copps, on the news this morning, stating that the recording industry needs money siting the careers of artists such as Shania Twain and Celine Dion (!) I'm always disappointed (yeah, I'm a dreamer) that the support of dance companies who have achieved international profiles (i.e., LaLaLa Human Steps) isn't mentioned. Ok, to be fair, she did say that the government needs to support Canadian artists in telling their stories to Canadians...<P>Murray Whyte - National Post, 03/05/01:<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><B>Chrétien commits $560-million for the arts</B><BR>'Corporate welfare for the cultural industries,' critics say<P>Ottawa also pledged yesterday:<P>-$108-million to foster Canadian content on the Internet.<P>- $75-million over three years to the Canada Council for the Arts.<P>- $32-million to Canadian cultural exports and promoting Canadian artists abroad.<P>- $28-million for the book publishing industry and a similar amount for the recording industry.<P>- $13-million over three years for training centres such as the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School and the School of Toronto Dance Theatre.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><B>more...</B><P><p>[This message has been edited by Marie (edited May 03, 2001).]

Martin Knelman - Toronto Star, 05/03/01:<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><B>How PM let slip a clue on opera house mystery</B><P>IT WAS SOME enchanted evening last night when Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and Heritage Minister Sheila Copps came to Toronto to shower money on our impoverished cultural community. There was only one thing missing.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>To read more:<BR>IE Users: use this direct <B>link</B><BR>Netscape Users: Go to the <B>Entertainment/Life</B> section of <A HREF="http://www.thestar.com" TARGET=_blank>The Star</A>

Paul Knox - The Globe & Mail, 05/04/01:<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><B>Making a point with culture</B><P>The practitioners of the corporate black arts, the people who speak of synergies and growing the business, would call this "the branding of Canada." So would speechwriters for Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, who used that term this week in announcing a $500-million boost for the CBC, the Canada Council, museums and other cultural initiatives.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>To read more:<BR>Netscape Users: Search <B>Paul Knox</B> on the [url=http://www.globeandmail.com" TARGET=_blank>Globe & Mail's</A> 7 Day Search<BR>IE Users: Use this direct <a href="http://archives.theglobeandmail.com/s97is.vts?action=View&VdkVgwKey=%2Fusr%2Flocal%2Frealtime%2Fsearch%2Fhtml%2F20010504%2FUKNOXN%2Ehtml&DocOffset=2&DocsFound=55&QueryZip=dan ce&Collection=TGAM&SortField=sortdate&ViewTemplate=GAMDocView%2Ehts&SearchUrl=http%3A%2F%2Farchives%2Etheglobeandmail%2Ecom%2Fs97is%2Evts%3FQueryZip%3Ddance%26ResultTemplate%3DGAMR esults%252Ehts%26QueryText%3Ddance%26Collection%3DTGAM%26SortField%3Dsortdate%26ViewTemplate%3DGAMDocView%252Ehts%26ResultStart%3D1%26ResultCount%3D10&]<B>link</B>[/url]<BR><p>[This message has been edited by Marie (edited May 04, 2001).]

Morley Walker - Winnipeg Free Press, 06/02/01:<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><B>Cultured crowd interested in Copps' spending plans</B><P>SEVERAL hundred culture vultures descended on the Royal Winnipeg Ballet yesterday afternoon to kiss the hem of Canada's patron saint of new federal money. <P>Heritage Minister Sheila Copps blew into town, a day after the prime minister graced the same venue, to unveil details of her government's recent allotment of $28 million to the country's ever-struggling publishing industry.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><B>more...</B><P>