Possible media releases & policy resolutions - 3 subjects

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By Cameron Wigmore on 30 May 2008 - 5:05pm

This blog post is going out as an email to some members of the GPC Shadow Cabinet as well as a few other Green Party representatives & members.

There are three subjects that I'd like to see covered in media releases and/or policy resolutions. They are:

- Arts
Our policy is weaker in the arts than in other areas. I'd like to see more promotion of the arts as an economic stimulator and contributor to our quality of life. There is currently NO federal party with policy on the arts that can be said to be 'excellent'. With a little work we can draw the support of this very large community! According to a 2001-02 Statistics Canada report, with an investment of $6.8 billion from three levels of government, the arts and culture sector directly employed 740,000 people and generated $26 billion for the economy. The arts and culture sector employs as many people as the combined sectors of agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, oil, gas and utilities.
Reference link: http://www.greenparty.bc.ca/content/arts-policy



- Internet & intellectual property
Recent news: http://wikileaks.org/wiki/G-8_plurilateral_intelle...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.2...

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.htm...
(apparently the NDP is gaining support on this issue)



- Insite (health care)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM...

We did a press release on this before. Can we do another one? See: http://www.greenparty.ca/en/releases/14.08.2006
More background on the subject at:
http://greencameron.blogspot.com/2006/08/green-par...
Also see: http://www.greenparty.bc.ca/content/green-vision-s...



I would go ahead myself and write three draft media releases and three resolutions, but I'm not going to invest the time to do so. I am unfortunately too busy to put aside another area of my life in order to get this important work done. I am available to support this effort, but I don't have a lot of time to commit to drafting full resolutions or writing full media releases.

I'm hoping that a shadow cabinet representative can take on one subject each and get this work done. I understand that it's a lot to ask, but I think it's a reasonable request. Is anyone willing to grab one of these subjects and give it a try?

I'm counting on my party to champion these issues. There are other members that are very interested right now in seeing these subject being covered by the GPC. Please please please! (ok - now I'm even begging... ;-)

If there are any members reading this who would like to get involved I urge you to contact the related Shadow Cabinet rep or your provincial/territorial rep to see how you can help.

Sincerely,

Cameron Wigmore
Nanaimo, BC

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Why arts, culture & entertainment are Green

Submitted by Erich Jacoby-Hawkins on 30 May 2008 - 7:06pm.

Our policies in support of arts, culture & entertainment could and should be much stronger.

These are areas that provide good, rewarding careers with minimal environmental impact. Not just for writers, actors, singers, etc. but the designers, technicians, and all the ancillary jobs related to the publishing (including on-line), music, movie, TV, and other arts & culture industries - both the 'big players' and the local band or theatre group.

They are based on attributes of being human and sharing our stories, ideas and feelings without requiring the consumption of massive amounts of resources. TV & movie production may use some energy & materials, but once made, the product can be played, re-played, stored and transmitted infinitely without requiring much extra consumption. Even books, newspapers & magazines can be published online or on paper that is recycled, made from agri-fibres, or otherwise forest-friendly and sustainable.

Currently, many of our policies would already help any industries that are non-resource intensive, such as arts & culture, simply by default in how we would reform the economy to track the true cost of activities and remove taxes from human activity (shifting them to extraction of resources, generation of waste, etc.). We need to constantly emphasize these economic benefits.

The arts are also a proven money-multiplier, which is to say that every dollar of government investment results in many dollars of economic activity, including many jobs, incomes, and profit which in turn return taxes to government. That's why film tax credits are so important and valuable - they are a net benefit to society and revenue, not a net cost.

Because of this multiplier, we should also be strong in supporting the arts, especially local culture where possible. Therefore, a certain amount of targeted arts subsidy may be sustainable.

Erich Jacoby-Hawkins
Barrie, ON

The views I express on this blog are purely my own and should not be construed to represent the official position of the Green Party of Canada - the same goes for all other people's posts & comments.

Erich Jacoby-Hawkins, Barrie ON - although I'm on Cabinet (Nat'l Rev. and Ecol. Fiscal Reform), views here are my own and may not reflect official GPC positions. Please visit www.ErichtheGreen.ca

Thanks Erich. Well said!

Submitted by Cameron Wigmore on 30 May 2008 - 9:42pm.

That could be the beginnings of a press release right there...

;-)

The blog section of the GPC website is a place for GPC members to share their personal opinions and views. The views I express here are my own and are not the official position of the Green Party of Canada.