Federal culture minister vows to ‘fight’ for funding amid Ottawa cutbacks
Marc Miller meets with Iqaluit organizations that received past funding from his departments
Marc Miller. the federal minister for Canadian identity and culture, right, holds a plate of beluga meat with soy sauce while chatting with Qaggiavuut Society executive director Looee Arreak during a tour of the arts organization’s Iqaluit location Wednesday (Photo by Daron Letts)
Canada’s culture minister says federal funding for organizations like Iqaluit’s Qaggiavuut Society “must continue,” but acknowledged the Liberal government is clamping down on spending.
“I don’t like to entertain false hope,” said Marc Miller, the minister of Canadian identity and culture as well as the minister responsible for official languages, following a tour of the non-profit Inuit arts organization.
“It’s no secret that the government is facing calls to rein in some of its spending and my job in government is to fight for this spending.”
Miller is in Iqaluit this week, meeting with some of the organizations that received funding from his departments in the past.
Qaggiavuut, whose mandate is to strengthen, promote, advocate for and create space for Nunavut performing artists with a focus on Inuit, received $1.4 million from 2018 to 2023 through four federal funding streams.
Also, since 2020-21, Qaggiavuut has received close to $1.8 million in federal funding for its Qaggiq School of Performing Arts and currently receives $400,000 annually to train Inuit artists and strengthen Inuit culture.
“It must continue,” Miller said in an interview after visiting the organization’s Paunna Road location.
Cabinet ministers often make government funding announcements whenever they travel to communities across Canada. But Miller didn’t bring any fresh money to leave behind in Nunavut this trip.
“The idea was not to come up here and do a funding announcement and then leave,” he said.
He said the visit was an important opportunity to ensure federal arts, culture and language support continues as the government faces the prospect of having to tighten its purse.
The federal Liberals are in the midst of eliminating up to 40,000 public service jobs across the country by 2029.
Miller, who was previously minister of Crown-Indigenous relations, wore a white, orange-trimmed atigi given to him by Aluki Kotierk, the former president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., on a previous trip.
“His visit was an important opportunity for our organization to showcase the work we do at Qaggiavuut and, most importantly, to strengthen and continue our collaboration with the federal government,” said Looee Arreak, Qaggiavuut’s executive director.
“It was a privilege and an honour to host him and his colleagues.”
Miller’s other stops in Iqaluit included a meeting with the Association des francophones, the Pirurvik Centre, and the Inuit Broadcasting Corp.
Miller said he plans to meet volunteers with the Nunavut Black History Society, members of the Iqaluit Masjid Mosque, and cast and production crew of the North of North TV show who are shooting season 2 of the series in Iqaluit.
A stop at the Beavertails counter at the Arctic Winter Games arena is pencilled in as well, time permitting, his staff added.
Thankful to see the the hedy days of Trudeau’s vanity spending are behind us.
Fantastic, the Liberals want to reduce spending.
Then let’s start saving $3.6 million this April 1st, when the annual salary raise for all MPs, PM and Governor General happens automatically.
What’s the odds Nunavut’s MP will say no auto-raise for me?
With the upcoming raise, the Governor General will make just shy of $400,000 or $393,800 a year.
I imagine a housing association secretary making $24,000 a year would have no problem filling the Governor-General ceremonial position.
The GG also has a clothing allowance of $130,000 over 5 years. Two free homes with a professional culinary team, including a head chef. Servants, dressers, office staff… well, about 150 people.
But wait, there’s more. Each year, even after no longer acting as the GG. The taxpayers will still pay for the Governor General’s $206,000 yearly billed expenses. Plus a $150,000 pension.
Add this all up and it’s $64 million per year… or $175,000 a day… For a ceremonial position.
The GG and PM airplane food whopper expenses will be for another day.
I think he got “for” and “against” mixed up
A quick “Visit to Nunavut” by Federal Ministers does little to no services to smaller communities in Nunavut, Do they know there are 24 communities other than Iqaluit?
how are other communities benefitting to the “Visit to Iqaluit” not Nunavut?
Lol, will the Liberal minister declare war on gge Liberal Party to secure funding? What do the head buried in the sand and elbows up Liberal supporters suggest?
Miller was the former failed immigration minister who was shuffled to another minister position. Sound familiar
The EDs of cultural hubs in Iqaluit also need to operate in a way that follows compliance so that funders are comfortable giving them money. Qaggiavuut hasn’t updated their board, lost their charitable status, and seem to only focus on things the ED wants to do to bolster her singing career. If you want funding, be transparent and files your taxes. Stop putting people on your board that benefit financially from their positions.