SAA Bulletin – March 2010
March 24, 2010 (updated March 25, 2010)
2010 ? 2011 Provincial Budget
Honourable Rod Gantefoer, Minister of Finance, delivered the 2010 ? 2011 provincial budget today. Overall spending in the Ministry of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport is down $20.5 million dollars.
Of note, Government is “winding down Saskatchewan Communications Network Corporation (SCN), but will maintain many of its important services in a more effective manner” which will mean a savings of $2.4 million in the 10-11 budget year with anticipated annualized savings closer to $5 million. See the Government news release at www.finance.gov.sk.ca/TPCSNR.pdf
Funding for the Saskatchewan Arts Board and SaskFilm remains the same as last year’s levels. This is also true for most heritage third-party funding. The reduction in Active Families Benefit more accurately reflects the uptake of this program.
Support for Provincial Arts and Cultural Organizations includes Culture on the Go, and the Creative Industry Growth and Sustainability Program; no other new programs have been announced. The Building Pride program, which was under this line item, is now under the Communities Initiatives Fund line.
A new program – The Community Vitality Program ? will run over the next three years, funded through the Community Initiatives Fund. The program is “designed to enhance the culture and quality, accessibility and use of facilities in communities across the province. The Program also encourages volunteerism and community involvement; engages Aboriginal and young people as leaders in community activities; and improves access and inclusion for those who experience barriers to community involvement.” More details on this new program are to be available over the coming weeks.
The formation of the Saskatchewan Capital Commission is the first step in the implementation of the recently announced Cultural Policy. The Commission “supports initiatives that enhance the awareness and understanding of Saskatchewan’s diverse culture and heritage and provides for the operation and development of facilities for the purpose of advocating pride in the Capital and the Province.
Following are excerpts from the Tourism, Parks, Culture, and Sport Estimates. Links to budget documents can be found at www.finance.gov.sk.ca/budget2010-11.
| Arts Related Estimates with Comparison to 2009-10 Estimates (in thousands of dollars) | ||
| Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport Estimates | 2010-11 | 2009-10 |
| Culture | ||
| Culture Operations Support | 984 | 1,037 |
| Saskatchewan Arts Board | 6,338 | 6,338 |
| Support for Prov. Arts and Cultural Organizations | 2,470 | 4,500 |
| SaskFILM | 1,083 | 1,083 |
| Film Employment Tax Credit | 8,200 | 8,200 |
| *Conexus Arts Centre | 446 | |
| Active Families Benefit | 11,200 | 18,000 |
| Heritage | ||
| Heritage Operations Support | 899 | 1,260 |
| Royal Saskatchewan Museum | 1,983 | 2,118 |
| Western Development Museum | 3,999 | 3,999 |
| Wanuskewin Heritage Park | 602 | 602 |
| Saskatchewan Science Centre | 578 | 578 |
| Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation | 289 | 289 |
| *Saskatchewan Archives Board | 4,167 | |
| Community Initiatives Fund | 9,427 | 10,451 |
| Other | ||
| Saskatchewan Communications Network | 3,830 | 6,267 |
| Building Communities Fund | 13,731 | 16,493 |
| * The 2010-2011 Conexus Arts Centre and Saskatchewan Archives Board budgets are now included in the Capital Commission allocation. |
