The term culture is somewhat a multifaceted characteristic of a people that is rather difficult to define in simple terms. Social scientists have developed several definitions of the term culture however, the simplest definition terms culture as a combination of accepted character among the people living within a community . In general, every community has an accepted character defined by personal perceptions, attitudes, motivation, background, social class and personality. All these factors affect the behavior of an individual. Mitchell (1999), argues that such factors tend to be similar in cases where a community shares similar traditions, religion, perceptions, heritage and motivation. The result is a sought of collective programming of the minds of the people within the community and thus a shared tradition. This collective perspective on several aspect of life may be defined the culture of a community.
Canada is the second largest country in the world with most of the population living along 100 miles strip of the southern border with the United States. Most of northern Canada is mainly deep forests with empty lands that have never been inhabited by humans. The country has two official languages, that is English and French and there is no dominant religion in the country. Canada culture is one of the most diverse cultures in the world due to many aspects. For instance the aboriginal people were the early inhabitants of Canada and later francophone and Anglophone population streamed into Canada. Due to this intercultural interaction, Canada’s culture has since evolved in attempting to accommodate all these cultures. Additionally, trade and commerce has played a major role in heavy immigration into Canada and therefore Canada’s national culture to say at the least, is a topic of contention . However, the Canadian government understood the possibility of such an occurrence and developed legislation and institutions that would assist in defining the national cultures. This research evaluates culture and communication in Canada and in particular Ottawa. The research particularly reviews the importance of investing in art and culture with emphasis on federal and regional investments.
Canada Government and General Policies
Canada as a country is composed of ten provinces governed from two levels of government that is , federal and provincial. The federal government is concerned with national issues such as international relations, international trade and national policies such as education and medical care. The federal government is composed of the executive arm of the Prime minister and his cabinet and a legislative arm composed of two houses, the Senate and the House of Commons. The provinces also have their own governments that direct regional matters. In general, the country is divided into four basic regions; Atlantic Canada, the Pacific Canada, Central, the Prairies and the North. These regions have always played a significant role in determining the country’s socio-political definition .
Originally, issues regarding culture were handled by each level of government in a need-to-do basis and therefore there was no national policy with regard to cultural issues. However, after the Report of the Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences that was commissioned by the federal government in the year 1951, several cultures issues were put up for nationalization . For instance, the report led to the formation of a Federal Cultural Council in 1957. Additionally, the same report called for the creation of the national library in 1951.
After the reorganization of the federal government in early 1990s, a Department of Canadian Heritage was formed. This department was solely concerned with federal polices and institution that govern issues regarding national culture and heritage. In forming this department, the government envisaged creating a culture of integration rather than assimilation. For this reason, the department was to encourage the development of a distinct cultural and national identity that recognized among several factors the existence of religious, ethnic and racial diversity.
Additionally, Canada’s constitution allows each provincial government to have cultural departments and institutions that handle matters regarding culture. In fact each provincial government has a cultural ministry and these regional institutions share these responsibilities with the federal government. Such responsibilities include having broadcasting institutions that provide a mode of communication for the population. The federal departments for instance have the mandate over the national Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Other regional cultural institutions have their own institutions such as TV Ontario and Radio Quebec .
Cultural Policies and Instruments
All cultural departments play a pivotal role in directing and assisting cultural efforts in the country. To do this, there are several strategies and facilities that the federal government in coordination with the regional department, provide in assistance to cultural facets such as art. One of such facilities provided is funding cultural activities such as arts.
Financing Cultural Activities
Culture is perhaps one of the most complicated economic aspects in any economy. Some nations attract several billions of dollars in term of tourism that is mainly interested in culture. Cultural celebration and appreciation is a big industry in the world in terms of tourism. Thus culture has both direct and indirect impact on the national economy. In the year 1992 and 1993, arts and other forms of culture contributed about 2.3% to the gross domestic product . However, experts argue that culture plays a more important societal role that supersedes fiscal benefits. A population that enjoys national identity is more likely to be more productive and compared to a discordant population . Providing an avenue in which a population enjoys national heritage is very important to a country.
For this reason the Canadian government has since invested in support of cultural activities. Fiscal support for cultural activities originates from all arms of the government. At the federal level, funding is directed towards the CBC, the National Museums and important historic sites. Remaining funds from such federal funding is directed towards funding other initiatives such as cultural industries, individual artists, organizations and institutions that assist in promotion of national culture.
Support for Artists
While both the federal and the regional governments seem to have invested in finances, there are also other forms of investment that the federal government has put towards supporting art. The 1951 Massey-Lévesque Report recommended the creation of an arts education institute that provides education in arts, humanities and social sciences . Furthermore, the government was keen in creating policies and direction that safeguards and supports the works of artists. To do this the federal government provided legislations under federal jurisdiction that guide the professional conduct between producers and artists.
Two legislations were created in guiding the artists. The first one was referred to as the Canadian Council on the Status of the Artist. This legislation allows the Canadian Council to provide advice to the Ministry of Canadian Heritage on how to tax artists. It also provides frameworks on how the artist can access social benefits within the federal jurisdiction. The second legal framework is referred to as the Canadian Artists and Producers Professional Relations Tribunal, which provides a framework of the relation between the artists and the producers as prescribed by the law. All these issues underscore the importance of investing culture at the federal level.
Support on Cultural Heritage
Culture is multifaceted ideology that cannot be defined outside the precepts of heritage, a definition of the population based on its people and its origins. For this reason, the Department of Canadian Heritage plays a significant role in defining Canada’s culture. Both the regional and federal government has heavily invested in heritage. In the early 1990s, the federal government invested about $500 million in the heritage department.
The roles that the heritage department plays are defined in the several programs that the heritage department runs. One of such programs is the Movable Cultural Property Program. This program is meant to manage exports and imports of cultural property that promotes the heritage of the people of Canada. In particular, the program provides tax incentives and other benefits for persons or organizations that donate cultural objects to public institutions . A similar program concerning cultural object of importance is the Insurance Program for Travelling Exhibitions. The federal government has invested in this kind of insurance program that provides insurance for cultural object in transit to national exhibitions. The insurance program provides support for objects of important national heritage.
A third program funded by the Canadian Heritage department is The Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN). The program is funded and managed by department and is directed towards providing automated collection services for the Museums. The network provides a wide access to a variety of databases that relate to museums and cultural sites. Today, the network has more than 15 million objects ranging from aboriginal objects to other Anglophone and Francophone objects in museum and sites . The network has also allowed other countries and institutions not within the cultural department to make use the database. Perhaps the importance of this database of object of heritage comes to the fold in training schools such as universities. Federal and regional training institutions are able to use these networks in insightful educational training on Canadian heritage.
Perhaps the most important program that the heritage controls is The Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI). The federal government has heavily invested in the conservation of cultural object and artifacts. The process involved in managing and preserving artifacts requires the federal government to provide technical consultations and expertise. To do this, the department of heritage has employed several qualified personnel that assist in conservations and managing of galleries. Some of the technology used in these conservations is very sophisticated and expensive. However, the federal government has taken measures in providing this equipment. Thus all information that is found in such artifacts and cultural object is disseminated through public institutions and programs.
Support for Official Languages
One of the main facets that define the culture of a people is sharing a common language. In Canada, the constitution recognizes two official languages that is, English and French. Thus the federal government has heavily invested in fostering the two languages in Canada and enhancing vitality in these languages. To do this, the government developed the Promotion of Official Languages Program and the Official Languages in Education Program. These two programs are managed by the Department of Canadian Heritage in an effort to develop social and cultural identity within the country. The government funds programs that provide education of these languages in minority locations and training as a second language in urban centers.
Conclusion
The extent to which the federal government of Canada and the respective regional governments have invested in culture cannot be discussed in a single paper. There are several programs and initiatives that leadership has taken keen interest in promoting the Canadian heritage. The importance of such investment can only be seen in the harmonious co-existence that the people of Canada enjoy. Today, Canada is one of the safest countries in the world despite the fact that, just like the southern neighbors, it is a very multiethnic society with people of all races and cultures. Thus providing an environment of peaceful coexistence based on cultural and heritage values, give the citizens a national identity in which to subscribe. However, this has not come on a silver platter instead several arms of the government have taken effort in ensuring that the nation speaks official languages that respect the origins of individuals. Additionally, investing in other societal matters such as national broadcasters and institutions enshrine these believes and cultural values.
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