Oh, Canada!: A Tax Credit for Arts Education?!
Posted by Mar 18, 2011 6 comments
Tim Mikulski
I wasn't planning on writing another "issue post" today, but I came across an article this morning that just can't be ignored.
In a report from Canada's CTV network, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has proposed something that would make Sarah Palin's head spin around on top of her shoulders.
He wants the federal government to provide a new tax credit for parents whose children participate in artistic activities.
Let me repeat: He wants the federal government to provide a new tax credit for parents whose children participate in artistic activities.
Harper made this declaration (without much detail) while discussing his new economic action plan stating:
"The family is the basic building block of Canadian society. That's why the Next Phase of Canada's Economic Action Plan will contain new support for Canadian families and communities, including a tax credit for children's participation in artistic activities."
In 2007, a similar tax credit was issued for children involved in organized sports, allowing parents to save up to $75 per child on their taxes.
I wonder what would happen if President Obama presented the same plan on the Hill today...
Comments
The proposed tax credit for children's artistic activity is a good initiative to get Canadians thinking about the place and importance of the arts in our society. It follows on a similar one for sports activities, as well as a similar provincial initiative in Ontario.
How we all engage and participate in the arts is an increasing preoccupation of many in Canada right now.
Beyond the tax credits, initiatives like Culture Days are going some distance to getting Canadians to see the arts as a more central part of their lives. The Arts Advocate Blog from Canada touches on all of this -- we'd love your comments http://theartsadvocateblog.blogspot.com/
Great information. Keep us in the loop down here. Despite our name, Americans for the Arts has 44 members/member organizations in Canada.
I cannot agree more with PM Harper's decision. He's absolutely right in suggesting that the family is the backbone of society. By providing a tax credit for families with children involved in after-school or out-of-school activities, he is saying that it's important for individuals to do more with their lives and encourages parents, aunts/uncles, grandparents, godparents, or whomever is responsible for rearing children to get them away from the TV/computer and out doing something.
I, for one, would love to see President Obama move in this direction. There's a lot to be gained from interaction with and participation in the arts.
Kudos to you, PM Harper!
Well, he talked about it during the last election too and we haven't seen anything yet. Here's to hoping!
What a great way to support arts education without an additional strain on the education budget or the non-profit funding community. Oregon already has a unique cultural tax credit and a successful film production tax credit, I wonder if we will see this take hold state-side too?
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