The Province of Alberta released it's 2010 budget today.  An overview of the Culture and Community Spirit budget is below.  The budget reflects across the board decreases to all areas as anticipated.  The effect of these decreases on each individual program, if any, are yet to be determined.  The following is a strong statement of assurance from Minister Blackett accompanying today's budget, part of which is included here:

"Our 2010-11 budget makes a net reduction of $5 million, or 1.8 per cent, from the 2009-10 forecast, but allow me to explain further.  

Ministry program expenses will actually decrease by $35 million; at the same time, a $30 million one-time grant increase will fund four Alberta capital projects.  The funds for these projects are being provided through the capital fund and not through the department operating budget.  These projects also include some “flow-through” funding from the federal government.

The 2010-11 budget and our 2010-13 Business Plan were put together with the goal of providing the most funding possible to those groups that provide services and supports to the most vulnerable in our society, as well as to increase the competitiveness of our cultural industries.

All areas of my department will share in these budget reductions.  Within the department, we have brought in operational efficiencies and re-examined core roles, which has helped us to make up part of the shortfall.  These changes have also helped focus our budgeting on supporting critically important non-profit, voluntary and cultural sector services.

In my recent meetings with members of these sectors, we discussed ways of enhancing our relationship and having organizations work together to meet short-term challenges.  I look forward to continuing these discussions and finding new and innovative ways to build sustainable cultural and non-profit sector organizations.

My department has also looked for new efficiencies in our grant programs.  By streamlining applications and moving to a quarterly grant schedule, we are striving to keep the impact of budget reductions as small as possible.

While the 2010-11 budget has to face current economic realities, we will not lose the momentum that we have created in helping develop, foster and showcase our culture and community spirit.

We must take this opportunity, during these challenging times, to review what is important, encourage innovation and make it sustainable.  I look forward to working with all of you over the coming year.

Sincerely,

Lindsay Blackett

Minister of Culture and Community Spirit

MLA, Calgary-North West

Budget Overview for Culture And Community Spirit
Budgeted program expense for Culture and Community Spirit is $283.7 million in 2010-11, a net $5-million or 1.8-per-cent reduction from the 2009-10 forecast.  This reflects a $35-million or 15-per-cent reduction in operating expense, and a $30-million one-time increase in capital grants. 
 
The 2010-11 budget includes:
-$165 million for community and voluntary support services, including more than $41 million in capital grants supporting projects such as the Canada Sports Hall of Fame in Calgary and the GO Community Centre in Edmonton.  It also includes funding for ongoing programs, with
$38 million for the Community Facility Enhancement Program, $25.5 million for the Community Initiatives Program and $22 million for Major Fairs and Exhibitions. In addition, $16 million is provided for the Community Spirit Donation Grant Program, which encourages more individual donations to non-profit organizations and registered Alberta charities.
-$56 million for arts and cultural industries.  This includes more than $29 million in assistance to the Alberta Foundation for the Arts and $17 million in support for Film and Television
Production.  Implementation of Alberta’s cultural policy, The Spirit of Alberta, continues. 
-$47 million for heritage programs.  This includes support to the Royal Alberta Museum, the
Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, other museums and historic sites across the province. 
-$8 million for human rights and citizenship.  
 
For information, contact Parker Hogan 780-427-2395