The Canadian League of Composers applauds Budget 2025’s commitment to maintaining federal support for Canada’s cultural sector. In addition to the sector’s significant contributions to Canada’s economy, artists play a vital role in shoring up national unity at a time when our national sovereignty is facing unprecedented threats from abroad.
In particular, we are heartened by the government’s commitments to the Canada Music Fund ($48 million over three years), the Canada Arts Presentation Fund ($46.5 million over three years), and the CBC ($150 million for the coming fiscal year). These important investments will help ensure Canadian composers can continue their valuable work.
That said, while the CLC is grateful that the Canada Council for the Arts was spared from any funding reductions, the increased investment of $6 million over three years falls well short of what the Canadian Arts Coalition has been asking for ($140 million of new, permanent annual funding). With nearly 50% of Canadian composers having accessed Canada Council support at some point in the past five years, increased investment in the Council is crucial to ensuring that Canadian composers are empowered and building successful and sustainable careers. The CLC will continue to work with the Coalition and its members to ensure that the government recognizes the importance of the Council and the necessity for increased investment.
We would especially like to thank everyone who took the time to participate in the Canadian Arts Coalition’s Campaign for Culture 2025. As a result of that campaign, over 50,000 letters were sent to elected officials, highlighting to them that Canadians value our artists, our stories, and our sounds.
“The CLC National Council is grateful that the federal government has prioritized continued support for Canada’s cultural sector. However, the $6 million dollar increase to the Canadian Council for the Arts’ budget is a far cry from the requested $140 million, and will likely be a band-aid solution for the chronically underfunded arts sector.”
– Tyler Versluis
