Beyond The Commons

Aaron Wherry covers all the goings-on in and around Parliament Hill. Follow Aaron on Twitter: @aaronwherry

Categories: Beyond The Commons, Capital Read

Where have you gone Diane Ablonczy?

by Aaron Wherry on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 8:45pm - 34 Comments

Divers-Cite, whose artistic director defended the government two weeks ago, has its latest funding request denied.

The Conservative government has rejected a bid for funding by a major arts festival geared toward gays and lesbians. The directors of Divers-Cite in Montreal say they were told by federal bureaucrats that their funding request met all the criteria, and the final approval was with Industry Minister Tony Clement.

On Monday, they were told the government simply decided against their particular request under the Marquee Tourism Events Program.

Tags: Brad Trost, Diane Ablonczy, Divers-Cite, Divers/Cite, Gay Pride, Marquee Tourism Events Program, Montreal, Pride, Pride parade, Tony Clement, Toronto Pride

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Anon

Tony really has to go. He's just not up to it.
Officerfarva

Where have you gone dwindling support?
Jenn

I guess they've decided to stop hiding the agenda, huh?
http://intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

Divers-Cite is already being funded by the federal government, through Canada Economic Development. $100,000 / year for each of the past three years.

The organizers had submitted a bid under the new Marquee Tourism Events Program for an additional $155,000 to add performers and promotion.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

Divers-Cite is already being funded by the federal government, through Canada Economic Development. $100,000 per year for each of the past three years.

The organizers had submitted a bid under the new Marquee Tourism Events Program for an additional $155,000 to add performers and promotion.

http://intensedebate.com/people/hardmouth hardmouth

But Divers-Cite met all the criteria. I thought the marquis fund was for fast economic stimulating?!?!
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/hardmouth hardmouth

But Divers-Cite met all the criteria. I thought the marquee fund was for fast economic stimulating?!?!
André

It wouldn't be so bad if "no other federal commitments" was a criteria for approval. Apparently it isn't a criteria since their request met all the criteria.

How can Clement detach himself from this controvertial decision when there's seemingly no objective reason to deny the request?

http://intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

In fairness, we don't actually know why the request was denied. Lots of funding requests get denied.

We're just assuming the worst, which may be unfair, given that the Tories have given a lot of money to DiversCite this year and in the last two years.

Dave

No worries, I'm sure the government will offer a convincing explanation, just like they did for Ms. Ablonczy's loss of the Marquee program.

http://intensedebate.com/people/sea_n_mountains sea_n_mountains

I am not sure that is distinct for other recipients CR and the adding performers and promotion seems to be in line with other grants we have seen (e.g., see Paul's posts on the Ottawa Jazz Festival).

http://intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

The point is that this event is already being amply funded by the public purse, and I'm not sure that we can conclude (as many here have already concluded) that Divers-Cite was denied additional public funding from MTEP simply because the event is geared towards gays and lesbians.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

The point is that this event is already being amply funded by the public purse, and I'm not sure that we can conclude (as many here have already concluded) that Divers-Cite was denied additional public funding (from MTEP) because the event is geared towards gays and lesbians.

http://intensedebate.com/people/sea_n_mountains sea_n_mountains

again, all i am saying is that I have seen no evidence that other festivals, events, and other 'stuff' is not 'double dipping' as it were.

http://intensedebate.com/people/ottawasteph ottawasteph

Divers-Cité is for everyone, not just gays and lesbians. Also the second biggest moneymaker for Montreal after the Canadian Grand Prix, which we lost under the current regime. Stevie, a Prime Minister works for all Canadians, not just your bigoted friends and fundraisers. Shame!
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/ottawasteph ottawasteph

Divers-Cité is for everyone, not just gays and lesbians. Also the second biggest moneymaker for Montreal after the Canadian Grand Prix, which we lost under the current regime. Stevie, a Prime Minister works for all Canadians, not just their bigoted friends and fundraisers. Shame!

André

Since when!
http://intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

But Stevie has been funding this event for three years now. (Ssssh! Don't tell the base). It's just that Tony denied their request for additional so they could hire more performers and spend more on advertising.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

But Stevie has been funding this event for three years now. (Ssssh! Don't tell the base). It's just that Tony denied their request for additional funding so they could hire more performers and spend more on advertising.
scf

Loss of the grand prix had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the federal government.
http://intensedebate.com/people/JustinWordswrth JustinWordswrth

If it truly is a "moneymaker", why, oh why, does it need funding?!

http://intensedebate.com/people/Thwim Thwim

Money maker for Montreal and region. IE, it attracts tourists who spend their money around the area while they're there. That's not saying that the festival itself makes money, of course. Really, this is very basic stuff when it comes to tourism, I'm surprised your knowledge is so lacking.

http://intensedebate.com/people/JustinWordswrth JustinWordswrth

Oh I see, it's a moneymaker for people other than those who pay for it. Sounds fair.

http://intensedebate.com/people/WDM WDM

..and Brad Trost sleeps like a baby tonight. In all seriousness, do we know when the request was denied? Could the "NO" stamp have been put on this one a month ago and the group only found out now?
rdmason

Here's to our discriminating MPs!
Nick

I don't mind refusing funding to some random, local non-event–certainly we should be prudent with our money. But Divers-Cité is a pretty big tourist event for Montreal, and it brings in a fair share of Americans and others. Don't send a cheque to Fierté Rimouski, fine, but this doesn't make sense even according to the Harper government's rationale.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/PhilCP PhilCP

This could be very, very bad for the federal Conservatives. Or, just as likely, this could be just another non-issue. How to tell the difference….

For me, some context would be very helpful, and/or some relevant background information. I suppose that this is only a blog entry, and traditionally they do not always come complete with a wealth of relevant information, but even the linked Globe story was skimpy with details. Perhaps I expect too much.

http://intensedebate.com/people/JustinWordswrth JustinWordswrth

Tell me about it. If the Conservatives lose the gay vote, what will they be left with?

http://intensedebate.com/people/JustinWordswrth JustinWordswrth

Are there any "major arts festivals" that aren't geared towards gays and lesbians?

http://intensedebate.com/people/Silly_Walks Silly_Walks

I see you're not so Wilde about the gays.

http://intensedebate.com/people/JustinWordswrth JustinWordswrth

Funny.

Ms Manners

Feeling a little homophobic, are we?

http://intensedebate.com/people/JustinWordswrth JustinWordswrth

Just because I think that arts festivals appeal more to gays does not mean that I am "homophobic", though it might mean that I have a few more stereotypes than just my Sony.

As Silly_Walks – which I also think are quite gay – alluded to above, I obviously have some veneration for Oscar Wilde, which would seem unlikely if I really feared gay people.