Nova Scotian musician Robert Campbell says that he is concerned that Atlantic Canadian musicians haven’t shown more interest in a petition calling for financial support from the Government of Canada for both the music industry and music education.
The federal petition is currently circulating in an effort to address the ongoing issues faced by the live music community across the country. Petition e-2995, under the flag of the Canadian Musicians’ Coalition, calls for the creation of a Canadian Musician’s Support Fund, which would provide musicians with an annual living wage and continue the growth and stability of the music industry. Initiated by folk musician Steve Sainas, the petition has since been adopted by Member of Parliament Ron McKinnon of Coquitlam, British Colombia, following an unofficial petition that garnered thousands of signatures around the country.
Having taken up the torch of the Canadian Musicians’ Coalition, Campbell has become a vocal champion for the movement after being connected to it through Sainas, who Campbell had performed with in the past, but say he is disappointed there hasn’t yet been as much traction on this side of the country as had hoped.
“We need as many signatures as possible to support MP Ron McKinnon’s presentation, on behalf of all Canadian musicians, to create an ongoing fund to financially support all professional musicians and live music venues, as well as public music education. Lots of locals have signed it,” says Campbell. “But no one else is actively pushing it.”
The issue may come in part from a simple lack of exposure for the CMC and its petition, but there are also many similar pushes across the country for federal funding during this time of need; some more general in scope and others also aiming to support individual branches of the performing arts.
Even with the handful of opportunities for performing and viewing live music within the Atlantic bubble, these opportunities are still scarce during this time and subject to the tides of the pandemic; provinces outside of the bubble even more so. While the Canadian Recovery Benefit has made itself an option to many out-of-work Canadian artists, the future remains uncertain for a large portion of the live music industry.
Read the body of Petition e-2995 below:
Petition to the Government of Canada
Whereas:
-
- Music is essential to Canadian cultural identity;
- Scientific studies strongly indicate that music is essential to everyone’s well-being;
- Canada’s music industry has suffered major economic crisis due to COVID-19 shutdowns and music performance restrictions;
- Without significant financial relief, the majority of musicians and live music venues are at risk of losing their businesses;
- Our music sector’s survival is important to Canadian economic recovery;
- Exploitative music devaluation, due to unlimited music streaming services and ongoing pandemic restrictions to live music performances, have made it nearly impossible for most professional musicians to earn a living wage from music; and
- The Broadcasting Act has not been adequately updated to ensure fair and transparent remuneration for music artists.
The petition, which has been open for signatures since late November, closes on February 23, 2021, and will be presented by McKinnon before the House of Commons early this Spring.
If you could like to add your signature to Petition e-2995, click here.