Canadian Heritage

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - April 24, 2009) - The Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, today announced that the Government will match donations made by individuals, companies, and community groups to 12 arts organizations in Montreal and the surrounding area.

"These organizations have a loyal following here in the Montreal region," said Minister Moore. "Our Government is matching that local support to encourage further donations and ensure that these organizations continue to enrich our lives for many years to come."

"This support is in addition to our Government's many efforts to ensure the long-term growth of this country's arts sectors, including our investments in cultural infrastructure, major festivals, and artist training," added Minister Moore.

The contributions announced total $4,222,861. This amount is in addition to those provided by private donors to the organizations' endowment funds.

The funding has been provided through the Endowment Incentives component of the Canadian Arts and Heritage Sustainability Program. This year, the Government of Canada is providing 72 cents for every dollar donated by the private sector. Since 2006, this program has provided more than $44 million to various endowment funds, while the private sector has provided $72 million, for a total of more than $116 million.

This initiative complements other measures taken by our Government to encourage private-sector participation in arts funding, such as the tax exemptions on capital gains for donations of publicly traded securities to registered charities announced in the 2006 and 2007 budgets.

The Canadian Arts and Heritage Sustainability Program aims to encourage modern management and greater financial stability in arts and heritage organizations. The Program's Endowment Incentives component provides funding to match donations from the private sector.

For more information about this program, visit www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/pcapc-cahsp/103-eng.cfm.

BACKGROUNDER

The following organizations are recipients of the funding announced today, provided through the Endowment Incentives component of the Canadian Arts and Heritage Sustainability Program: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/a1.pdf