Governments spent $7.3 billion on Canadian culture

OTTAWA (CP) — Statistics Canada says all three levels of government spent more on culture in 2003-2004 than in the previous year, although the rate of growth slowed for federal spending.

And federal spending actually fell for the film and video industry, book publishing and the performing arts.

The agency says federal, provincial and municipal governments spent a total $7.3 billion on culture in 2003-04, up 4.1 per cent from the previous year.

But that overall growth was slower than the pace of growth of 5.2 per cent and 6.6 per cent in preceding years.

The federal government spent $3.5 billion on culture in 2003-04, up 2.2 per cent from the year before.

Provinces and territories kicked in $2.2 billion, up 4.3 per cent, while municipal spending was just over $2.0 billion, up 7.1 per cent.

Statistics Canada says that in the last five years, only the municipal share of spending on culture has increased.

"On a per capita basis, the federal government spent $111 per person on culture, the provinces and territories $69, and municipalities, $63," the agency says.