Dear Prime Minister
Dear Prime Minister,
As you take on the responsibility of leading this country into its next chapter, we write to offer our congratulations, our admiration for your commitment to the work ahead — and to offer our collaboration in that work.
Before we begin, let’s start by getting the hard part out of the way - it's not about more money. More money can't solve anything unless we have better ideas of how to deploy it. Whether it's existing monies or new monies, we believe our focus needs to be on how we supercharge Canada to meet the moment.
Not only is our country’s need for a vibrant culture urgent, we need that culture to be of this place. But what does that mean? Canada is comprised of a multiplicity of cultures and traditions. That has always been true of this land. That’s our superpower. At this moment we also know that the cultural needs of this country are changing fast, and that is something we can embrace.
Why do we need supercharging? Because there is an overwhelming sense that we have lost our way. That's why you were elected, because we need new energy and new direction as we prepare for the biggest dogfight of our lives. As Goliath casually threatens our existence, who are we? What do we do? We are proud Canadians not because we believe Canada holds some exceptionalist destiny, but because we understand that fighting to be the best is less important than fighting to be decent.
We know you have your work cut out for you, the economy, housing, national security and sovereignty and something about tariffs (we forget, are those on or off?) But these are small potatoes in comparison to the big spud. People aren't feeling good. This feeling can’t be solved solely with low interest rates and low unemployment. We can’t underestimate the power of purpose, the importance of meaning, the benefits of belonging, and the comforts of home. This is where culture comes in. Maybe not the institutional kind, but the kind that people use every day to feel like they belong in their lives and that their lives belong in this place. Our desired collaboration begins with the co-creation of new ideas. Too often, arguments about culture in Canada are about increasing resources to preserve old ideas. preservation of supply, about keeping what we have, worried that we won’t have anything if we dare let go of something.
Your goal for a stronger Canada has inspired us to think about solutions to our shared challenges:
Restoring Hope and Confidence: Canadians feel increasingly uncertain about their future and disconnected from their communities. Introducing a Cultural Wellbeing Index to track and foster community participation, volunteering, and social trust would strengthen social cohesion and restore confidence in our collective future.
Making a Great Life TM More Affordable: Many Canadians are worried about affordability and feel cut off from enriching cultural and community activities. A universal Canada Culture Pass, providing every citizen, resident and refugee direct funding to access local culture, would ease financial pressures, stimulate local economies, and make life richer and more affordable for everyone.
Empowering Youth and Building National Unity: Our youth face growing challenges, including disconnection from community life and national unity. Establishing an Arts and Culture Corps would offer meaningful engagement, career-building opportunities, and foster stronger national belonging and unity among young Canadians from coast to coast.
Rebuilding and Strengthening Our Communities: Local communities across Canada require renewed investment in cultural spaces and operations to support vibrant community life and economic revival. A dedicated Community Cultural Operation Fund would renew local venues, supporting community vitality, economic resilience, and a renewed sense of local pride and ownership.
Giving Power to the People: Canadians seek greater transparency and control over public spending. Introducing Participatory Culture Budgeting that directly empowers citizens in decisions about local cultural investments, ensuring spending aligns with local needs, enhances civic connection, and rebuilds trust in public institutions.
We are a nation comprised of many nations. In a scarcity mindset this is a liability but with a view to abundance it is an unparalleled strength. Supercharging the nation means shifting from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance. That is the work of culture.
We look forward to discussing these challenges and solutions with you and your team, over dinner or another setting of your choosing. Together, we can strengthen our shared sense of belonging, purpose, and national resilience.
Let's have a conversation.
In the meantime, thank you for working to preserve our freedom to write directly to you.
Owais Lightwala / David Maggs / Sarah Garton Stanley (SGS)
