Clement defends decision not to fund gay arts fest

Industry Minister Tony Clement says his government had to consider "regional fairness" when doling out stimulus money to big tourism events – and that's why a gay arts festival in Montreal didn't make the cut.

The organizers of Montreal's Divers-Cite festival, which features gay and lesbian performers from around the world, said they were shocked to find out this week that their application for funding under the new program had been rejected.

They had been told by bureaucrats they had met all the rigorous criteria for their $155,000 bid – a fact not disputed by the government.

Director Suzanne Girard had initially scoffed at suggestions that ideology might be at play in handing out grants, but now says she suspects politics were involved.

After some Conservative caucus members complained last month that Toronto's Pride Week had received $400,000, junior tourism minister Diane Ablonczy lost responsibility for the file. Read the full story at The Star.com

This posting is a follow up to the recent post regarding the demotion of Diane Ablonczy after she gave 400K to Pride Toronto.

Ottawa reviewing 'value' from Pride funds

The federal cabinet minister now responsible for giving Pride Week any new money said the government is reviewing the program to see what "value for money" it gives taxpayers.

Industry Minister Tony Clement told reporters that it's "appropriate" to review the Marquee Tourism Events Program after its first year, a review he suggested had nothing to do with its controversial sponsorship of Toronto's gay pride parade.

"We always want to make sure that we have value for taxpayer money," he told reporters at the G8 summit.

A Conservative MP suggested in an interview published this week that the program was pulled from the junior minister for small business and tourism, Diane Ablonczy, because she provided $400,000 for Pride Week — to the shock and dismay of her Conservative caucus colleagues and the social conservatives that back the party. Full Story at Thestar.com

I guess the million + tourists aren't spending enough for Harper and his fascist pigs in Ottawa.