<div dir="ltr"><h5 class="gmail-pt-3 gmail-mb-4" style="box-sizing:inherit;margin-top:0px;line-height:1.5;color:rgb(84,88,90);font-family:"Fira Sans",sans-serif;margin-bottom:1.5rem;font-size:1.3rem;padding-top:1rem"><span style="box-sizing:inherit;font-weight:bolder">Every year, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance holds a public consultation on the next federal budget. Canadians can share their thoughts, ideas, and priorities through a variety of participation options.</span></h5><div><span style="box-sizing:inherit"><p class="gmail-mb-3" style="font-weight:400;box-sizing:inherit;margin-top:0px;color:rgb(84,88,90);font-family:"Fira Sans",sans-serif;font-size:18px;margin-bottom:1rem"><span style="box-sizing:inherit">All Canadians are able to share their thoughts, ideas, and priorities. The Committee will review all input received and table a report on these consultations in the House of Commons prior to its adjournment in December 2023.</span></p><p class="gmail-mb-3" style="font-weight:400;box-sizing:inherit;margin-top:0px;color:rgb(84,88,90);font-family:"Fira Sans",sans-serif;font-size:18px;margin-bottom:1rem"><span style="box-sizing:inherit">The BCMA encourages members to make the voice of our sector heard by submitting a written brief. Written submissions are being welcomed until </span><span style="box-sizing:inherit;font-weight:bolder">Friday, August 4, 2023 at 08:59 pm Pacific Daylight Time </span>(11:59 pm Eastern). <span style="box-sizing:inherit">To submit, visit the </span><a href="https://www.ourcommons.ca/Committees/en/FINA/StudyActivity?studyActivityId=12173416" style="box-sizing:inherit;background-color:transparent"><span style="box-sizing:inherit">2024 Pre-Budget Consultations website</span></a><span style="box-sizing:inherit">.</span></p><p class="gmail-mb-3" style="font-weight:400;box-sizing:inherit;margin-top:0px;color:rgb(84,88,90);font-family:"Fira Sans",sans-serif;font-size:18px;margin-bottom:1rem"><span style="box-sizing:inherit">On behalf of our more than 450 members in 180+ communities large and small across British Columbia, we respectfully request the following considerations:</span></p><p class="gmail-mb-3" style="font-weight:400;box-sizing:inherit;margin-top:0px;color:rgb(84,88,90);font-family:"Fira Sans",sans-serif;font-size:18px;margin-bottom:1rem"><span style="box-sizing:inherit"></span></p><ol style="font-weight:400;box-sizing:border-box;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:1rem;color:rgb(84,88,90);font-family:"Fira Sans",sans-serif;font-size:18px"><li style="box-sizing:inherit"><span style="box-sizing:inherit">Modernize the Museums Assistance Program and increase its funding to $50,000,000 by 2028.</span></li><li style="box-sizing:inherit"><span style="box-sizing:inherit">Create a one-time investment of $100,000,000 to fund sustainability upgrades, infrastructure improvements, and climate change mitigation measures for arts, culture, and heritage organizations.</span></li><li style="box-sizing:inherit"><span style="box-sizing:inherit">Renew funding for the Canada Arts and Culture Recovery Program (CACRP) to support arts, culture, and heritage organizations during the prolonged recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.</span></li><li style="box-sizing:inherit"><span style="box-sizing:inherit"><span style="box-sizing:inherit">Fund the implementation of UNDRIP in the cultural heritage sector and Moved to Action report recommendations.</span></span></li></ol><div style=""><font color="#54585a" face="Fira Sans, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">Read the full letter on our <a href="https://museum.bc.ca/bcma-2024-federal-budget-letter/">website</a>.</span></font></div></span></div></div>