Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty handed out $2.7 million in pre-election grants to several local arts groups yesterday, including a $1 million gift to Luminato, a 10-day arts festival that will take place this June for its second year. But there was no money for institutions like the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Royal Ontario Museum, or the Canadian Opera Company in yesterday's announcement, The Toronto Star reports.
"It's great to have a down payment for Luminato, but there are other outstanding requests from other national institutions in Toronto that are waiting for their cheques," Toronto Councillor Kyle Rae said, noting that the federal government was expected to address some of the $50 million shortfall facing the AGO, ROM, and COC due to recent capital expansions at each of the facilities.
"It's great to have a down payment for Luminato, but there are other outstanding requests from other national institutions in Toronto that are waiting for their cheques," Toronto Councillor Kyle Rae said, noting that the federal government was expected to address some of the $50 million shortfall facing the AGO, ROM, and COC due to recent capital expansions at each of the facilities.
