The Great Culture Debate | Many ideas, many millions

It was not a debate. Rather an ultra-wise exchange (a new trend in the electoral campaign) between the four main candidates responsible for culture in their respective parties. We were far from the sparks and spades of the similar exercise that took place in September 2018 and which I had attended.

Organized by the Network of Regional Cultural Councils of Quebec, in partnership with the Carmelle and Rémi-Marcoux Arts Management Chair of HEC Montreal, this “meeting” brought together Thursday evening, in Montreal, Frantz Benjamin, of the Liberal Party of Quebec, Ruba Ghazal, from Quebec solidaire, Pierre Nantel, from the Parti Quebecois, and Nathalie Roy, from the Coalition avenir Quebec.

Note that the Conservative Party of Quebec declined this invitation which offered no opportunity to slip on a banana peel. On the contrary, the candidates had the opportunity to peel the fruit in advance. But hey, no doubt the PCQ had in mind the rather average performance of Claire Samson, then a candidate for the CAQ, during the debate four years ago.

Let’s settle the question of the caliber of the four candidates right away. If Nathalie Roy, who occupied the chair of Minister of Culture until the start of the elections, seemed more at ease than her colleagues, we cannot say that they displayed weaknesses. We were treated to solid thoughts, some good ideas and an affable tone.

There was obviously a question of the Status of the Artist Actthe shortage of labor in the cultural milieu, means to stimulate the cultural participation of the public or those which would serve to anchor the place of culture in the lives of young people.

But the subject which has aroused a semblance of agitation is the famous Blue Spaces project, described by Pierre Nantel as “flying saucers”. Let us remind those for whom this idea of ​​the Legault government would be less familiar that it is based on a network of places whose mandate is to highlight the cultural and heritage heritage of the major regions of Quebec.

“In itself it’s very beautiful, but in truth, the museum environment is suffering,” said the PQ candidate, questioning the relevance of the concept. For his part, Ruba Ghazal is worried about a certain “weakening” of regional museums.

Nathalie Roy defended the Blue Spaces by repeating that they would be “complementary”. She insisted, and with good reason, that they would revive heritage places doomed to oblivion or, worse, to the shovels of voracious promoters.

On this subject, the fate of certain heritage buildings was discussed (the shameful demolition of the Domaine-de-l’Estérel and the sale of the Maison Chevalier were mentioned). Some candidates, including Ruba Ghazal and Pierre Nantel, want a serious turn of the screw. The too great power of the municipalities which have a right of life or death over these buildings must be questioned, according to them.

Frantz Benjamin arrived with a concrete proposal, namely to offer a tax holiday for ten years to owners who acquire a heritage building in need of renovation. Not stupid. It is still necessary to know what they will do with the buildings.

During this meeting, which took place in the Banque National auditorium of HEC Montréal and which was moderated by Sylvain Massé, chairman of the board of directors of Culture Montérégie, it was striking to see how the sums of money swirled around. Nathalie Roy, who obviously had a record to defend, couldn’t resist presenting her ideas without tossing around an impressive number of millions as if these were a guarantee of success.

The burst questions at the end of the exchange could hardly miss their target. Do you want to support reading for young people? Um yes ! Want to defend living heritage? Um yes ! Do you want to protect cultural leisure? Um yes ! Do you want to offer assistance to Aboriginal artists? Um yes !

I remember from this evening the efforts that must be made to make Quebec culture, its bases and its history known to the younger generation. We face a terrible chasm right now. The digital world throws this reality back in our face every day.

How do you expect young people aged 17 or 21 to want to go and applaud a Quebec artist of their generation at Club Soda when they know nothing of Claude Léveillée, Clémence DesRochers, Robert Charlebois or Diane Dufresne? You will tell me: where is the link between these pioneers and emerging artists? Everything is here ! There is pride and a feeling of belonging, which is the business of all Quebecers today.

At the end of the meeting, Frantz Benjamin quoted Gérald Godin, who, in Montreal Tangowrote: “Seven-thirty in the morning Montreal metro / it’s full of immigrants / it gets up early / that world”.

This was the most authentic moment of this event, because this deputy-poet had just put his finger on something. “You are more than an amalgam! added Benjamin, addressing those who hold the future of our culture in their hands.

That’s when I felt we were starting to talk about culture.