Responding to the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance

[Bruce Kirkley]

Dear Tibor:

Clearly we see things differently. But to answer your questions:

 1)     Why do you think that spending money earned by your fellow 
citizens is better employed according to your choices rather than to 
their own? 

Not MY choices, but rather collaboratively and consensually determined
national objectives.

2)     Have you thought that those citizens might spend those extra 
dollars to go to the theatre that became more and more expensive in 
spite of subsidies? (Remember, the original purpose of subsidies was to

allow for more, less wealthy people to attend. Nowadays, a normal
ticket 
price in any legitimate theatre in the country is almost a day's salary

at minimum wage.)

I doubt the vast majority of Canadians will be spending their extra
dollars at the theatre. They'll be needing them to pay for increased
user fees and privatized health care. And I disagree completely that the
original purpose of subsidies was simply to allow for less wealthy
people to attend. Their primary purpose was (and is) to nurture and
develop creativity and culture in this country.

3)     Has it occurred to you that today's children will become 
tomorrow's "individuals making very poor consumer choices"?

Um - yes. Which seems to me to be a powerful reason for setting
directions that will enable them to make wise consumer choices (such as,
for example, supporting the growth of a nation).

4)     Finally, don't you think that the vast majority of parents do 
care for their children and are quite capable of making responsible 
choices regarding their future?

Yes, of course they do. But that's a red herring. And you know it.

Respectfully,
Bruce

Dr. Bruce Kirkley
Theatre Department
University College of the Fraser Valley
45635 Yale Road
Chilliwack BC  V2P 6T4
(604)702-2613 office
(604)792-2615 fax