CANMORE – The role of arts and culture in the Bow Valley is undeniable.

The communities and residents of the region are notable supporters of the arts, with dozens of galleries, museums and arts centres.

Places such as Canmore’s artsPlace and Banff’s Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies transcend being a place to experience artistic and cultural happenings in the valley, but are a place that can bring community together.

In speaking at an April 18 candidate forum in Canmore, Yellowhead riding MP hopefuls gave information on their stances on the role of arts and culture.

Michael Fark, the Liberal Party’s candidate for the region, said arts and culture were a “fundamental Canadian value.”

He noted there was a “very clear economic argument to be made for investment in the arts,” with it returning more to the economy than it actually costs government.

Fark, a former Town of Canmore general manager of municipal infrastructure and director of recovery in Jasper, said it was important to remember that the role of government is to provide services and not be a business.

“It’s a service that provides what we as Canadians value,” he said.

He added with more than 80 per cent of media in Canada being foreign-owned, the Liberal Party has committed to maintaining and reinforcing the CBC with an extra $150 million in annual funding, develop a governance plan to improve CBC’s accountability and assist the organization in strengthening local news and growing Canadian identity.

In addition, the Liberal platform has committed to increasing funding to organizations such as Canada Council for the Arts, Telefilm, Canada Media Fund and the National Film Board since they have an economic and cultural importance in the country.

“These types of cultural programs are more than just entertainment; they speak to who we are, they bring us together and they’re what we rely on when we face some of the concerns that we are experiencing, for example, from our neighbours to the south,” he said.

Avni Soma, the NDP’s candidate, said “arts and culture are integral to life” and growing up in Calgary the arts played a significant role in offering a support network as a child of immigrants.

The longtime Canmore resident pointed to the important role artsPlace has in the Canmore community through its programming and events.

“What that support network and what that culture has provided me in growing up in a culture where I’m not the dominant culture was wonderful,” she said of arts when she was growing up in Calgary. “That was the only way I was able to have a great support network.”

Conservative Party candidate William Stevenson said he couldn’t commit to more spending in the arts, particularly due to Canada’s deficit, but understood its importance in Canadian culture.

He said the “arts are definitely a part of what we are as a society and it will definitely be a consideration as to what the government gives support.”

The Conservative Party platform stated it would maintain all funding for Quebec and Francophone culture as well as support Indigenous languages and culture, but gave no specific details on the latter. Pierre Poilievre has also consistently said for several years he will defund the CBC if elected as prime minister. However, the platform states English-language CBC will be defunded, with its funding coming from ad revenue, donations and sponsorships, but Radio-Canada and its French-language services will be maintained

Vicky Bayford, the People’s Party of Canada’s candidate in Yellowhead, said the federal government should support arts since it was important “those are things that need to be preserved.”

However, she said it was key to find out what level of government is involved in what and what was important to communities.

She said it was crucial for communities to come together to support arts as well as philanthropy having a role, but for tougher discussions to be had about Canada’s deficit.

“Canada as a whole [needs to pull] in the belt buckle,” Bayford said. “We can’t just keep printing money. … I think we have to be very thoughtful about actual public funding of these programs, but I know there’s community support for many many programs.”

The federal election is April 28.