Honourable senators, I rise today to speak to Bill S-205, An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate). I stand here today as critic of this bill and ask that this chamber unanimously pass this bill as it did on May 8, 2018.

During our last parliamentary session, Senator Bovey presented her second-reading speech on this bill. She very eloquently articulated the importance of incorporating the universal language of the arts into our parliamentary sphere. The inclusion of the visual arts into government dialogue increases awareness and inclusion; a goal we should all aspire to achieve.

I would also like to thank former Senator Moore, who first introduced this bill in 2016, and I would also like to recognize the efforts of Senators Eggleton, McIntyre and Harder, who have also spoken in previous sessions of Parliament in support of this bill.

For colleagues who are not as familiar with the parliamentary visual artist laureate bill, it simply establishes a position for an officer of the Library of Parliament whose job it is to promote arts in Canada through Parliament. The visual artist laureate will foster knowledge, enjoyment, awareness and development of the arts. The new position will bring contemporary artwork into this institution and provide us with new perspectives while preserving Parliament’s history through the visual arts.

The parliamentary visual artist laureate would be selected from a list of three candidates who embody Canada’s diversity by both the Speaker of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Commons. Candidates will be nominated by the parliamentary librarian, with the guidance of the Director of the National Gallery of Canada, the Commissioner of Official Languages for Canada, the chairperson of the Canada Council for the Arts and the President of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts.

The duties of the visual artist laureate would include the production of artistic creations and the promotion of the arts in Canada through Parliament. Their work would be used to sponsor artistic events, enrich the library’s cultural holdings and undertake related duties at the request of either the Speaker or the parliamentary librarian.

Similar to the Poet Laureate, the visual artist laureate is not a salaried position. Rather, it is a two-year, part-time creative posting that comes with an honourarium and a budget for materials. Nevertheless, inspired candidates are eager to apply, as this opportunity opens the doors for many artists, including new Canadians and citizens of all regions of our country.

The challenging but exciting work of a parliamentary visual artist laureate is to use their unique talent to challenge, question and present social issues. Thus, a visual artist laureate will assist in presenting policy and legislation to Canadians in a different perspective. At the same time, we will gain a greater understanding of various societal aspects, as artists can express their concerns visually and can communicate messages through different mediums, reaching far more people than we ever could alone. Artists often have the capacity to break down complex issues and present them in an accessible manner that transcends linguistic barriers.

The Canadian cultural sector’s contributions to society are numerous. Let’s not forget that nearly 800,000 Canadians were employed in cultural occupations in 2015, which represents 4% of all employment in Canada. Furthermore, cultural establishments represented over 3% of all establishments in the Canadian economy in 2016.

Needless to say, arts and culture greatly contribute to the Canadian economy, generating $58.8 billion in direct gross domestic production in 2017, representing 2.7% of the total GDP of Canada.

Our artists also contribute to helping Canadians live longer and better. A study shows that cultural outings lead to better life expectancy, and people who engage in the arts once or twice a year have a 40% lower risk of dying. Those who engage frequently have a 51% lower risk of dying.

A study even shows that the use of art and music reduces hospital stays. For example, surgery of critical-care patients who participated in guided imagery, or had a picture of a landscape on the wall, had a decreased need for narcotic pain medication and left the hospital earlier.

The arts make us smarter. Students who visit museums have higher test scores, a greater sense of social responsible and an increased appreciation of the arts. There also exists a significant correlation between practising an art form and later cognitive developments in students. Hence, I believe that Canada should recognize the value of visual artists.

By passing this bill, we publicly acknowledge the importance of artists and are better able to promote their talents. Therefore, honourable senators, I humbly ask that you support this bill. Thank you.