PACT's Pre-budget Submission for 2025 (August 2025)

August 1, 2025

PACT sent in our submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance's 2025 pre-budget consultations yesterday. Our recommendations continue to focus on allocating no less than 1% of the government's spending towards arts, culture & heritage and investing in job creation and cultural industry growth. 

Read the full submission here.

Introduction

The Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT) is the collective voice of professional Canadian theatres, a leader in the performing arts community, and a devoted advocate of the value of live performance in communities across Canada. We represent over 180 professional English theatre companies, ranging from the largest performing arts organizations in Canada to smaller theatre companies that serve their audiences from coast to coast to coast. Through innovation and transformation our resilient sector is welcoming new and returning audiences in growing numbers.

The recommendations outlined below are not PACT’s alone. We echo those from the sector, across regions and disciplines. The cohesion in the sector reflects the urgency and opportunity of the asks. Canada’s artists, cultural workers, and arts organizations are stepping up and have a clearly defined role in building a culturally sovereign and economically vibrant Canada.

Recommendations

Recommendation 1: That the Government of Canada allocate at least 1% of its overall spending towards arts, culture, and heritage. To achieve as part of 2025-26 fiscal year, the Government should increase its allocation by $330 million:

• $140 million to the Canada Council for the Arts
• $190 million to the Department of Canadian Heritage

Recommendation 2: The Government of Canada implements a labour-based live performing arts tax credit for performing arts organizations, in order to increase capacity, cultural sovereignty, and economic growth in the Canadian live performing arts industry.

To support PACT's ongoing advocacy efforts, PACT is asking its members to consider:

• participating in the Finance Department's pre-budget consultations by completing a short questionnaire or sending in a formal submission. Click here to participate by August 28, 2025.
• using the summer months when Members of Parliament are in their ridings to reach out for a meeting. Click here for more information including an advocacy brief to support these meetings. 

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