Vancouver–West End NDP MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert says he's happy to be reinstated as his party's arts, tourism, and culture, as well as watchdog over the government's handling of the film and TV industry.

"It gives me the chance to do one of the things I love, which is fight for creative folks," Chandra Herbert told the Straight by phone.

He was eager to discuss recent reports by Hill Strategies Research, which showed that B.C. arts organizations often receive less federal and provincial funding than similar groups in other provinces. The documents were released by the Alliance for Arts and Culture.

"What they demonstrate to me is what we've known for a long time, which is that B.C.'s been the worst investor in the arts out of all provinces for a long time," Chandra Herbert said. "That's hurting us."

He added that this has made B.C. arts organizations "more fragile".

One report noted that because peer organizations in other provinces receive a higher percentage of tax dollars, B.C. groups are more reliant on ticket sales, fees, and other earned income.

"We're sending more to Ottawa than we get back in terms of arts investments because the B.C. government doesn't invest much in the arts," the NDP MLA declared. "Often, federal funders want to see that you have strong provincial investments before they'll fund you. And they'll fund you less because you're getting less from the province."

B.C. Liberal budget held line on arts funding

This month's provincial budget maintained the status quo on investments in arts and culture.

According to the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development's spending estimates, B.C.'s arts and culture endowment will remain unchanged at $2.5 million.

Provincial funding for arts and cultural development will stay at $26.1 million. The provincial allocation to the Royal British Columbia Museum was frozen at just below $11.9 million.

The minister overseeing arts funding, Peter Fassbender, is a former advertising and public-relations executive with close ties to the Christian right.

In the 1990s, he was spokesperson for the Promise Keepers, an evangelical men's group.

Chandra Herbert said the City of Vancouver understands the importance of making strategic arts investments, but claimed that the B.C. Liberal government still doesn't get it.

Under Clark's leadership, the B.C. government substantially increased funding for the B.C. Arts Council a few years ago. But that still didn't earn any praise from the NDP critic.

"They had to because [former premier Gordon] Campbell hacked the support in half," Chandra Herbert said. "So yes, they brought it up a little bit above what it was when Campbell attacked the arts council."

The NDP MLA added that gaming grants to the arts have not been fully restored.

He also described the province as "a laggard in terms of the rest of the country for far too long".

"Even a couple of million bucks has such a huge, huge impact, as we saw after the last increase that I argued for," Chandra Herbert said.

NDP critic hopes to promote cultural economy

Chandra Herbert was the B.C. NDP's tourism, arts, and culture critic until former NDP leader Adrian Dix appointed him environment critic after the 2013 election.

In that capacity, Chandra Herbert worked closely with Vancouver-Fairview NDP MLA George Heyman, who oversaw the government's approach to the green economy, technology, TransLink, and film and TV.

But last week, NDP Leader John Horgan reshuffled the critics' roles, leaving Heyman in charge of environment, technology, and the green economy. TransLink was added to Vancouver-Point Grey NDP MLA David Eby's areas of responsibility.

"It's really about a refresh," Chandra Herbert said of the changes. "I wanted a chance to get back out there and work in the cultural community and the tourism sector, which I'd done before and really enjoyed."

He added that he's eager to "make the case for that sort of economy because the only kind of economy we see the government making the case for is a fossil-fuel economy—one wedded to gas".

"I think it's time for a much more vigorous defence for the...many hundreds of thousands of jobs that we get out of the creative sector and we get out of the tourism world," Chandra Herbert said. "When I say creative sector, I also include film and TV."

He pointed out that foreign productions provide good employment, but said there needs to be greater support for B.C.-based film and TV producers.

"We're not getting the amount of Telefilm money and federal money for our film and TV sector as Ontario does," Chandra Herbert stated. "That's been the case for a long, long time. It seems to have gotten worse over the last number of years."

The NDP MLA said he's encouraged by the federal Liberals' promise to double funding for the Canada Council for the Arts

"I hope they fulfill it because we know that will help our economy," he noted. "All you need to do is look at some of the artists whose work is being exported all over the world. We've got incredible creative people. People want to see their work, see their performance, see their films, read their books."

In his opinion, supporting arts and culture becomes especially important when resource-based sectors go into decline.

"What's in our heads just keeps on giving," Chandra Herbert said.