Former Promise Keepers spokesperson Peter Fassbender is B.C.'s new czar of arts

    1 of 1 2 of 1

      The last time the B.C. Liberal government appointed an ardent Christian as arts minister, it resulted in plenty of colourful stories in the media.

      As minister of tourism, culture, and the arts in the Gordon Campbell-led government, Kevin Krueger once described the Alliance for Arts and Culture's lobbying tactics as "extortion". The organization represents the most prestigious arts organizations in the province.

      Krueger also drew a comparison between one of its presentations to a "junkie waving a needle".

      On another occasion, Krueger quoted scripture from the Bible in response to questions from NDP MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert about funding cuts to the arts.

      Yesterday, Premier Christy Clark appointed a former advertising executive and devout Christian, Peter Fassbender, as the new minister of community, sport, and cultural development, replacing Quesnel-area MLA Coralee Oakes.

      Fassbender, the former education minister and former mayor of the City of Langley, was a spokesperson in the past for the Promise Keepers, which is a Christian men's organization. Its stated vision is "to see every man become, grow, and live as a disciple of Jesus Christ".

      The organization's seven promises include a commitment to practising "biblical integrity", "strengthening families and marriages through love", and "influencing the world by his fervent love for God while loving his neighbour, seeking justice for the poor and oppressed, and making disciples of Jesus Christ".

      Aound the time that Fassbender was speaking on behalf of the organization in the mid 1990s, an article by writer Ami Neiberger reported that Promise Keepers founder Bill McCartney was a "vocal" supporter of the antiabortion group Operation Rescue.

      "PK has been condemned by feminist organizations for its stance on women, and by homosexual rights groups for its negative comments about gays," Neiberger wrote.

      B.C. Christian News reported in 2007 that Fassbender was a member of the Christian Life Assembly, which had 3,000 to 4,000 worshippers at that time.

      Fassbender's ministry's budget includes nearly $47 million for arts, culture, gaming grants, and sport. In addition, the ministry budget includes $2.5 million in a B.C. arts and culture endowment special account.

      Money from the ministry funds the B.C. Arts Council, which relies on a peer-review process to provide financial support to arts and culture. This year, its projected budget is $24 million, which is significantly more than the $16.8 million that it oversaw in the final year of Gordon Campbell's government in 2010-11.

      The B.C. government appoints the arts council's directors.

      To date, Fassbender has given absolutely no indication that his religious views will have any impact on how the arts will continue to be funded in B.C.

      When Fassbender was education minister, the government came under fire in the legislature for its alleged lack of support for gay-straight alliances in public schools.

      In question period earlier this year, the NDP's Chandra Herbert charged that the B.C. Liberal government failed to follow the example of other provinces that have vigorously supported these groups, noting that they help prevent suicides.

      Fassbender responded in the legislature that the government's ERASE bullying strategy has been successful.

      "We stand on the record that says very clearly that no person in this province should be discriminated against or bullied for any reason," Fassbender said.

      Chandra Herbert fired back by saying a Conservative government in Alberta and a Liberal government in Ontario went much further. He added that the Saskatchewan government is considering cutting funding to schools that don't support gay-straight alliances.

      "Yet here in B.C., which is, I suppose, a leader in failing our students, this government says nothing, does nothing, turns their back on these students crying out for help," the NDP MLA said.

      To that, Fassbender replied: "The heart of the ERASE strategy is very clear, and that is that we support the diversity of all students in the province of British Columbia."

      Comments

      3 Comments

      Beerbelly

      Jul 31, 2015 at 8:06am

      Arts AND transit, and it would appear he hates both. Oooh, how civilized we're becoming.

      There is a difference

      Jul 31, 2015 at 12:11pm

      between the teachings of Christ and the perversions of those teachings by Saint Paul. Fundamentalists don't know that they are following something called "Pauline Christianity" which is extremely (extremely) un-Christian and highly misogynistic. Most of them don't even know this because most of them haven't read the Bible.

      Interesting photo. I think there's some body language premise about people who smile with their mouth but not their eyes. I can't recall. Have to go look that up.

      p lg

      Aug 1, 2015 at 2:40pm

      Minister Factbender's a spend thrift like the others at RedInk. When he was the Mayor of Langley he served as the head of the Mayor's Council for Translink and if you think he's going to clean things up there give your head a shake! He believes its all about perception! Get Real!