MONTREAL — While on a recent bridge-building mission to Quebec, Canada’s new heritage minister called arts and culture a ‘need,’ but didn’t say how he would support the sector in the tough economic times ahead.

‘In government we often look at things in terms of wants and needs, when it comes to what to fund. Arts and culture is a need,’ James Moore told Playback Daily after a two-day visit to Quebec, where he met with representatives from the arts community, including film producer Denise Robert, Union des artistes head Raymond Legault and the APFTQ.

‘Arts and culture is a huge part of the Canadian economy, and who we are as a people,’ Moore added.

The consensus among the attendees is that Moore speaks excellent French and cares about the arts. But he also defended the $45-million in cuts his government made to the cultural programs in August and didn’t say how he would replace them. During last fall’s federal election campaign, Quebec’s cultural community executed a highly public campaign against the Conservatives, which many analysts believe cost Harper a majority government.

Robert was part of a brief roundtable discussion with the minister last week. She says Moore’s attitude is better than that of his predecessor, Josée Verner. ‘What’s different now is that there is a dialogue. He came to meet us. I am hopeful that it’s a change. He seems sincere and said the arts are a priority. I would like to believe him. He seems willing to work with the industry.’

‘We established a good channel of communication,’ says Legault, who met with the minister for 30 minutes. ‘He made no promises but he listened. He acknowledged that it is the role of government to support arts and culture. He also came here to see us, relatively rapidly. Which was not the case with Madame Verner.’

Moore also expressed a desire to open up the debate around the government’s controversial proposed law on copyright, Bill C-61, says Legault.

The minister himself was vague on the issue when questioned later: ‘We will be introducing the legislation sometime in 2009. I’m expecting people will debate and argue about it so we can try to get it right. Copyright legislation needs to be amended to protect artists and intellectual property.’

Moore also said that an announcement about the future of the Canadian Television Fund is imminent.