Photo: The Canadian Press Canadian Minister of Cultural Heritage Pablo Rodriguez rises during the Question Season, Thursday, March 24, 2022 in Ottawa. Rodriguez has ordered Canadian cultural organizations to suspend activities related to the Putin regime. THE CANADIAN PRESS / Adrian Wyld Pablo Rodriguez is calling on Canadian-funded arts organizations to suspend all cultural activities involving Russians linked to the Putin regime. In response to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, the Minister of Cultural Heritage told groups receiving state grants to cancel tours and co-productions funded by Russian or Belarusian state agencies. The directive could lead to the cancellation of art exhibitions borrowed from Russian galleries, as well as concerts, festivals, theater and ballet with Russian artists, if funded directly or indirectly by the Russian state. Rodriguez says Canadian cultural organizations found to have ties to Russian or Belarussian states will no longer receive funding from Canadian Heritage. Amid fears that unrelated Russian events with Putin could be punished, a spokesman for the department said the directive would not affect ordinary Russians and Belarusians living in Canada, who would still be eligible for government grants. Canadian Heritage is conducting a review to identify activities involving Russia and Belarus.
