Today's letters: Choose a Canadian to lead the NAC Orchestra

Ottawa Citizen

a day ago

Go Canadian on next NACO maestro
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Our beloved 'National' Arts Centre Orchestra, now at yet another fermata in its score, has had only one Canadian-born conductor, Maestro Mario Bernardi, since its inception in 1969. Since then, an Israeli/American, an Italian, a Pole and two Brits have waved their batons and earned many bows and encores.
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It's no surprise that the original squad of players in 1969 included a posse of some wonderfully talented American draft 'avoiders.' It was a safe gamble for those sane American and for some Eastern Europeans, who have in turned enriched the local and national orchestra scene with their performances and teaching.
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They have certainly, through both active help and pointless gatekeeping, made me and many more into a very proud and strong musicians.
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But shouldn't our 'National' Arts Centre Orchestra finally become a celebration of true, natural-born Canadian talent? Begin with a truly Canadian wand waver.
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Thomas Brawn, Orléans
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I agree with the letter-writer who said that the federal budget can't be rushed and should wait until the fall. Budgets reflect the expected revenues and expenditures with a focus on change and planned new initiatives. There is no legislative requirement related to budget timing.
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On the other hand, on May 27, the new president of the Treasury Board tabled the 2025-2026 Main Estimates for Parliament's approval. This is where the detailed expenditure plans are laid out. Normally the tabling has to be done by March 1 for the upcoming fiscal year that starts in April and the timing is a legislative requirement. Fortunately, when Parliament has been prorogued during that time, the authority to approve expenditures, but only those with existing legislative authority, rests with the Crown which, in our case, is the Governor General. It is really a stopgap measure until Parliament returns.
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The Main Estimates for 2025-2026 identify total planned expenditures of $486.9 billion. In addition, one of the summary tables shows additional amounts that were in the 2024 Fall Economic update but, usually for reasons of timing, not in the Main Estimates. The majority, or $60 billion, of these expected additional expenditures relate to two programs that transfer more money to people (Canada Child Benefit and Employment Insurance). The most interesting breakdown of this revised total relates to the total transfers to provinces and people (about $400 billion with the addition of the two items just mentioned), and how much (about $150 billion) is then left for Parliament to approve as salaries, operating costs, capital acquisitions and other requirements for all departments and agencies.