OMA's Submission Ontario's Budget 2023

Feb 14, 2023

February 14, 2023

OMA Submission to Budget 2023

Make your voices heard!

We need your support! Join us in advocating for the future success of the museum sector by sending a letter to your MPP. The OMA has drafted a pre-written letter that outlines our priority solutions to empower museums to continue to make our communities vibrant and vital places to live, work, visit and invest.
Read below to see how!

The Ontario Museum Association has made recommendations to Ontario's Budget 2023 for our museum sector in a submission to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. OMA's priority solutions ensure opportunity to empower museums to play a critical role in pandemic recovery and continue to be community assets for education, employment, economic development, tourism and social vitality:

A Digital Response Fund (valued at $10 Million over three years)—to strengthen reach and support economic and social benefits across Ontario
Increased support for community museums by $10 Million per year to reach 300 communities across the province—towards stabilizing operations and local recovery and growth
Property Tax Exemption—all museums need a consistent property tax exemption, as educational, non-profit organizations, and community assets
Infrastructure Recovery Fund—$10 Million—to build capacity post-COVID

Read OMA's submission HERE.

Read OMA's Ontario Budget 2023 Submission

Make your voices heard!

Step One: Find the contact information of your MPP HERE
Step Two: Download OMA's pre-written member letter to your MPP HERE. Read through, and fill out the highlighted sections:
- Your museum or Network logo
- Date of the letter
- Name of your MPP
- Your name and role
- Name of Institution/organization
- Riding/community
- How these recommendations could make a difference for your museum
Step Three: Email your letter to your MPP! Use our pre-written email to make it easier (see below).
- cc The Honourable Neil Lumsden, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport (email: minister.lumsden@ontario.ca) and The Honourable Michael Ford, Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism (email: michael.ford@ontario.ca)
- cc the OMA (email: community@museumsontario.ca)

Download the Template Letter

Example Email to MPP:

Dear MPP (Last Name),

I am writing to share a 2023 Budget consultation submission prepared by the Ontario Museum Association in support of Ontario's museum sector. This submission expresses our sector position which stands ready to work with the provincial government as a partner in rebuilding and reconnecting Ontario.

Museums demonstrate consistent economic and social return on investment, enhancing their benefit and value for communities across the province. Our recommendations for the 2023 budget ensure opportunity to empower museums to play a critical role in pandemic recovery and continue to be essential community assets for economic, educational, and social vitality.

Sincerely,
[EMAIL SIGNATURE OR NAME AND MUSEUM LOGO]

Heritage Week

February 20-26, 2023

Each February, Ontarians are invited to participate in Heritage Week. This week provides an excellent opportunity to highlight the vibrancy of the heritage and culture sector in Ontario. Many community objects, collections and stories are preserved and interpreted in museums and heritage buildings. Museums build strong communities, making them vibrant and vital places to live, work, visit & invest!

Join the Ontario Museum Association in celebrating Heritage Week! Get Involved!

Invite your MPP to visit your museum! Tell them why you celebrate heritage and how it enriches your community. Use our letter template HERE. Find your MPP HERE. Be sure to CC the OMA at community@museumsontario.ca (Christopher Shackleton) on your email.
Engage through social media! Share graphics and messaging. Be sure to tag us @MuseumsOntario and use the hashtag #ONHeritageWeek and #MuseumsConnectON. Don’t forget to tag your local MPPs. Find your MPP on Twitter HERE. Find information on sample posts and corresponding graphics in our toolkit.

Learn more in our Ontario's Heritage Week Toolkit HERE

Sample Post - Museum programs and volunteer opportunities combat social isolation & build community wellbeing! February 20-26 is #ONHeritageWeek! Join us in celebrating Ontario’s museums and their community contributions. #MuseumsConnectON

Download the Toolkit

We're Here to Help!

For all questions or inquiries please contact the OMA: community@museumsontario.ca
or call 416-348-8672 / 1-866-662-8672.

As an organization of provincial scope, the Ontario Museum Association recognizes that its members and community live and work on the lands and territories of Indigenous peoples. Toronto, where the OMA offices are located, is the territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, Haudenosaunee and the Huron Wendat. We wish to express our gratitude for the resources we are using and pay respect to the rich and ongoing Indigenous history of what is now Ontario and Canada.

Our Mission

The Ontario Museum Association strengthens capacity among institutions and individuals active in Ontario’s museum sector, facilitates excellence and best practices, and improves the communication and collaboration of its membership. The Association advocates for the important role of Ontario’s museums to society, working with all stakeholders, related sectors and industries, and other professional organizations.

Our mailing address is:

Ontario Museum Association

50 Baldwin Street

Toronto, Ontario M5T 1L4

Canada