The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) called on the City of Calgary today to halt its policy to spend 1% of every capital project on public art in light of record food bank use and the city’s high unemployment rate.

“The city just spent $500,000 on art designed by a New York artist while Calgary’s unemployment rate is the highest in the country,” said CTF Interim Alberta Director Colin Craig. “We can debate whether the city should fund public art during the good times, but now it’s particularly absurd to spend money willy nilly while so many Calgarians are struggling each day.”

Craig noted that Calgary has had the highest unemployment rate in Canada for the past 12 months and food banks continue to struggle with demand.

“Hopefully the councillors who are scoffing at the new art project on Twitter turn their frustration into action,” added Craig. “They should table a motion at September’s council meeting to put an immediate halt to public art spending until the economy improves.”

As a long-term policy, the CTF urged council to look at cities like Miami that have had successful private sector public art projects.