What happens if the Giller Prize shuts down?

The executive director of the Giller Prize says that Canada's most prestigious literary award will be forced to shut down if the organization doesn't receive $5 million from the federal government. This comes after the Giller Prize cut ties with its former lead sponsor, Scotiabank, because of its subsidiary's investment in Israeli arms manufacturer, Elbit Systems. 

Today on Commotion, guest host Eli Glasner speaks with Globe and Mail columnist Marsha Lederman about the future of the Giller Prize and the impact on Canadian literature if it closes down.

We've included some highlights below, edited for length and clarity. For the full discussion, listen and follow Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud on your favourite podcast player.

Eli: Why does the Giller Prize matter, in the big picture? We're talking about the future of this, so talk to me about the difference it has made and its impact.

Marsha: The Giller Prize is, I would argue, the most prestigious literary prize in this country. And it's not just about perception. There have been studies that have shown concrete increases in book sales as a result of a Giller nomination, and especially a win. It's marketing gold. And it's not just the prize, there's a book tour, there's a book club, there's a scholarship for young BIPOC [Black, Indigenous, People of Colour] writers. And all of this is important, and it's a celebration — or it was — of Canadian literature, which is a very good thing. So it would be a real loss to the ecosystem, I believe.

Eli: And going back to the pressure campaign, Scotiabank's investments in the Israeli arms manufacturer, that was very successful. This is now just the Giller, not the Scotiabank Giller. But from your perspective, was it worth it, if it means the end of this prize?

Marsha: The easy answer is: even if it's a shame that we lose this prize, it's nothing compared to what's going on in Gaza, which, of course, is true. But was bringing down this prize the right move? Like, is it going to change anything in Gaza? Even if the Scotiabank subsidiary has decreased its investment in Elbit Systems, does that really make a difference? I think probably not. But I also understand authors with strong convictions do what they can with their voice in a horrible situation. They wanted to voice their opposition to this war, fair enough, this is how they chose to do it. But I do think if we lose the Giller, it is a tremendous loss for Canadian culture.

Eli: Do you see a way forward that Ottawa would directly fund this prize?

Marsha: Personally, I do not. The federal government is currently asking for spending cuts, pretty much across the board. Even if $5 million is a drop in the bucket, the optics are not great when you're asking for cuts everywhere — and that will probably include, I presume, the Canada Council for the Arts, which [provides] grants [to] artists and cultural organizations and funds the Governor General's Literary Awards. So I don't see a scenario where the government hands money over to this organization, especially when so many arts organizations are struggling. The Vancouver Art Gallery just cut 30 per cent of its staff in programming. The Regina Folk Festival is closed. The Kingston WritersFest is struggling. I don't know how the federal government gives money to this glitzy prize in light of all that.

You can listen to the full discussion from today's show on CBC Listen or on our podcast, Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud, available wherever you get your podcasts.

Interview with Marsha Lederman produced by Jessica Low.