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Ms. Chow said she wants Toronto to hire a music commissioner and establish a city music office similar to the city’s existing film office, which she says would cost $500,000 a year. She said she would generate the necessary funds for the office by indexing the city’s billboard tax, which was put in place in 2013 to redirect money from billboard advertisers to the city’s arts sector.

The tax has been frozen since inception, generating more than $10-million a year for the city.

Rival candidate John Tory also endorsed the music office idea in May. He said the office would help reduce red tape associated with music festivals and live events for issues such as attaining business licences and adhering to the city’s postering bylaw.

He would also work with those who work in live music venues to attract more music tourists to the city and to expand Toronto’s outdoor Festival Schedule.

Ms. Chow said she would raise arts funding to $25 per capita per year if elected, which is on par with a recommendation in the city’s Creative Capital Gains report, adopted by council in 2011.

Toronto spends $22.25 per capita on the arts, a far cry from Montreal’s $55 per capita arts funding, Ms. Chow noted in her strategy.

“Our economy is built on many pillars, and the creative industries are one of the most important,” she said. “It’s time we recognized the sector’s importance to our economy and quality of life, and acted on the decent plan we have, but which Rob Ford has failed to do.”

Ms. Chow hopes the focus on music would mirror the success of Toronto’s film industry.

“We have a film office with a clear mandate to promote screen-based entertainment here at home,” said Ms. Chow. “And look what’s happened. We’ve got a reputation as one of the world’s most film-friendly cities, we’ve built one of the premier film festivals and are home to some of the world’s best creators, artists, studios, digital effects and writers. We should build on a sector this important and successful, and the city can help by being a good partner and strong advocate.”

National Post