November 20, 2019
MONTRÉAL,NOVEMBER20th, 2019 – Festivals and Major Events Canada (FAME) is enthusiastic regarding the recent announcement of the Liberal Party of Canada’s Cabinet. While we are welcoming new faces such as Ministers Steven Guilbeault and Bill Blair to the portfolios of Canadian Heritage and Public Safety, we are also welcoming back Ministers Navdeep Bains and Melanie Joly to their previous – but adjusted – roles at Innovation, Science, and Industry and Economic Development and Official Languages. FAME looks forward to working together with this new team of advocates for culture, tourism, economic growth and public safety and building a better business environment for all festivals and events in Canada.
While tourism no longer directly appears in Minister Joly’s new title, FAME is confident that she will be continuing her great work on the file through her responsibility for the the Regional Economic Development Agencies (RDA), which help to better support the unique regional needs of various festivals and events through programs like the Canadian Experiences Fund (CEF). Given the fact that Canadian festivals and events are significant touristic motors, the RDA’s have a significant role to play in ensuring their continued growth.
According to an economic impact study by KPMG in 2018, 17 events generated $17,3 M in taxes and fees from an invest of $9.7M from the Federal Government. In one fiscal year, this means that these events generated 1.78 times the federal contribution, without considering the effect on provincial/municipal employment, economy and culture.
In its last mandate, the Liberal Government made promising investments in programs that support the festivals and events industry, like the Canadian Experiences Fund (CEF), Canada Arts Presentation Fund (CAPF), and Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage Program (BCAH). However, because these investmentments are set to end in 2020-2021, FAME and its partners in the culture and tourism sectors look forward to working with the new government to renew this funding and ensure ongoing support for our industry.
