TORONTO, Ontario, June 24, 2009 — The Honourable Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism), today announced the Government of Canada's investment of more than $265 000 to support the TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival.
“Every summer, the Toronto Jazz Festival attracts thousands of tourists to the Greater Toronto Area, providing an economic boost to businesses, restaurants and hotels,” said Minister of State Ablonczy. “Our government is proud to support this world-renowned festival that is recognized as one of North America's premier jazz festivals, bringing big jazz artists to our city while showcasing Toronto's local talent to international visitors.”
“We are delighted with the Government of Canada's announcement to help fund this year's TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival. This type of funding is crucial to the success of maintaining such a great event, the largest music festival in Toronto,” stated Patrick Taylor, Executive Producer. “Funding such as this enables the festival to reach out to a more diverse audience and encourages travel and tourism to the city of Toronto as a premier destination.”
This new investment will help the Toronto Jazz Festival to enhance international and domestic marketing and promotional efforts, including the addition of a unique restaurant guide and map. The guide and map are designed to increase tourism spending by featuring over 40 official festival locations where visitors can eat, drink and enjoy great music. Programming enhancements will include adding new artists to the festival's headline concert performances, as well as adding a new venue, the Canon Theatre, in the heart of downtown Toronto.
The Government of Canada, through the Marquee Tourism Events Program, is investing $100 million over two years to assist marquee events across the country. This budget funding will help event organizers expand their reach and promote Canada as a must-see tourist destination to visitors from around the globe. Additional projects are now being reviewed, and successful applicants are expected to be announced at a future date.
Funding is provided through the Marquee Tourism Events Program, which is one of several tourism-related programs in the Government of Canada's Economic Action Plan. These programs provide measures to support Canada's economy, stimulate the growth of tourism and contribute to the development of Canada's visitor economy over the long term. They include:
- $150 million over two years for national parks and historic sites; and
- $40 million over two years to the Canadian Tourism Commission for domestic and international marketing.
For more information, please visit the Marquee Tourism Events Program website. For additional information on Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
For further information (media only), please contact:
Catherine Godbout
Office of the Honourable Diane Ablonczy
Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism)
613-947-5856
613-668-5406 (cell)
Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502
Canada's Economic Action Plan provides $100 million in funding over two years for marquee tourism events that draw a significant number of tourists to Canada.
Marquee tourism events provide significant cultural, sporting and recreational opportunities for Canadians and attract national and international audiences to all parts of the country. Support for these events contributes to Canada's visitor economy by sustaining or increasing the level of tourism and tourism-related spending that benefits hotels, restaurants and a variety of small and medium-sized businesses.
As a result, the Marquee Tourism Events Program (MTEP) will provide funding to support annually recurring, world-class events that generate significant levels of tourism and that aim to attract a significant amount of international media attention to Canada as a tourism destination. Events must be well-established and have a tradition of programming excellence.
The Government of Canada recognizes that tourism is an important driver of economic activity in all regions of Canada and that further expansion of Canada's tourism industry can increase tourism export revenues and provide stimulus to the economy at a critical time.
The program requirements are strict and targeted. All interested applicants for the MTEP must demonstrate how their event will contribute to the objectives of the program to help events deliver enhanced world-class programs and experiences, thereby increasing or sustaining the number of tourists from within and outside Canada. If funding is provided, all applicants will be required to provide annual audited financial statements for the years in which funding is received and the two years following the completion of the proposed project. An independent study examining the economic impact of the funding is also required. Applicants will also be subject to monitoring and independent audits for the funds received.
The economic impact of the tourism industry is significant, representing 2 percent of Canada's gross domestic product, over 662 900 jobs in all regions across the country and $20 billion in government revenues.
Canada's Economic Action Plan is intended to stimulate the economy and invest in our long-term growth. The tourism initiatives in this plan lay out a framework for branding Canada as a tourism destination of choice for domestic and international visitors.
