QUÉBEC, Quebec, August 12, 2009 — On behalf of the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, the Honourable Josée Verner , Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister for La Francophonie and Minister responsible for the Region of Québec, today announced the Government of Canada's investment of close to $490 000 to support the Québec City International Festival of Military Bands as part of the Marquee Tourism Events Program.
“This is exciting news for all involved in the Québec City International Festival of Military Bands,” said Minister Verner. “The funding from the Marquee Tourism Events Program highlights our government's recognition of the real impact this festival has on the visitor economy.”
“The financial support from the Government of Canada will permit the Québec City International Festival of Military Bands to improve its programming with the objective of increasing its economic impact and the tourist traffic at the event,” said Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Yvan Lachance, Chairman and Executive Officer of the Festival. “This support allowed us to add a day of programming, invite famous military ensembles, increase the promotion of the event and improve the artistic content of the Military Tattoo.”
The Québec City International Festival of Military Bands has also received funding from other federal government departments, including the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec. Minister Verner announced $73 000 from the Department of Canadian Heritage and $270 000 from the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec. This funding will help increase the domestic and international exposure of the festival. In total, today's funding announcements invest more than $830 000 into arts, culture and tourism in Quebec.
“Québec enjoys an enviable international reputation, and this festival, the only one of its kind, contributes directly to it. The showcase of the program, the Québec Military Tattoo, is distinguished from similar events taking place in Edinburgh, Scotland, or at Oslo, Norway, by the quality of its production and its originality. The constant increase in economic impact generated by the Festival year after year, as well as the increased number of foreign visitors compared with the first years, are concrete results we can be proud of,” declared the Honourable Denis Lebel , Minister of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec).
“The sounds of the brasses, percussion, drums, bagpipes and other instruments unite again this year to delight festival-goers from Quebec and beyond,” said the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages. “Our government would like to thank the creators of the Festival, which introduces us to the traditions and history of military music, allows public participation and contributes to the local economy.”
Each year, the Québec City International Festival of Military Bands welcomes various international military bands to delight audiences and showcase the fortifications and historic military sites of Old Québec through concerts, parades and more.
Funding from the Marquee Tourism Events Program will allow the Festival to increase its promotional activities and raise its profile among wholesalers and travel agents. It also plans to enhance its program offerings by presenting a new outdoor concert series with fireworks, by adding film music as a new theme, as well as by recruiting world-class bands.
The Government of Canada's Marquee Tourism Events Program is investing $100 million over two years to assist events such as this one across the country. This program will help organizers expand the reach of their events and promote Canada as a must-see tourist destination to visitors from around the globe.
The Marquee Tourism Events Program is one of several tourism-related programs announced in 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 the following:
- $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 or the Canada's Economic Action Plan website.
For further information (media only), please contact:
Laryssa Waler
A/Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
Minister of Industry
613-995-9001
Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502
August 12, 2009
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.
