I'm occasionally happily surprised by the New Conservatives

[Velvet]

How will Hux spin this one?

Federal government ready to help fund summer festivals

Canada's major festivals can breathe a sigh of relief.

The federal government has confirmed it will spend $100 million over the next two years to give marquee events a boost during these tough economic times.

The news was announced Monday by Conservative Senator Andrée Champagne in Montreal and Diane Ablonczy, minister of state for small business, in Edmonton.

The government will allocate $50 million in each of the next two years for events that draw tourists, Ablonczy said.

"To ensure that our icon events, our marquee events, remain highly competitive … create jobs and spinoff opportunities for other parts of the industry — restaurants, hotels, a variety of small businesses — and we want also to raise the level of excitement about Canada as a preferred destination, " she said.

Festivals such as Edmonton's Fringe Festival can get up to $3 million or 20 per cent of their annual budget each year, Ablonczy said.

There is a special envelope for Canada's largest festivals, which draw more than 250,000 people.

These include events such as the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the Just for Laughs Festival and the Festival d'été in Quebec City.

Ottawa's Tulip Festival, the Calgary Stampede, Toronto events such as Luminato, the Toronto International Film Festival and Caribana and the Shaw and Stratford Festivals, both in Ontario, could also be eligible.

Smaller festivals that draw upwards of 50,000 visitors can apply for up to $1 million.

Ablonczy said tourism is an under-appreciated economic driver that employs about 700,000 Canadians.

The Conservative government believes money invested in tourism will help maintain the current number of visits to Canada in the economic downturn and then build them up as the economy improves, she said.

Ablonczy said the money will be given out starting next month.

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2009/04/06/festival-funds.html

[ollie]

[NewRider]

Harper looks like someone dosed him at a 'roo in that pic!

[bagochips]

Everybody loves a deficit!

[Freak By Night]

Ablonczy went on to say: "If your festival includes a screening of the movie 'Young People Fucking' or an appearance by the band 'Holy Fuck', you can forget about any government funding."

[Hux]

How will Hux spin this one?

Well, these guys are capable of getting it right now and again, although when they do it's like someone kicking you in the nuts then blowing you a kiss as you collapse to the ground.

Oh, and the Liberals actually invited this program a lonnnng time ago, you may recall it, it was called the "Sponsorship Program"...