T 800.663.1714 | F 800.663.1714 | PO Box 21053 | Brandon, MB | R7B 3W8 | www.canadian-fairs.ca | info@canadian-fairs.ca
Monday, June 8, 2020 The Honourable Bill Morneau Minister of Finance Department of Finance Canada Parliament Buildings Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 The Honourable Maryam Monsef Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development Infrastructure Canada Parliament Buildings Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 The Honourable Steven Guilbeault Minister of Canadian Heritage Department of Canadian Heritage Parliament Buildings Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 The Honourable Mélanie Joly Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada Parliament Buildings Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Parliament Buildings Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 Dear Ministers, Thank you for your continued efforts to support Canadian citizens through the global pandemic of COVID-19. The actions taken have supported many businesses and individuals to weather this crisis. However, as a national organization that supports fairs, exhibitions and agricultures societies, the Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions (CAFE), recognizes that there is a clear gap in funding for these groups across Canada. There are 743 non-profit, volunteer-run and seasonal organizations that support the rural communities they live in. Combined, we see an estimated 35 million visitors every year and provide $2.9 billion in economic impact. Unfortunately, our industry has been ineligible for most of the measures announced by the government to date. The wage subsidy does not help our volunteer-run members. The Regional Relief and Recovery Fund specifically excludes non-profits in some areas, and where they are allowed, it is a loan program similar to the national program. Unfortunately, as non-profits, it is incredibly difficult to generate the profit required to repay the loan within the timeframe required. By nature, we operate with little to no profit. We have spoken with various departments about our concerns, including Canadian Heritage, Economic Development and Official Languages (Tourism), Rural Economic Development and Agriculture and Agri-Food. Each has told us we should speak to another department, who then directs us to another and therefore progress has been incredibly limited. For example, recently a Canadian Heritage representative told CAFE to reach out to the tourism department, when a representative from Agriculture and Agri-food suggested we should speak to Canadian Heritage. Many of our organizations are older than Canada itself, pre-dating confederation, and yet we have been told
that we do not fit into Canadian Heritage’s definition of “heritage” despite the fact that we are living heritage
organizations. We were founded in agriculture and still hold our roots close but have grown to be so much more. Many organizations now host fundraisers to support the community, agricultural fairs, midways, rodeos and festivals To reiterate:
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As non-profit organizations, the current federal programs are not available to us
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With more than 40,000 volunteers/year running our organizations, wage subsidies generally do not help
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Our organizations rely on funding from May to October by running events that consists of large gatherings to carry us through to the next spring. As a result of the cancellation of the majority of our
T 800.663.1714 | F 800.663.1714 | PO Box 21053 | Brandon, MB | R7B 3W8 | www.canadian-fairs.ca | info@canadian-fairs.ca
events due to restrictions on mass gatherings, we do not have the funds to remain solvent through to May 2021.
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Our organizations are living heritage and tourism organizations that are critical supports for local and rural economies
Therefore, we are calling on the federal government to provide $49 million to support the continuity of 733 fairs, exhibitions and agricultural societies to May 2021. In addition, we are requesting $25 million for the top 10 largest exhibitions in Canada who, because of their size, require additional support. Fundamentally, this funding is to support the continuity of non-profit organizations in the domestic tourism sector.
This funding will be put towards organizational solvency and will cover costs including insurance, utilities, building maintenance, honorariums, etc. CAFE proposes a focused program whereby specific expenses are deemed eligible and pro-rated based on the amounts spent in 2018. Verification systems could be set up by either the relevant federal department(s) or CAFE. While we fully appreciate and support the measures being put in place to protect the health and safety of Canadians, it is important to understand as large gatherings are cancelled, several of these century-old non-profit organizations that are already facing significant challenges, will be forced to close their doors. This will hurt rural economies, civic engagement, community development and community engagement in Canada. As well fairs, exhibitions and agricultural societies are leaders in agricultural education and are striving to be leaders to build public trust in agriculture. The harsh reality is the impact of COVID-19 puts the viability of these organizations at risk. CAFE would be pleased to discuss our request further. We have attached a backgrounder with more information. Please contact Christina Franc, Executive Director, to arrange a meeting at christina@canadian-fairs.ca or 800-663-1714 Ext. 700. Sincerely, Amanda Frigon President Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions Enclosure: CAFE Backgrounder CC: Senator Rob Black Francis Drouin, Member of Parliament Eric Duncan, Member of Parliament William Amos, Member of Parliament