Frequently Asked Questions
- 1. What is the Marquee Tourism Events Program?
- In Budget 2009, the Government of Canada announced $100 million over two years for marquee tourism events that draw a significant number of tourists. As a result, the Marquee Tourism Events Program (MTEP) has been established to provide significant economic stimulus in the short-term and, in the longer-term, opportunities for strengthening the competitiveness and growth of Canada's visitor economy.
- 2. How long will the Program run?
- In April 2010, the MTEP entered its second and final year of its two-year mandate. All supported activities must be completed by March 31, 2011.
- 3. Will there be additional calls for submissions?
- This is the second and final year of the Program, therefore there will be no additional calls for submissions.
- 4. What types of events are eligible for funding under the Program?
- Project-based funding under the MTEP is designed to help existing annual recurring tourism events that are well established and have a long-standing tradition of programming and management excellence. The events must generate significant levels of tourism.
- 5. Could you explain the eligible costs for funding under the Program?
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- A. Capital
- Expenses related to acquiring, constructing or renovating a fixed asset (e.g. a permanent stage). Capital costs include improvements or additions that are amortized over a period of time.
- B. Equipment
- Expenses related to the rental or the purchase of equipment.
- C. Marketing and promotion
- Expenses related to marketing and promotional activities such as media buys, development and distribution of promotional materials, and website enhancements.
- D. Audit and reporting expenses
- Expenses related to the incremental costs associated with the preparation of audited financial statements and the cost associated with the preparation of an economic impact study for the tourism event.
- E. Product development
- Expenses related to the development of new activities, such as a new sub-theme or an extension of the tourism event.
- F. Programming
- Expenses related to program improvement or program development such as costs for artists, musicians, performers, celebrities, special guests and speakers, including travel and accommodation and entertainment agencies.
- G. Other costs
- Other costs deemed reasonable to complete a proposed project that are beyond the normal operating costs of the applying organisation and meet the objectives of the Program.
- 6. Are consumer shows eligible under the Program?
- A consumer show is an event at which participants display products and services at exhibits, displays, booths, etc., for the principal purpose of their marketing and sale. The primary activity of attendees is viewing the products and services presented for the purpose of making a purchase immediately or in the future. Ancillary activities may include demonstrations, lessons, meetings, etc. These events focus primarily on business-to-consumer/business relationships.
Although consumer shows may include eligible expenses and activities, they are considered ineligible on the grounds they are intended primarily as a means to display products and services for sale, and any programming at these events is secondary to the display of goods for sale.
- 7. What do you mean by "open to the public"?
- The tourism event must be "open" to all persons. Access to the event cannot be limited to members of a particular ethnic, religious, linguistic or racial sub-group of Canadian society, nor to members of any particular club, organisation or other association.
- 8. Who is eligible to apply to the Marquee Tourism Events Program?
- Eligible recipients include the following legal entities:
- non-profit organisations duly incorporated under Canadian laws;
- for-profit organisations duly incorporated under Canadian laws;
- a First Nation government, including a Band or Tribal council or its agent (including its wholly owned corporation) on the condition that the First Nation has indicated support for the project and for the legally designated representative to seek funding through a formal Band or Tribal Council resolution, or other documentation for Self-governing First Nations.
- 9. Do government agencies, provinces or municipalities qualify?
- Individuals and other levels of government are NOT eligible for funding. The Program also does not support other levels of government by funding improvements to government-owned assets or infrastructure.
- 10. Do I have to submit audited annual financial statements?
- Applicants are required to submit annual financial statements for the past 4 years for the purpose of evaluating their financial health. At the very least, the annual financial statements that include the most recent iteration of the tourism event must be audited. For those situations where the tourism event forms only a portion the organisation's overall activities, and separate schedules are not available for the tourism event, a separate statement of revenues and expenses for the tourism event must be provided along with written confirmation from the organisation's auditor as to the accuracy of the statement.
If an organisation is successful in receiving funding under the MTEP, audited annual financial statements will be required for the year in which the funding is received and for the two years after the end of the proposed project.
- 11. Are the audited annual financial statements required for the entire event or for each project?
- Applicants are required to submit audited financial statements that capture the entire tourism event.
- 12. Programming costs, specifically for artists' fees, cannot exceed 50% of an applicant's funding proposal. Is this amount calculated based on the project proposal or the funding provided by the MTEP for the tourism event?
- Artists' fees cannot exceed 50% of the funding provided by the MTEP for that tourism event.
- 13. If the number of visitors is not attained, can this be offset by the percentage of tourists? For example, could a tourism event with attendance of 30,000 people, of whom 75% are tourists, be eligible?
- All applicants must meet all the minimum criteria for eligibility under the MTEP.
- 14. The eligibility criterion requires that the event /organisation has been in existence for 3 years. Three years from what date?
- Organisations are required to have been in existence for at least three years as of the start of the funded event and the funded event will have to be at least the third recurring iteration of the event. In all cases, the organisation to be funded must be incorporated as of the date of application.
- 15. What information must be provided in the economic impact study that your Program requires after the tourism event?
- At a minimum, the economic impact study for the tourism event must include analysis of the direct and indirect benefits within the city/town and region, and must include a number of other factors which will be detailed in the contribution agreements of successful applicants. The economic impact study must be undertaken by a qualified independent third party. Consult our website at www.ic.gc.ca/tourism for additional details on reporting requirements.
- 16. What is the government doing to help smaller marquee events that do not meet these criteria?
- The MTEP is not intended to assist smaller events. There are other federally funded programs in place to provide assistance to these types of events.
For example, the Department of Canadian Heritage offers support through Arts Presentation Canada and Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage programs. Funding for tourism events may also be available from the Atlantic Canada Opportunity Agency (Innovative Communities Fund), Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions and FedNor (Northern Ontario Development Program).
- 17. Who will make the final decisions on the applications?
- The Minister of Industry is responsible for the final decisions on applications received.