Fall Economic Statement

As the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to reek havoc across the globe, Canada’s music sector has been dramatically impacted. Through the leadership of Erin Benjamin and her team, The Canadian Live Music Association joined the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses consisting of Tourism, Travel, Arts, Hospitality and Festival & Events sectors representatives. The Coalition successfully brought the issues of these combined sectors forward to have a meaningful impact on the Fall Economic Statement.  Below is a note from The Canadian Live Music Association President, Erin Benjamin, outlining the Fall Economic Statement and the supports announced. 

Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland released the federal government’s long-awaited Fall Economic Statement. The essence of the document was centred around support for Canada’s hardest hit businesses.

I am writing today to thank each of you who took a moment to support the Hardest Hit campaign.  Together, we made a significant difference.

We are pleased to share that there were a number of targeted support measures announced that will be of meaningful benefit to the “hardest hit”, including:

• The creation of the Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP) – a new program for the hardest hit businesses.
• Increasing the maximum wage subsidy rate to 75 per cent for the period beginning December 20, 2020 and extending this rate until March 13, 2021.
• Providing a top-up of up to $500 million to Regional Development Agencies and the Community Futures Network of Canada. The government will earmark a minimum of 25 per cent of all the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund’s resources to support local tourism businesses, representing $500 million in program support through June 2021.
• $181.5 million in 2021-22 to the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Canada Council for the Arts to expand their funding programs to support the planning and presentation of COVID-19-safe events and the arts — including both live and digital — and to provide work opportunities in these sectors.*
• Working with industry to prevent the closure of unique and irreplaceable flagship events and festivals across Canada, and to ensure the survival of key, globally-recognized assets in this sector.
• Extending the current subsidy rates of the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy for an additional three periods until March 13, 2021.

Please join us in saying thank you on Twitter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Minister Freeland, Minister Joly, Minister Guilbeault and Minister Ng. We have attached a sample image in English and French that you may use to amplify your post. Please tag the CLMA and #livemusic as well.