Local festival organizers want federal help, as security costs continue to skyrocket

By Mike Vlasveld

At local festivals like the RBC Bluesfest, Montebello Rockfest, the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival and the Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival, public safety is becoming a greater concern for organizers and it's costing them big money.

Festivals and Major Events (FAME) Executive Director Martin Roy told 1310 NEWS' The Rick Gibbons Show, security costs have increased 60% over the last five years.

Listen to the full conversation:

He knows that a federally-funded security program exists for events hosted by at-risk communities, and he is wondering if festivals and events can get in on that.

As many large festivals face new security challenges each year, Roy said he would want the feds to cover the cost of things like metal detectors, cameras and security drones.

Roy explained that sometimes municipalities do help cover part of security costs for major events, but often times it is split between organizers and a city.

In Quebec, there is a provincial program which recognizes the economic impact of events, and provides grants in certain cases. Roy thinks that could be one way the federal government could provide financial assistance to keep large festivals sustainable.

He suggested it could also separate for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, when deciding which festivals might receieve funding and which might not.

Last May, FAME studied 17 of its events in Gatineau area. Roy said Canada got $20-million in taxes out of $9-million dollars of investment in those events. He figures it could invest more and get even more out of them.

There are 47 events under the FAME umbrella across Canada.

Roy would like to see new legislation tabled in the 2019 federal budget.

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