Senator Black: The 739 smaller fairs and exhibitions aren’t eligible for the grants you speak of. Can you tell us to where they should be directed so that they, too, can get support?

Hon. Robert Black: My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate. As you may know, the Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions, also known as CAFE, held their Fair Day on the Hill yesterday. I had the pleasure of meeting with their representatives yesterday afternoon to discuss the challenges facing the 743 fairs and exhibitions and their organizations that they represent across Canada. They highlighted that the organization continues to be bounced from department to department at the federal level as they seek a home base for support and services. This is an ongoing issue that I had previously raised with many federal ministers since being appointed in 2018. Every response I received pointed me in a different direction and to a different department.

In July 2021, I wrote again to the Ministers of Heritage, Finance, Rural Economic Development and Agriculture and Agri-Food urging them to work together to determine which department CAFE should be primarily working with. To date, I’ve only received one response from Minister Bibeau.

Honourable colleagues, fairs and exhibitions and the volunteers involved are community builders. The fairs have existed for over a century, and play an integral role in connecting rural, urban and agricultural communities. It’s unthinkable that no federal department will claim the portfolio to help these heritage-billed events that strengthen the economies of countless rural and agriculture communities.

Senator Gold, can you tell me which department CAFE should be working with to ensure these fairs and exhibitions will be around for generations to come?

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question, senator. The government recognizes the importance that fairs and exhibitions have and the contribution they make in communities across the country. I understand the challenges that have been brought about in recent years especially by the pandemic. The government remains committed to ensuring that such fairs, tourism events, cultural and community sectors have the support they need and recover from the impacts they suffered because of the pandemic. That’s why the government launched the Major Festivals and Events Support Initiative to help major Canadian festivals survive and adapt to the pandemic.

I understand that the government — notably Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada — continues to engage with some of the largest fairs and exhibitions through the AgriCompetitiveness and AgriCommunication programs. The government — notably Agriculture and Heritage — is always open to further discussions on how it can improve its services and be of assistance.