Question Period Note: CED support for sporting events

CED support for sporting events

• Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions supports sporting events whose reach extends beyond Quebec’s borders, and that attract Canadian and international tourists.
• This support contributes to making Quebec a leading sports and tourism destination and generates significant benefits for the regions in which the events are held.
• Since November 4, 2015, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions has supported 47 sporting event projects, for authorized assistance of nearly 18 million dollars.
• CED supports the development of the tourism sector—a driver of economic development throughout Quebec that generates significant benefits while promoting inclusive growth in the regions, including in rural and small communities.
• CED's funding for sporting events helps attract tourists from outside Quebec and increase the region’s visibility and reach, with a view to attracting foreign visitors in the long term.

• In Budget 2022, the Government of Canada notes that the tourism sector remains a key economic driver and job creator, especially for young and rural Canadians.
• In accordance with its mandate, CED pays special attention to communities experiencing slow economic growth. For many of these communities, tourism is a major source of economic development and diversification.
• In line with government priorities, CED considers tourism to be a vector of economic activity that generates benefits and jobs in all regions of Quebec—both in urban centres and in communities that are more rural in nature.
• CED supports sporting events that have a global marketing strategy and that help increase the number of tourists from outside Quebec.
• CED’s involvement with sporting events complements that of other federal departments—including Sport Canada—and the Government of Quebec.

Example of a project that received funding

• CED provided $1.36 million in funding over 3 years to assist in the organization, staging, development and international marketing of the 2020, 2021 and 2022 editions of the IRONMAN Mont-Tremblant event. CED’s assistance covers costs associated with marketing outside Quebec, including the broadcasting of races and ads in target markets. Évènements Sportifs Mont Tremblant is a non-profit organization that manages the IRONMAN events: sporting competitions, held on a world-renowned course, that attract athletes from many different countries.

Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions’(CED) funding for sporting events acts as a strategic lever for the long-term economic development of our regions. Sporting events generate significant economic benefits for our regions and help boost tourism by attracting tourists and participants from outside Quebec. Media coverage of these events helps ensure the vibrancy of this key sector of our economy and makes a positive contribution to the branding and visibility of Quebec and Canada.