Question Period Note: Privatization of Snowflake Kingdom (Winterlude)

The Snowflake Kingdom at Jacques-Cartier Park in Gatineau is co-produced (50/50) by the City of Gatineau and Canadian Heritage. In 2019, the City of Gatineau commissioned an external study (Raymond Chabot Grant Thorton) to evaluate the relevance of reviewing its business model. The firm's report confirms that there is no gain in efficiency and suggests continuing with the model in place. It also recommended that the Ville de Gatineau take a larger role in the partnership with Canadian Heritage.

• Canadian Heritage and the City of Gatineau have been co-producing the Snowflake Kingdom at Jacques Cartier Park in Gatineau since 2011.
• Our government is proud of its co-production agreement with the City of Gatineau. This partnership enables hundreds of thousands of families to enjoy the pleasures of the Canadian winter.

• Winterlude is a major event organized by Canadian Heritage on multiple sites in the National Capital Region.
• More than 40 programming partners offer programming as part of the event, and more than 600,000 visitors participate in the various activities of Winterlude.
• The Snowflake Kingdom is a family oriented site co-produced by the City of Gatineau and Canadian Heritage where snow structures and giant slides are built.
• In 2019, the City of Gatineau commissioned Raymond Chabot Grant Thorton to evaluate its business model for the Snowflake Kingdom.
• The consultants' report concludes that the privatization of the production of the Snowflake Kingdom by the City of Gatineau has no efficiency gain and that the model in place meets expectations. It also recommended that the Ville de Gatineau take a larger role in the partnership with Canadian Heritage.
• Winterlude will be held from January 31 to February 17, 2020.
• Programming of the Snowflake Kingdom will be announced on December 11, 2019, at a Winterlude programming media event.

None