Question Period Note: COVID-19 and cancellation of major events

The Department of Canadian Heritage organizes a small number of major events such as Canada Day in the Capital, and funds thousands of community, cultural and sporting events through its funding programs. Due to COVID-19, hundreds of funded events have been postponed or cancelled. On Friday April 17, 2020, it was announced that this year’s Canada Day in the Capital event will be re-designed as a virtual event.

• The health and safety of all Canadians is our top priority. Canadian Heritage considers COVID-19 in all of its event planning, and that is why we have decided to celebrate Canada Day virtually this year.
• In terms of events funded by Canadian Heritage, the decision to hold an event remains that of the event planners, and local health authorities.
• The Government of Canada invites all event planners, funded or not by Canadian Heritage, to consider COVID-19 in their planning. The Public Health Agency of Canada has released a tool to help determine public health actions related to a mass gathering.

• The Department of Canadian Heritage organizes a small number of major events such as Canada Day in the Capital, and funds thousands of community, cultural and sporting events through its funding programs.

• Appropriate measures are being taken to inform event planners of the risks that COVID-19 poses to their events.

• On Friday April 17, 2020, it was announced that this year’s Canada Day in the Capital event will be re-designed as a virtual event.

• Event organizers and local public health authorities can refer to the risk and community-based mitigation assessment tools made available by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

• It is the responsibility of event organizers to consult with local public health authorities to determine the best course of action for their event.

• The Government of Canada is working with provinces, territories and international partners, including the World Health Organization, to actively monitor and respond to the ongoing pandemic.

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