CALGARY, Alberta - On behalf of the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, 
the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Southern Alberta, today announced the Government of Canada’s investment of more than $300 000 to support the 2009 Grey Cup Championship Game and Festival as part of the Marquee Tourism Events Program.

“This is exciting news for both Calgary and all involved in the 2009 Grey Cup Championship Game and Festival,” said Minister Prentice. “The funding from the Marquee Tourism Events Program highlights our government’s recognition of the real impact this festival will have on Calgary’s economy.”

“The Grey Cup Steering Committee is both delighted and grateful that the Government of Canada has provided our festival with this funding from the Marquee Tourism Events Program,” said Malcolm Kirk, Chairman of the 2009 Grey Cup Festival. “This funding will allow our festival to showcase our great city of Calgary to the rest of Canada and promote the diversity of Alberta’s tourism offerings. We look forward to hosting the best Grey Cup Festival that the Canadian Football League has seen and welcoming Grey Cup fans from across the nation.”

The 2009 Grey Cup Championship Game and Festival is a celebration of Canadian football that will be honouring the best of the Canadian Football League from the 2009 season. The championship game is preceded by a week of festivities hosted by the community that include some of Canada’s most recognizable and up-and-coming musical talents.

Funding from the Marquee Tourism Events Program will allow the Festival to enhance the talent roster and production of the 2009 Grey Cup Scotiabank Gala Concert and festival stages and expand its national and international marketing in order to boost the image of the Festival.

The Government of Canada’s Marquee Tourism Events Program is investing $100 million over two years to assist events such as this one across the country. This program will help organizers expand the reach of their events and promote Canada as a must-see tourist destination to visitors from around the globe.

The Marquee Tourism Events Program is one of several tourism-related programs announced in Canada’s Economic Action Plan. These programs provide measures to support Canada’s economy, stimulate the growth of tourism and contribute to the development of Canada’s visitor economy over the long term. They include the following:

• $150 million over two years for national parks and historic sites; and
  
• $40 million over two years to the Canadian Tourism Commission for domestic and international marketing.

For more information on the Marquee Tourism Events Program, please visit the Canada’s Economic Action Plan website.

For more information, contact:

Lynn Meahan
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
Minister of Industry
613-995-9001

Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502