Government of Canada Supports Montreal's Just For Laughs Festival

MONTREAL, QUEBEC, Jun 01 (MARKET WIRE) --
The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Public Works and Government
Services, today announced the Government of Canada's investment of $3
million to support Montreal's Just For Laughs Festival.

"Our government recognizes how important tourism is to the Canadian
economy," said Minister Paradis. "Montreal's Just For Laughs Festival was
host to more than 2 million visitors in 2008. The $3 million in funding
through the Marquee Tourism Events Program will help contribute to this
event's continued success."

The Marquee Tourism Events Program (MTEP) is a Government of Canada
initiative under Canada's Economic Action Plan designed to provide $100
million in funding over two years for marquee tourism events in support
of the visitor economy. This program will help events that attract a
large number of international visitors to maintain and enhance their
appeal. It will also help events that are established nationally to gain
an international presence.

"This meaningful support, in addition to this recognition, will help Just
For Laughs / Juste pour rire remain the global leader in comedy," said
Gilbert Rozon, Founder, Just For Laughs Festival, and CEO, Just For
Laughs Group. "The Government of Canada has made a tangible gesture for
which we're thankful. The Just For Laughs Festival applauds this timely
support, which is vital to our success."

The Montreal Just For Laughs Festival is recognized as a world-renowned
entertainment attraction and will be celebrating its 27th anniversary in
2009. From July 3 to 26, nearly 2000 artists will entertain audiences
from within Canada and abroad. The event is also broadcast to millions of
fans all over the world, highlighting Montreal as one of Canada's
metropolitan cities that offer something for everyone.

Through the MTEP funding, the Just For Laughs Festival will increase the
number of its activities, including a new fringe festival called Chaos
which is based on the model of the very popular Edinburgh Festival in
Scotland, and will enhance a number of its other flagship events. The
funding will also allow the Festival to increase Canada's national and
international profile as well as its overall attendance.

The most recent MTEP call for proposals drew the interest of many other
established Canadian marquee tourism events. The Government of Canada
will be identifying successful recipients throughout the coming months.

The MTEP complements the numerous federally funded, tourism-related
programs that are part of the Government of Canada's Economic Action
Plan. These programs, which 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, include:

- $40 million over two years to the Canadian Tourism Commission for
domestic and international marketing;

- $150 million over two years for national parks and historic sites; and

- $12 million for infrastructure to promote international cruise ship
tourism in Quebec.

For more information, please visit the Marquee Tourism Events Program
website (http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/dsib-tour.nsf/eng/home). For
additional information on Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit
www.actionplan.gc.ca.

BACKGROUNDER

The Marquee Tourism Events Program (MTEP)

Canada's Economic Action Plan provides $100 million in funding over two
years for marquee tourism events that draw a significant number of
tourists to Canada.

Marquee tourism events provide significant cultural, sporting and
recreational opportunities for Canadians and attract national and
international audiences to all parts of the country. Support for these
events contributes to Canada's visitor economy by sustaining or
increasing the level of tourism and tourism-related spending that
benefits hotels, restaurants and a variety of small and medium-sized
businesses.

As a result, the Marquee Tourism Events Program (MTEP) will provide
funding to support annually recurring, world-class events that generate
significant levels of tourism and that aim to attract a significant
amount of international media attention to Canada as a tourism
destination. Events must be well-established and have a tradition of
programming excellence.

The Government of Canada recognizes that tourism is an important driver
of economic activity in all regions of Canada and that further expansion
of Canada's tourism industry can increase tourism export revenues and
provide stimulus to the economy at a critical time.

The program requirements are strict and targeted. All interested
applicants for the MTEP must demonstrate how their event will contribute
to the objectives of the program to help events deliver enhanced
world-class programs and experiences, thereby increasing or sustaining
the number of tourists from within and outside Canada. If funding is
provided, all applicants will be required to provide annual audited
financial statements for the years in which funding is received and the
two years following the completion of the proposed project. An
independent study examining the economic impact of the funding is also
required. Applicants will also be subject to monitoring and independent
audits for the funds received.

The economic impact of the tourism industry is significant, representing
2 percent of Canada's gross domestic product, over 662 900 jobs in all
regions across the country and $20 billion in government revenues.

Canada's Economic Action Plan is intended to stimulate the economy and
invest in our long-term growth. The tourism initiatives in this plan lay
out a framework for branding Canada as a tourism destination of choice
for domestic and international visitors.

Contacts:
Office of the Honourable Diane Ablonczy
Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism)
Catherine Godbout
613-947-5856
613-668-5406 (cell)

Industry Canada
Media Relations
613-943-2502

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