Federal funding program has soft spot for rodeos
Author:
Peter Fricker
Publication:
The Vancouver Sun
Publication Date:
May 25, 2010
The recent media kerfuffle over the federal government's decision not to fund the Toronto Pride Festival revealed the Calgary Stampede received $1 million in federal funding.
Last year, the Stampede got $2 million from the same fund (known as the Marquee Tourism Events Program). This is on top of a $10-million annual subsidy the Stampede receives from the Alberta government. And in 2007, the federal government gave the Stampede $25 million to spruce up its grounds. It's all listed on the Stampede's website.
Animal advocates naturally might be expected to object to public funding for rodeos, but wouldn't any taxpayer wonder if this is money well spent?
After all, the Stampede is already supported by a long list of rich corporate sponsors.
The Marquee program seems to have a soft spot for rodeos. Last year, it funded the Cloverdale Rodeo and this year money was doled out to Whoop-Up Days in Lethbridge, the Saskatoon Exhibition and the Interior Provincial Exhibition and Stampede -all of which have rodeo events.
And for citizens concerned about Canada's obesity or diabetes epidemics, rest assured the Marquee program has not neglected the nation's health.
That's why it also funded Canada's Largest Ribfest, which claims that an "astonishing 150,000 pounds of ribs" are consumed in one weekend.
