While Canadians and most businesses will feel like their lives are returning to normal this summer and fall, our sector reflects a very different picture. The punishing impact of closures on the hardest hit sectors, like live music, remains critical: capacity restrictions and social distancing requirements have forced many venues to remain shuttered to prevent even greater financial loss; decisions to cancel concerts, tours and festivals had to be made earlier this year; and regular business travel will be slow to return as Canadians and corporations cautiously resume face-to-face business activity perhaps starting this fall or in early 2022.

Today, the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses (CHHB) is calling on the federal government to protect travel and tourism businesses and their employees in Canada, as the crucial Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) and Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) programs wind down.

Without continued and enhanced access to government relief programs, the major investment-to-date government has made to help save jobs could be entirely lost. The CLMA, along with the Hardest Hit Coalition, urgently calls upon the Canadian government to continue to provide relief for those - like Canada’s live music industry - who need it most.

The Canadian Live Music Association (CLMA) expresses its sincere thanks to the Government of Canada, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and Minister of Canadian Heritage Steven Guilbeault for today’s federal budget announcement, which acknowledges our hardest hit sector by announcing $70M to the Canada Music Fund, with $50M earmarked specifically for live music and live music venues.

Dear Minister Freeland,

Thank you for your efforts on behalf of all Canadians during this difficult time. The Canadian Live Music Association (CLMA) represents hundreds of businesses, organizations, and thousands of employees and contract workers across Canada who bring incredible live music experiences to Canadians and visitors from coast to coast to coast.

March 24th, 2021 (OTTAWA) – A March 2021 survey released today on Parliament Hill reveals that 60% of Canada’s hardest hit businesses will not survive if the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) as well as the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) are not extended beyond the June 5th deadline to the end of the year. The survey with over 1,700 respondents from across Canada was conducted by the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses.