It’s getting even more expensive for musicians travelling to Canada to play shows, and for the promoters and establishments bringing them here.
Last week the story broke that the Tory government had snuck in a new fee as of July 31 that requires an employer – in this case usually a promoter or venue – to pay $275 per band member and personnel to bring foreign musicians into a bar, pub or restaurant. That’s in addition to the $150 work permit application fee (usually paid by bands or labels). Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has said the fee is to cover the cost of a labour market opinion on whether employers could be hiring Canadian musicians instead. Dedicated concert venues, like the Air Canada Centre, are exempt.
Local music fans and artists took to Twitter to express their outrage and encourage others to sign the change.org petition protesting the fee (which has over 106,000 signatures as of press time).
@Cash4TO Music matters to the heart, soul and the economy. Conservatives never seem to get it. Let’s help. Pls sign this: http://chn.ge/14DXdju
@weirdcanada This law only serves to fracture and marginalize both American and Canadian artists, favouring only top tier artists.
@alancross Every Canadian music fan should be outraged at this bullshit.
@quartermass Thing that is laughable about @kenneyjason’s protection of CDN jobs is the idea of musician-as-job. That ship sailed!
@pauleblackwell The Canadian Govt is waging a war on independent #art. “I’m sure Bon Jovi can afford this!” says Jason Kenney.
@gaz2002 Draconian, creativity-killing tax grab.
