“Small venues will never be able to hire the foreign talent that the Canadian public deserves and demands to hear,” claims Canadian DJ and label owner, Mike Shannon. According to The Calgary Herald, the amendment, which was passed late last month, ‘will double, triple or even quadruple the cost of bringing in international artists to perform in bars, restaurants or coffee shops.’
The Herald reports that;
‘The regulations require that any venue with a primary business other than music but which also books bands or performers must now pay an application fee of $275 per musician and those travelling with the band (tour manager, sound person, guitar tech, etc.) when it applies for a Labour Market Opinion, or LMO, to allow those outside workers to perform and work in their establishment. That’s also in addition to an extra $150 for each approved musician and crew member’s work permit. Prior to the changes, the fee was simply $150 per band member, maxing out at $450, and that was a one-time fee for them to simply enter the country, which allowed venue owners across Canada to share the nominal cost or book them separately at no extra charge.’
The implementations have caused a huge-online backlash. There is currently an online petition founded by music industry veteran Carlyle Doherty, demanding the laws be receded, fearing that that the implementations will have a huge, negative impact on the country’s music scene. The petition, which targets Jason Kenney, the Canadian Minister of Employment, claims that ‘the government is taking a clear stance of desired control over a culture that blossoms with freedom and deserves support rather than increased financial responsibility.’