Canadian Minister Defends Controversial Foreign Artist Fee

The Canadian Minister responsible for the controversial law that will implement a higher fee on international musicians touring the country has defended the policy, saying that the Canadian tax payer shouldn't have to foot the bill for touring artists.

Fuelled by an online petition, the law caused international outrage yesterday forcing Jason Kenney, the Minister of Employment, Social Development & Multiculturalism, to go on the front foot.

To work in Canada foreign creatives - like all workers - must pay for a Citizenship And Immigration work permit, which costs $150. The new law includes a new $275 fee for a labour market opinion [LMO], a country-wide process of looking into whether a local worker could be hired instead of a foreign employee.

Musicians, performing artists and their crew are exempt from the LMO, but according to regulations they must not “Perform in bars or restaurants; Work on the production of a film, television, radio, or Internet broadcast; [or] Enter into an employment relationship with the Canadian organization contracting for their services.”

Venues who have live music as a primary service are not impacted by the fee, but smaller venues will be liable.

Taking to Twitter Kenney said, “Temporary foreign workers don't apply for Labour Market Opinions. Employers do. Taxpayers shouldn't be on the hook for cost… There is no fee that discriminates against musicians. All LMOs required for temporary foreign workers have cost recover fee.”

Alexandra Fortier, a spokeswoman from Kenney told the Toronto Star, “The reasoning behind the fee is simple: taxpayers shouldn't pay the cost for employers to bring in temporary foreign workers. Previously taxpayers were paying the entire processing cost.”

She added, “Perhaps the creator of the petition can explain why they believe Canadian taxpayers should foot the bill for processing labour market opinions.”

The fee is likely to affect the tours of smaller and emerging local artists, who may look to build upon American and Canadian showcases and tours with auxiliary performances.

Australian band Northlane brought the issue to the attention of their fans yesterday while Canada's own Silverstein urged their fans to sign the petition to except all musicians, describing it as, “a fee that will make it harder for most bands to tour Canada.” The petition currently has over 79,500 signatures.

Please take a minute to sign this petition against a fee that will make it harder for most bands to tour Canada https://t.co/Lf0hTt0CiR

— Silverstein (@silverstein) August 29, 2013