Stampede and provincial museums to see operating grants reduced

The Calgary Stampede is facing more funding cuts under the United Conservative Party government’s second budget, after taking a financial hit in October.

The province provides operating grants to the annual Stampede and to Edmonton Northlands, the organization that hosts Edmonton’s annual K-days fair.

Grants for both fairs will decrease to about $9 million in 2020-21 from about $11.2 million in 2019-20 and $14.8 million in 2018-19. Of that, the Stampede will see $6.25 million and Edmonton Northlands will receive $3 million in 2020-21, according to Danielle Murray, spokeswoman for the culture, multiculturalism and status of women ministry.

The province’s $250,000 contribution to the Stampede rodeo is maintained.

The 2019 Alberta budget included $6.7 million in funding for the Stampede, down from nearly $7.7 million the previous year.

Murray said the investments will ensure the province partners with city fairs in a “fiscally responsible way.”

“Our government is on a path to balance and this means we will continue to look at our spending and work with our partners to deliver the best programs and services for Albertans,” said Murray.

“This funding balances support for major fairs while helping save the government $2.2 million in 2020-21.”

She said decisions have yet to be made regarding future budgets.

However, slashing grants for the Calgary and Edmonton events will result in estimated savings of $23 million over four years, the province said in October.

The Calgary Stampede declined to comment without receiving further details from the province.

Cuts to the operating expense budget of the department of Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women will fall from $218 million to $157 million — $1 million less than previously anticipated — by 2022-23.

This is in part due to the reduction of screen-based production grants, which have transitioned to a film and television tax credit.

Fewer provincial operational dollars will also flow to Alberta museums, including the Royal Alberta Museum, Royal Tyrrell Museum and Glenbow Museum, in addition to other heritage-based programs in the province.

This funding for the Glenbow is separate from the money the province pledged to that museum earlier this month, when the provincial government said it would commit $40 million toward upgrading the Calgary facility and preserving its collection.

All sport and recreation initiatives under the department will receive about $21.7 million in 202021, compared with $25.1 million in 2019-20.