Boycott Caribana?

I’ve said it before and I’m saying it again. I think they should scrap Caribana.

Before you get all bent out of shape, let me clarify that I don’t mean forever. As a matter of fact, I plan on going to the parade this year. So maybe what I meant was that they should skip Caribana for a year.

I don’t understand how the single largest cultural festival in the city (and the largest street festival in North America), a festival that generated $483 million for the province last year, can consistently struggle to attract funds. $40,000 from the government? Really?!

$400+ million for the province and the organizers have to be taking a 30 percent pay cut and running around looking for $100,000 days before the parade?? Something’s not right.

The government has its reasons for denying funding. They want to spread the cash around so that smaller festivals in smaller cities can get some too. I get that. They denied Pride for the same reason. Their other argument is that both Caribana and Pride are big enough to stand on their own feet and solicit their own funds.

From a Toronto Star editorial:

Neither explanation holds up to scrutiny. Funding was yanked from Caribana and Gay Pride, two major Toronto events. But the Calgary Stampede and the Montreal Jazz Festival are also major events, and they are receiving $1 million and $3 million respectively in federal funding. As for regional balance, the big recipients outside of Toronto remain largely unchanged.

(Personally, I think that Harper wanted to set a precedent whereby he could deny any ‘undesirable’ group and then argue that “the private sector should be stepping in to pick up the slack”, or that “it’s not the government’s job to subsidize the festivals of special interest groups” or some other blah blah blah...)

I do, however, agree that corporations should be kicking something into the pot. At $483 million, it’s clear that they’re getting quite a lot out of it. Years ago I probably would have been against the corporatization of something like Caribana; the idea goes against the very essence of the festival. But let’s face it: it’s already happened and it’s not likely that the tide is going to be turned back. So shouldn’t the companies that stand to make the most money from Caribana be pumping some money into it? Why can’t Enterprise and Budget compete to be the Official Car Sponsor of the parade? Heineken? I’m looking at you… Heh heh heh.

Read through the comments under some of the articles below and it quickly becomes clear that it’s not just the corporations that don’t care so much about Caribana -- except for the money, of course. I’m willing to bet that even the most anti-Caribana commentor would miss some of the services that all those lovely Caribana tax dollars pay for.

So I say walk. It makes no sense to play this game year after year. If the people (and their elected representatives) make it clear that they only want a parasitical relationship with Caribana, then a ‘pause’ should be seriously considered. As much as I love Caribana weekend, I’d be willing to sit one out to show people just how important Caribana is to the City of Toronto.

Anyways, shout out to the sponsors! See y’all on the road!

Links

• Caribana Festival Official Website
• Caribana 2010 Official Sponsors
• Caribana: Cash-strapped, but promises to still deliver
• Toronto gay pride denied federal funds
• Pride Toronto denied federal funding
• Caribana lives despite Ottawa
• Caribana leaders losing sleep before the big parade
• Toronto's Caribana proceeds despite funding cut