MMBC

10 Reasons MMBC Membership Matters 1: Your voice is amplified nationally MMBC provides members with a strong, unified national advocacy voice, ensuring the priorities of the business events sector are heard by federal decision-makers. 2: Your investment helps secure government support Member support enables MMBC to advocate successfully for programs such as the International Convention Attraction Fund (ICAF), which recently secured $15 million in federal funding. 3: Your membership helps build the business case for our industry MMBC initiated and launched the Canadian Business Events Economic Impact Study (CBEEIS), providing the data and evidence needed to support [...]

A United Call to Renew ICAF In mid-December, a joint industry letter urging the continuation of the International Convention Attraction Fund (ICAF) was delivered to Prime Minister Mark Carney and other key federal decision-makers. With ICAF set to expire in March 2026, the letter—initiated by Meetings Mean Business Canada (MMBC), the Tourism Industry Association of Canada and the Hotel Association of Canada, and endorsed by more than 100 industry partners—underscores concern about the future of this proven program, which has delivered a 22:1 return on investment. The letter calls on Prime Minister Carney to commit $10 [...]

MMBC Flags Sector Priorities to Prime Minister Carney May 15, 2025 The Right Honourable Mark Carney Prime Minister of Canada House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario Re: Congratulations on your Election as Prime Minister Dear Prime Minister Carney, On behalf of Meetings Mean Business Canada (MMBC), I would like to extend my congratulations on your election as Prime Minister of Canada. Your commitment to the people of Canada and Nepean has clearly resonated with voters, and we look forward to building our relationship with you. MMBC is a champion of the Canadian meetings and business events sector, showcasing the substantial [...]

Meetings Mean Business Canada Welcomes 6 New Board Members At Meetings Mean Business Canada’s March 27, 2025, Annual General Meeting, six newly elected board members were welcomed, bringing fresh perspectives, diverse expertise and strategic insights to help guide the organization’s future direction. The new board members include Susan Freeman (Meet PEI), Ingrid Jarrett (IJM Consulting), Andrew Weir (Destination Toronto), Carly Grace (Rogers Centre Ottawa), Alissa Hurley (Stagevision) and Claire Smith (Vancouver Convention Centre). (See biographies below.) They join MMBC’s current board members: David Campbell (Encore Global), Kurby Court (Calgary Telus Convention Centre), John C. Dunn (Floor13), Bianca [...]

MMBC’s Bold Advocacy Strategy for 2025 As Canada navigates political change and evolving industry challenges, Meetings Mean Business Canada (MMBC) is stepping up its advocacy efforts with the support of Crestview Strategy—a leading government relations firm. This strategic partnership will enhance MMBC’s engagement with key decision-makers in Ottawa, ensuring the business events sector remains a top priority in policy discussions. Key political insights from MMBC’s Quarterly Member Update On March 13, 2025, during MMBC’s Quarterly Member Update call, Crestview Vice-President John O’Leary provided an in-depth analysis of the latest political shifts, including: The election of Mark [...]

2024 Highlights and Looking Ahead to 2025 In 2024, MMBC made significant strides to advance Canada’s business events sector. Here are some of the key milestones and the road ahead for 2025. INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS ATTRACTION FUND (ICAF): In its 2024 Fall Economic Statement, the federal government has announced an additional $10 million in funding for the highly successful International Convention Attraction Fund (ICAF). Released on December 16, the statement outlines that $5 million of the new funding will be allocated for the 2024–2025 fiscal year, with the remaining $5 million designated for 2025–2026. Launched earlier this [...]

Minister Freeland asked to extend ICAF support On October 18, 2024, MMBC sent a letter to Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, asking that the federal government extend funding for the International Conventions and Attractions Fund (ICAF) for a further two years at a total additional investment of $33 million. The letter was signed by nearly three dozen business events sector leaders.   Friday, October 18, 2024 The Honourable Chrystia Freeland Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance 90 Elgin Street Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0G5 Delivered by email: chrystia.freeland@fin.gc.ca Subject: Fall Economic Statement [...]

IRCC: Working to Enhance Communications The One Young World (OYW) summit took place in Montreal September 18 to 21, 2024. As a follow up, Matthew Belshaw, Programmes Director for OYW, shared with MMBC and Destination Canada his thoughts on the challenges faced by his group. When some OYW delegates, coming from all over the world, experienced delays and denials for visitor visas, MMBC connected Matthew and his team with Minister Marc Miller’s office and the Director of Special Events for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which led to some improvements in advance of [...]

Canada’s Business Events Sector Urges Federal Government to Avert Air Travel Disruption SEPTEMBER 13, 2024 — Meetings Mean Business Canada, the advocacy voice for the country’s business events sector, is calling on the federal government to take swift action to prevent a potential labour disruption at Air Canada. A pilot strike at Air Canada would have an immediate and devastating impact on business events nationwide. Fall is a peak season for business events, which account for 40% of all tourism spending and contribute $27.4 billion to Canada’s GDP. Grounded flights would lead to [...]