Canadian Government Triples Fees For Touring Bands

Up until July 31st of this year touring bands were required to pay a fee of $150cdn to enter the country, which although annoying, is not unreasonable for an act planning on playing a number of shows across the great white north. Post August 1st however, this fee has gone up to $425cdn PER band member, meaning even a trio is looking at an 8 fold increase in cost! This is unlikely to trouble big global acts who play large theatres or arenas, but it surely will impact less known international bands who are coming over to play clubs.

As this fee is mostly covered by venues or promoters it may reduce the appetite to bring international acts to Canadian cities, and that is a real shame.