ONTARIO — The Ontario government is engaging partners in the heritage, sport, tourism and culture sectors in order to gather critical feedback on how best to reopen the economy. This input will inform decisions as the government implements its Framework for Reopening our Province document which was released in April 2020.
On Monday, Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, was joined by Premier Doug Ford to speak with chairs from sector-specific Ministerial Advisory Councils. These leaders represent a broad range of organizations and are best positioned to identify opportunities for a sector-led response to the economic challenges caused by the outbreak. These Ministerial Advisory Councils will meet on a regular basis starting immediately and provide their written feedback to the ministry later this month.
“The impact of COVID-19 has been devastating for Ontario’s heritage, sport, tourism and culture industries with an economic loss in the billions,” said Minister MacLeod. “Through these Ministerial Advisory Councils, I will work directly with sector leaders to discuss the challenges they face, and ensure their industries are well positioned for a faster re-emergence and successful recovery from the effects of the outbreak.”
Advisory councils will consist of individuals, invited by Minister MacLeod, for their sector specific experience and expertise. The council meetings will be facilitated by the Chair(s). Each advisory council will meet up to four times, either by telephone or video conference. The Ministerial Advisory Councils are:
Airlines and Airports Council with Co-Chairs Jeffrey Brown, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Porter Airlines and Lorrie McKee, Director, Public Affairs and Stakeholder Relations, Greater Toronto Airports Authority; Amateur Sport and Recreation Council with Co-Chairs Cyril Leeder, Co-founder of the Ottawa Senators and Debbie Low, CEO for Canadian Sport Institute Ontario; Arts and Culture “Toronto Big 8” Council with Chair Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director and Co-Head for the Toronto International Film Festival; Book and Magazine Publishing Council with Chair Michael Levine for Generic Productions Inc.; Festivals, Events and Local Community Attractions Council with Co-Chairs Marie Lalonde, Executive Director for Ontario Museums Association and Troy Young, CEO for Attractions Ontario; Film and Television Council with Co-Chairs Christina Jennings, Founder, Chair and CEO for Shaftesbury Films and Jim Mirkopolous, Vice President for Cinespace Film Studios;
Hoteliers & Hospitality Council with Co-Chairs Colin Morrison, General Manager for Ottawa Embassy Hotels and Suites and Chair for Ottawa Gatineau Hotel Association and Terry Mundell, President and CEO for Greater Toronto Hotel Association; Interactive Digital Media Council with Co-Chairs Lucie Lalumière, President and CEO for Interactive Ontario, Lesley Phord-Toy, Corporate Affairs Director for Ubisoft and Mary Sorrenti, Vice President of Operations and Finance, Game Pill; Ministry Attractions and Agencies Council with Co-Chairs Josh Basseches, Director and CEO for the Royal Ontario Museum and Lorenz Hassenstein, President and CEO for the Metro Toronto Convention Centre; Music Council with Co-Chairs Erin Benjamin, President and CEO for the Canadian Live Music Association and Allan Reid, President and CEO for the The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences/The JUNO Awards and MusiCounts; Ontario Live Council with Chair Barry Avrich, Canadian film producer, director and Partner for BT/A Advertising; Professional Sport Council with Co-Chairs Randy Ambrosie, Commissioner for the Canadian Football League and Cyril Leeder, Co-founder of the Ottawa Senators; and Tourism Leaders Council with Co-Chairs Anthony Annunziata, President for the Tourism Partnership of Niagara and Scott Beck, President and CEO for Tourism Toronto.
Stakeholders are reporting a collective economic impact of $17.6 billion over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Input provided by the advisory councils will support the work of the government’s Ontario Jobs and Recovery Committee.
