$600k spent on musical artist to boost tourism in Brampton, city says

The City of Brampton says it paid a well-known performer $600,000 at its most recent Canada Day event to position the city as “a regional and international destination.” 

RELATED: $600,000 spent on one musician for Brampton Canada Day celebration

The city’s response comes a day after INsauga.com revealed that internationally renowned rapper M.I.A. reached a deal with the city for $450,000 U.S. for the July 1 performance at Chinguacousy Park.

The total was revealed in a document obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. 

As of Sept. 12, that amounts to roughly $611,000 in Canadian dollars, but that figure would’ve been even greater when the payments were made as the Canadian dollar was lower at the time than the U.S. dollar.

The document notes that M.I.A. agreed to a withholding of $30,000 U.S. from the settlement payment as a contribution towards production costs, meaning $420,000 U.S. was allotted for M.I.A./her agency directly, though the deal was also subject to a 15 per cent Canadian withholding tax.

While Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown declined to comment directly on the sum paid to the Paper Planes performer, a city representative told INsauga.com that featuring a popular international artist allowed the city to host an event that aligns with its tourism strategy, which aims to boost the city’s profile on the world stage, attract a large audience and “contribute to local tourism and economic growth.” 

The spokesperson said Brampton’s Canada Day celebration is its largest annual event and one that celebrates the city’s “diverse cultural landscape.” 

“The decision to feature a high-profile artist is part of our strategic effort to position Brampton as a regional and international destination. This approach supports our goal of offering diverse cultural experiences and stimulates local tourism,” a city spokesperson said in an email to INsauga.com. 

The spokesperson said the costs were offset by a combination of vendor fees, grants, sponsorships and other revenues of over $297,000 and that the expenditure reflects the municipality’s commitment to “managing public funds responsibly while delivering a high-quality event.” 

The quadruple-platinum rapper headlined the Canada Day celebration, which also included other performances.

Additional documents show that Punjab hip-hop artist Ikky was paid $15,000 for his performance that day.