CNE to Split From City of Toronto

current · January 28th, 2012, 05:51 AM

Toronto Star article:
CNE to Split From City of Toronto, Become Independent Fair

Dana Flavelle
Business Reporter
Fri Jan 27 2012

The Canadian National Exhibition has struck a deal with its landlord at Exhibition Place that will make it independent of the City of Toronto.

The operators of the historic 18-day fair say they reached an agreement Friday with the Board of Governors of the city-owned lakefront property.

The deal will see the CNE pay the city higher rent but allow the fair to retain any profits and invest them in future years, CNE President Brian Ashton told The Star in a telephone interview.

Ticket prices will remain the same, Ashton said. As an independent entity, the CNE will be freer to negotiate its own deals with suppliers and become more efficient, he explained.

“If we became more independent, I felt strongly that we’d be much more nimble at how we provide the CNE,” Ashton said.

The deal, which has been approved by the CNE Association and the Board of Governors of Exhibition Place, still has to go to city council March 5 and 6.

If approved, it would become effective April, 2013.

“The independence of the CNEA is good for both the CNEA and Exhibition Place,” said Mark Grimes, chair of the Exhibition Place board of Governors. “The agreement will protect the Board of Governors and the City against any negative financial consequences and at the same time allow the CNEA to reach financial and organizational stability for the new independent organization.”

The CNE had been seeking a new arrangement with the city for some time, said former CNE board president Joe Pantalone. But negotiations got going in earnest after consulting firm KPMG recommended last September the city strike a new deal with the fair operator as part of a wider report on divesting non-core services.

“Rather than being a program of the city it’s going to be an independent tenant, like the Royal Winter Fair,” Pantalone said. “At the end of the day as far as the general public is concerned, they shouldn’t see any difference, which is terrific, because the CNE is one of those festivals that has defined the city for over 135 years.”

Under the current arrangement, the CNE has turned over $5 million in profits to the city in the past 10 years, Ashton said. In return, the city covered any losses the fair incurred, he said....

Read More: http://www.thestar.com/business/arti...dent-fair?bn=1

MysticMcGoo · January 28th, 2012, 08:05 AM

Can the city now claim the CNE as a dependant on its income taxes?

January 28th, 2012, 05:51 AM	#1
current Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,943 Likes (Received): 3	CNE to Split From City of Toronto Toronto Star article: CNE to Split From City of Toronto, Become Independent Fair Dana Flavelle Business Reporter Fri Jan 27 2012 The Canadian National Exhibition has struck a deal with its landlord at Exhibition Place that will make it independent of the City of Toronto. The operators of the historic 18-day fair say they reached an agreement Friday with the Board of Governors of the city-owned lakefront property. The deal will see the CNE pay the city higher rent but allow the fair to retain any profits and invest them in future years, CNE President Brian Ashton told The Star in a telephone interview. Ticket prices will remain the same, Ashton said. As an independent entity, the CNE will be freer to negotiate its own deals with suppliers and become more efficient, he explained. “If we became more independent, I felt strongly that we’d be much more nimble at how we provide the CNE,” Ashton said. The deal, which has been approved by the CNE Association and the Board of Governors of Exhibition Place, still has to go to city council March 5 and 6. If approved, it would become effective April, 2013. “The independence of the CNEA is good for both the CNEA and Exhibition Place,” said Mark Grimes, chair of the Exhibition Place board of Governors. “The agreement will protect the Board of Governors and the City against any negative financial consequences and at the same time allow the CNEA to reach financial and organizational stability for the new independent organization.” The CNE had been seeking a new arrangement with the city for some time, said former CNE board president Joe Pantalone. But negotiations got going in earnest after consulting firm KPMG recommended last September the city strike a new deal with the fair operator as part of a wider report on divesting non-core services. “Rather than being a program of the city it’s going to be an independent tenant, like the Royal Winter Fair,” Pantalone said. “At the end of the day as far as the general public is concerned, they shouldn’t see any difference, which is terrific, because the CNE is one of those festivals that has defined the city for over 135 years.” Under the current arrangement, the CNE has turned over $5 million in profits to the city in the past 10 years, Ashton said. In return, the city covered any losses the fair incurred, he said.... Read More: http://www.thestar.com/business/arti...dent-fair?bn=1

January 28th, 2012, 08:05 AM	#2
MysticMcGoo d(X_x)b Join Date: May 2010 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,567 Likes (Received): 60	Can the city now claim the CNE as a dependant on its income taxes? __________________ An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest. - Benjamin Franklin "The Fascists of the future will be Anti-Fascists". Winston Churchill In real life, there are no good guys and bad guys. Everyone feels justified in their actions, and still manage to sleep at night. - Humble the Poet .....................::::::::::::::::::::::::........................ My July 2012 North American Road trip!

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