Universal exhibitions | Canada gives up welcoming the planet

(Ottawa) There was the Montreal Expo in 1967 and the Vancouver Expo in 1986 – two landmark events that put the spotlight on the country for at least six months. But Canada no longer cherishes the ambition to welcome the planet in this way, at least until further notice, for budgetary reasons. In doing so, he sets himself apart.

The Trudeau government in fact abandoned the idea of ​​reintegrating the International Exhibition Bureau (BIE) last fall, a necessary step in order to possibly submit the candidacy of a Canadian city to host this international event. The reason given? It’s a question of money, reveals a document obtained by The Press under the Access to Information Act.

“No funding was provided to establish long-term policy or to pay Canada’s membership fees to the IBE. In light of the current budgetary context, the Department does not have internal funds to pay these costs. Therefore, no group has been established and membership fees have not been paid,” reads a briefing note prepared for the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

As part of the Harper government’s fight against the deficit after the 2008-2009 financial crisis, Canada withdrew from the IBE in 2012. At the time, the annual fee for being a member of the IBE was at $25,000. The membership fee is therefore not very high. It is calculated proportionally to the sums paid by States to the United Nations.

This decision caused consternation in Toronto, where the city council intended to submit the Queen City’s bid to host the 2025 Expo.

Today, 183 countries are members of the BIE. Canada is today the only G7 country that is not a member of this organization.

In 1967, the Montreal Expo, which coincided with the centennial of Confederation, had the theme “Land of Men” and had 90 pavilions. The event attracted more than 50 million visitors in six months. The 1986 Vancouver Expo had the theme “A World in Motion – A World in Touch,” and saw some 20 million people visit the 65 pavilions.

“As a non-member of the BIE, Canada continues to be able to participate in exhibitions. We officially participated in Dubai 2020 and we will participate in the next Expo 2025 in Osaka. Future participation in the BIE will depend on Canada’s foreign policy priorities for the years to come,” said Marilyne Guèvremont, spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada, in an email to The Press.

“Mini-diplomatic scene”

That Canada is conspicuous by its absence from the BIE is completely deplorable, believes Romain Lecler, professor in the department of political science at the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM) and expert on the subject.

Especially since almost all the states in the world are now represented within the organization and in the general assembly.

He also recalled the history of the IBE, which was at its founding in 1928 a small international organization, founded between the two great wars, before the multiplication of organizations under the UN system after 1945.

“Paradoxically, Canada’s withdrawal took place at the very moment when the IBE truly became a universal international organization, growing from around fifty member states to more than 180 in two decades. In 2012, Canada withdrew along with the United States, but the United States returned very quickly in 2017. Australia had also ended its membership and did not return,” said Mr. Lecler.

“The signal is paradoxical at a time when other international organizations, notably the UN, are being criticized for not making enough room for emerging countries. In fact, there is almost no state that is no longer a member of the IBE and Canada is now an exception. Not being at the BIE means not participating in discussions and voting on the choice of cities that will host the next exhibitions. But it also means excluding yourself from this mini-diplomatic scene and possibly preventing yourself from criticizing certain choices like that of Saudi Arabia,” he also underlined.

With the collaboration of William Leclerc, The Press