Eurovision came up in the budget. Could Canada actually join the contest?

Reduce the size of government, increase defense spending and… take Canada to Eurovision?

In addition to many important items, yesterday’s federal budget announced that the government is working with CBC/Radio-Canada to explore Canada’s participation in the annual Eurovision Song Contest, where international singers compete performing original songs, competing under a country’s flag.

Two government sources say Prime Minister Mark Carney is personally involved in the initiative.

The competition showcases mainly European talent and is organized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), but all public broadcasters that are members of the EBU are welcome to participate, including some outside Europe. Canada is only an affiliate member, although Australia, another affiliate, has participated since 2015.

When asked by CBC News last month about the possibility of Canada participating, Eurovision said the contest is limited to EBU members.

While the off-budget news may excite fans of the competition, Canadian involvement may not be easy, especially as some have tried to get the country involved before.

Presenting Eurovision Canada

In 2022, the Toronto-based production companycompany Insight Productions, which made the Canadian spin-offs of The amazing race and Big Brother — Tried to start Eurovision Canadawhere Canadian artists would compete, and the winner would be sent to Europe for the final competition.est.

At the time, organizers said the competition would debut in 2023, featuring artists and bands from all 13 provinces and territories, and that the host would be announced within weeks.

But ultimately, the company failed to take off.d. After the announcement, the team realized that sending Canadians to the global contest would be a complex endeavor, said co-chief content officer Lindsay Cox. told the Canadian press earlier this year. But the company is still trying to make Eurovision Canada a reality, he said.

There was also no acceptance by CBC/Radio-Canada, which would have to participate given the euro.Ultimately, Vision is hosted by public broadcasters. CBCpokeman chuck thompson he previously told CBC News the announcer considered it and met with the company at that time, but finally decided would be “forbidden”very expensive.”

He was asked what the current CBC is.Thompson, who is currently doing to explore the possibility of Canada competing in Eurovision, Thompson told CBC News that “there was no information to share about Eurovision in this time.”

but caNothing would necessarily have to hold an expensive televised contest at home to choose a singer and send them to Eurovision: the rules of the contest allow countries to choose how they select their artists.

Still, Dean Vuletic, a historian sp.Specializing in Eurovision history, he says being in the competition and doing well is expensive: there’s an entry fee, plus the costs associated with sending people to the show, let alone what it takes to host it.

Canadian culture and acceptance could be complicated

Canadians have comA Eurovision winner in the past under other banners, namely Céline Dion, who won the competition for Switzerland in 1988, as well as Natasha St-Pier, who represented France in 2001 and The Montreal Zarraagain for Fr.ance, in 2023. But the competition is not very popular in Canada, which could be an obstacle to its participation, says Karen Fricker, a professor at Brock University and an expert on Eurovision.

“People interested in culture know this. Queer communities know this,” Fricker said. “Is it well known enough to gain momentum?” is my main question.

For examplee, in Australia, the song contest had been broadcast for decades and had become ingrained in the country’s culture before it began.ed compete, Fricker said.

Furthermore, while Eurovision has attempted to globalize its brand in recent years, the contest remains ultimately a European affair, said Vuletic, the historian. He says the contest organizers may not want too many non-European countries to join for fear of globalizing the cultural event too much.

That said, in an interview with Global News, Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said the idea of ​​Canada competing came from “the people involved,” suggesting Europe might not have many hang-ups about Canada joining.

There has also been an internThere is general disagreement about who should be able to participate in the competition, that is, about Israel’s participation, given its war in Gaza. EITHEROrganizers had scheduled a vote.e for this month in timeIsrael should be allowed to competeNext year, although he already has. It has since been postponed..

“So right now, expanding Eurovision is not really the main goal of the European Broadcasting Union: it is trying to save the contest as it is,” Vuletic said.

Despite the obstacles, Fricker says the federal government’s backing makes this the most real conversation Canada has ever had about joining the pageant, something fans may be excited about.

“It’s still speculative, but it’s firmer than in the past.”