Why A "Scaled Down Version?"

Isn't Toronto worthy of a full blown Comedy Festival? Do the promoters not think people in Toronto don't have a sense of humour? If they don't they are sadly mistaken...look at who were voted to run the city; Miller, Moscoe, Rae, etc.

City set to give Just for Laughs $500Gs
By BRODIE FENLON

Canada's largest comedy festival will be laughing all the way to the bank if it gets a $500,000 loan from Toronto to set up an event in the city this summer.

Just for Laughs, the Montreal-based comedy empire, wants to launch a scaled-down annual version

of its popular festival this July.

The city's budget committee quickly voted yesterday to support the loan request under the city's tourism event development loan program. It must still get approval by city council next month.

The $3-million Hogtown event, tentatively scheduled for July 19-22, could one day become a major tourist draw if Montreal's experience is any example.

Nearly two million people attended last year's festival in Quebec, which had a budget of $33.5 million. About a quarter of all festival goers were tourists, according to a survey by Decima Research.

An official announcement is expected sometime in the next few weeks.