Witness Testimony

Colin Murphy, a Calgary-based event production business owner with over 22 years of experience servicing large-scale sporting events and music festivals, testified that pandemic restrictions eliminated approximately $300,000 in annual revenue in 2020, forcing layoffs of permanent staff and contractors. With 80 percent of his income generated during summer events, cancellations effectively shuttered his operations. Although wage subsidies were announced, he stated that without revenue he could not cover remaining payroll costs. In 2021, limited “bubble” operations allowed partial recovery, but uncertainty and last-minute reopening decisions prevented consistent planning.
Mr. Murphy further described complications arising from inconsistent interprovincial quarantine rules during the vaccination phase, particularly for multi-week touring events across Canada. He stated that potential quarantine interruptions created unacceptable financial liability for his small company, leading him to relinquish a long-standing national contract. He emphasized that regulatory unpredictability and travel requirements, including vaccination-related barriers, made logistics unmanageable. He also reported supply chain delays for equipment, reduced availability of skilled labour, and rising costs due to inflation and fuel prices.
He testified that consolidation within Alberta’s event industry accelerated, with smaller operators exiting and larger firms absorbing market share due to deeper financial reserves. He attributed ongoing reluctance to reinvest and expand his business to broken trust in government decision-making and the risk of sudden regulatory changes. Mr. Murphy advocated for decentralized decision-making, stronger small business representation, and national acknowledgement of the economic and social impacts of pandemic policies.