The Toronto International Film Festival has received a one-time $3-million grant, aimed at boosting tourism, as part of the federal government’s economic stimulus package. Peter Kent, minister of state of foreign affairs for the Americas, told a packed press conference in Toronto that the cash injection, which is earmarked primarily for marketing, should help TIFF to ‘increase capacity… diversity… service… and elevate its profile.’ He praised the festival as a ‘critical economic event for the Canadian film industry.’

TIFF co-director Cameron Bailey said the windfall will allow the festival to improve on the $134.5 million in spending that it generated in 2008. ‘This will allow us to attract even more visitors to TIFF,’ he said.

Key film festivals in Montreal, Vancouver and Halifax did not make the cut for any of the fed’s $100-million Marquee Tourism Events Program, though Montreal’s International Jazz Festival, which celebrates its 30th this summer, is on the list.

The 34th edition of TIFF runs Sept. 10-19.