McGuinty government squandering tourism potential: MPP Arnott

Responding to a statement yesterday from the Minister of Tourism, PC Tourism Critic Ted Arnott made the following remarks: “Something like 300,000 Ontario workers depend on a strong and vibrant tourism industry. It is, after all, a $22-billion industry, and its importance to our province must never go unnoticed.

“Unfortunately, the McGuinty government has offered little more than false hope to an industry that deserves so much better. Most recently, the McGuinty government decided to hike sales taxes in the midst of this extreme economic challenge we face today.

It would appear that this minister remains oblivious to industry concern, even outrage, over the Dalton sales tax—this, on top of the unrest over their government-knows-best approach to tourism regions, which is already starting to unravel.

“In fact, the minister didn’t even mention the Sorbara report in her statement, and of course for the last couple of years we were told that that would solve all the problems. As for the destination marketing fees, the Sorbara report suggests that $100 million must be raised to sell Ontario as a place to visit. The
budget provided only $40 million, which is actually less than the existing system collects. It’s a cut of some $5 million.

“In short, this government squandered the industry’s goodwill just as quickly as it squandered our opportunity to showcase our great province to the world.
“Today the Minister of Tourism issued a press release touting the “stay-cation.” Obviously, we in Ontario are fortunate to live in a place which has so much to offer right here at home, but we don’t need a press release to tell us that.

“What we need is a meaningful, comprehensive strategy to bring the world to Ontario. We need a strategy to overcome border obstacles to bring Americans back. Above all, we need a government that listens to the industry, the people who know tourism best, instead of one that imposes top-down solutions
and new taxes that won’t help.

“Despite significant challenges, we know that this is a resilient industry. I’m confident that with a change in government in just over two years, Ontario tourism will emerge stronger than ever in 2011.”

Ted Arnott is the MPP for Wellington-Halton Hills and serves as Tourism Critic for the Official Opposition. He can be reached at his official website.

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