MPP Arnott asks: actual marketing support for tourism, or year-end burn-off for more partisan ads?

MPP Ted Arnott has asked the Minister of Tourism for assurances that the Government’s promised tourism advertising campaign will serve the interest of Ontario’s tourism industry, not the partisan interest of the Ontario Liberal Party. He raised the issues during Question Period in the Ontario Legislature on December 19th.

Mr. Arnott, the Ontario PC Critic for the Minister of Tourism, advised the House that Ontario tourism is facing extraordinary challenges. He reminded the Government that US visitors will soon need a passport to get back home, and he cited statistics showing a steep decline in US visits to Ontario.

“Most tourism partners know that without an effective and targeted marketing plan, Ontario tourism jobs will be lost next year,” he told the House.

“Just before Halloween, the Minister promised tourism stakeholders that he would release the details of the campaign in the coming weeks. It’s now Christmas. When is the Minister going to give us the details?” he asked Minister Jim Bradley.

In response, the Minister sidestepped the specifics of Mr. Arnott’s question.

Mr. Arnott then reminded Minister Bradley that as an Opposition MPP he had accused the former Government of producing ads that were “potentially cheating in an upcoming election.”

“The McGuinty Liberal Government has been condemned by Advertising Standards Canada for a health care advertising campaign that was inaccurate and that omitted relevant information. And, the Auditor General has condemned the Government for year-end burn-off, where normal accountability and control provisions were reduced or eliminated,” Mr. Arnott said.

“Ontario tourism needs a long-term commitment from this Government for an effective and targeted marketing campaign that works, not a knee jerk reaction at year-end that is actually intended to boost the popularity of the Liberal Government. What assurances will the Minister provide the House that his marketing plan will be true, non-partisan, and highlight the best of whole province, and actually give the tourism industry the boost it so urgently needs?” he asked the Minister.

The Minister again did not address the substance of Mr. Arnott’s question.

“The McGuinty Liberal Government ignored calls to continue the PC Government’s $138 million Tourism Recovery Program. They have been indifferent to repeated calls for a meaningful investment in Ontario tourism marketing. I remain concerned that they are not being sufficiently diligent, that the ads may be partisan in their intent, and they may not address the needs of the tourism industry in all parts of Ontario,” he concluded afterwards.