MPP Arnott condemns partisan advertising by McGuinty Government, asks instead for commercials that support tourism jobs

Waterloo-Wellington MPP Ted Arnott has condemned the McGuinty Liberal Government’s publicly funded, partisan advertisements, and called on the Government to divert some of that spending towards targeted ads that would enhance tourism. He raised the issue with the Minister of Tourism during Question Period on October 18th.

Mr. Arnott, Ontario PC Critic for the Minister of Tourism, charged that tourism jobs are in jeopardy because the McGuinty Government is unwilling to support the industry.

“Even the Toronto Star agrees. In their editorial last Saturday condemning the self-serving, partisan, multi-million dollar, taxpayer funded, Liberal TV ads, they said that tourism advertising “fulfills a public service,” Mr. Arnott told the House.

Quoting from Hansard, Mr. Arnott then reminded the Minister of Tourism, Jim Bradley, that he was the one leading the charge against the very same kind of partisan advertisement more than three years ago when he was in Opposition.

Mr. Arnott then asked the Minister to help Ontario tourism.

“Given the fact that they’ve budgeted tens of millions of dollars for advertising, they could put a fraction of that money into enhancing the tourism advertising budget, doing targeted advertisements in our key American markets, inviting tourists to Ontario, and reminding them they don’t need a passport to visit us this fall. Will the Minister do this, will he stand up for Ontario’s tourism industry?” Mr. Arnott asked him in the House.

Afterwards, Mr. Arnott expressed disappointment with the lack of response to the substance of his questions.

“Unfortunately, the Liberal Government’s continued indifference to the plight of tourism will only lead to the loss of more tourism jobs,” said Mr. Arnott.