Wayne Easter, MP

Question on Vote for Time Allocation

Mr. Speaker, it is important to understand what this time allocation motion is really on. It is on the motion to extend the hours of Parliament.

This is coming much earlier than normal. We do not mind working late hours, but we are incensed that the government is always invoking closure and limiting debate on real issues.

I ask the House leader this. The government is trying everything it can do to avoid the PMO-Duffy scandal. We know that the Prime Minister is out of the country. Is this really an approach to try to get what government business it can get done now so it can prorogue Parliament earlier and get out of town and not have to answer questions in this House? Is that really the game that is being played here? This is an extension of hours about three weeks ahead of the normal time. Is there a scheme at play coming right out of the Prime Minister’s Office to avoid the scandal the government is caught up in?

HARPER GOVERNMENT AXES U.S. ADVERTISING – MAJOR CONCERN FOR TOURIST OPERATORS ON PEI

OTTAWA, ON- Malpeque MP, Wayne Easter, raised concerns today in the House of Commons regarding the Canadian Tourism Commission is axing U.S. advertising for Canada’s tourism industry.

“Tourism operators on Prince Edward Island who depend on American visitors should be extremely concerned by the decision of the Harper government to eliminate all general advertising in the U.S.”, said Easter. “This government is no longer investing in strengthening Canada’s tourism industry.”

“It was unbelievable,” said Easter, “to hear that it didn’t seem to matter to the Minister of Industry (responsible for tourism), Christian Paradis, that Canada has slid from 7th to 18th in terms of being a destination for international tourists. He confirmed that the Canadian Tourism Commission has eliminated its general advertising program into the United States promoting Canada as a tourist destination. For Canada to ignore the United States as the largest middle class base in the world is extremely poor decision-making on the part of the Harper government”, continued Easter.

“This type of blatant disregard for Canada’s tourism industry is a sincere slap in the face to all of those tourist operators on Prince Edward Island who work so hard to provide exceptional service to our visitors. Without the support of the government to promote Canada as a tourist destination for Americans, we shall surely see the ramifications”, finished Easter.
Background:

The question & answer read:

Hon. Wayne Easter (Critic for International Trade, LPC): Mr. Speaker, how can the minister stand there and reads those words, that the Canadian Tourism Commission will continue to promote Canada, when he knows full well that is wrong? The headlines in the paper state: Tourism Commission Axes United States Advertising. The Canadian Tourism Commission confirms it has eliminated all general advertising in the United States. International tourism is the fastest growing market in the world and Canada has dropped from 7th place as the most visited country to the 18th.Why is the government spending money on its own propaganda rather than creating jobs for the tourism business?

Hon. Christian Paradis (Minister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture), CPC): Mr. Speaker, that is total nonsense. It is a typical Liberal way to badly manage the economy. When we talk about tourism, we have to look at where the potential is. That is what the CTC is doing. It has refocused its resources to places like India and China where tourism has a high potential. What we have seen in the last quarter is a growth of tourists in Canada. We are proud of Canada. We will promote Canada correctly. We will not do it as badly as the Liberals suggest.

Question in the House on Tourism

Hon. Wayne Easter (Malpeque, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, did the minister just not hear the facts put to him? The facts of the matter are that on international tourism Canada has dropped from seventh in visits to 18th. Now in terms of attractions, Parks Canada has cut staff, increased entry fees, and implemented user fees. That is a negative to attracting tourism. The Canadian Tourism Commission’s spending has been cut to the point that we are spending one-third what Australia does. That is also a negative to attracting tourism.

Why can the government not promote tourism in Canada?

Hon. Maxime Bernier (Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism), CPC): Mr. Speaker, I just want to let my colleague know that the mandate of the CTC, the Canadian Tourism Commission, is not to promote tourism in Canada. It is to promote Canada outside our country. It is to promote our country to our visitors. That is the mandate of CTC. He must know that and it is doing that very well. The numbers are increasing. We have more visitors from abroad and I am very proud of the work done by the CTC.

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