By RAY SPITERI Niagara Falls Review Updated 9 hours ago
Tourism may not be as prominent an issue in this provincial election as it was in 2007.
But candidates representing the three major parties looking to form government after Oct. 6 are adamant they're not overlooking an industry they say is so vital to Niagara's economy.
During the provincial election four years ago, tourism had its own section in the Liberal, Progressive Conservative and New Democratic platforms.
For example, then PC leader John Tory promised more money for marketing.
Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty pledged a "comprehensive competitiveness study," which led to a $4-million report, which in turn led to the creation of regional tourism organizations tasked to make Ontario's tourism industry more competitive with other destinations around the world.
While there were specific promises for tourism in 2007, this time around, there are few.
Liberal MPP Kim Craitor said it has nothing to do with a struggling tourism sector, or that his party would rather focus on industries that some believe are hot, such as green energy and high-tech.
"It's not that (tourism is) not important," said Craitor, who is the parliamentary assistant to Minister of Tourism Michael Chan.
"It's not quite what it was before, but that's because there's some (issues) that have gone right up to the top of the agenda — including the public expectation for health care, which has been controversial."
Craitor said as a representative of a riding that has tourism as its lifeblood, he is "deeply committed" to ensuring its future viability.
He said his Liberal government also believes so, which is why it created "more market-focused, coordinated" regional tourism organizations, and why it invested millions of dollars to help build a new convention centre in Niagara Falls.
Craitor said he had input in crafting the 2011 Liberal election platform. Despite tourism not appearing as a major plank in the document, Craitor said his party is listening to his thoughts about how to improve tourism, both in Niagara and across Ontario.
"We need to really come to the forefront after the election to assist with the upcoming bicentennial of the War of 1812," he said. "That was one of my submissions."
Progressive Conservative candidate George Lepp said he doesn't believe tourism is being "short changed," at least not by his party.
"It's not as obvious (during this election) because there's no fancy catch phrases, but it's definitely something our party has a plan for," said Lepp.
He said there are specific commitments in the PC platform that will indirectly benefit tourism, such as $35 billion for infrastructure improvements and the reduction, by 30%, of the burdensome regulations facing businesses.
"We have to eliminate the gridlock so many people get stuck in when they travel to Niagara," said Lepp. "If the Go Train moves people faster and it's a good deal, we'll do it. We'll also complete the mid-peninsula corridor to move people faster and more efficiently.
"And people have to have money to spend in order to make tourism flourish," said Lepp. "We will do all we can to put more cash in people's pockets."
NDP candidate Wayne Redekop said he is "a little surprised" that tourism has not played a bigger role in the province wide and local races.
He said it hasn't been an issue that has come up often at local debates, but as a former mayor of a border town, Fort Erie, he understands how "integral" tourism is.
Proper marketing is key, particularly during difficult economic times, as is targeted financial commitments by the provincial government to stimulate the sector in Niagara, said Redekop.
"I have spoken to people in the hospitality and tourism industry who have very specific questions. They're asking what the government can do to protect the race track in Fort Erie for the long term? What the motor speedway proposal for Fort Erie could do for tourism? What the mandate of the Niagara Parks Commission should be and how we can make it more accountable?
"So while tourism has certainly been overshadowed by other top-of-mind issues, such as hospital and health care, which is even more prominent in this election than it was in 2007, tourism is still too big as it relates the economy of Niagara, and Ontario, to ignore."
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