THUNDER BAY – The closure of the information centres in Kenora, Rainy River, and Fort Frances was raised at Queen’s Park today. Sarah Campbell, the MP for Kenora Rainy River brought the issue forward during Question Period. Campbell is urging the provincial government to reverse its decision to close Tourist Information Centres in Northwestern Ontario.
Campbell says that the move was made without public consultation and is a mistake. “This is another sign that the current government just doesn’t get it,” said Campbell. “Unlike other parts of the province where regional tourism simply draws people from large urban centres within Ontario, Northwestern Ontario brings significant revenue into the province from other jurisdictions.”
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Campbell says, “Tourists arriving from outside Ontario often rely on the information these centres provide at border crossings. The evidence is overwhelming that people traveling from other provinces and the United States are more likely to visit parks, historical sites and other roadside attractions and they learn about these through our Tourist Information Centres. The same studies show that visitors to our region spend significantly more money per visit, than they do in other regions in the province. They can’t do that if they’re unaware of attractions, parks and historical sites to visit,” commented the first term MPP.
Campbell is urging members of the public from all across Northwestern Ontario to get involved by writing letters and sending emails to her offices, as well as the offices of regional Liberal MPPs Bill Mauro and Michael Gravelle. She is also circulating a petition around the region, which she intends to present in Queen’s Park once collected. Copies of the petition can be obtained through her offices or through social media: Facebook.com/Sarah4NWO and Twitter.com/Sarah4NWO.