		Choose your Community
		Community Business Directory
		Search the EMC News Website

Home > News > Perth endorses tourism concerns

CLASSIFIEDS | WHAT'S ON | Archives | Contact Us | EMC RSS

Perth endorses tourism concerns

Posted Mar 11, 2010 By Chris Must

Tweet This

EMC News - Perth shares the town of Smiths Falls' concerns about the establishment of 13 new tourism regions in Ontario.

The province announced the formation of the new regions in December, and Smiths Falls has gone on record to express concern over the fact that the Rideau Canal flows through three separate regions, which could hamper efforts to coordinate promotion of the canal to tourists. Perth received two letters from Smiths Falls concerning the issue, which came up for discussion at a meeting of Perth's Committee of the Whole Tuesday, March 2.

Perth councillor Beth Peterkin said "I think the town of Smiths Falls is on the money in expressing their concern."

REPRESENTATION WANTED

Peterkin added she has concerns of her own about ensuring that Perth is adequately represented in future decisions on how to spend millions of provincial dollars which will be flowing to each of the new tourism regions. The province has announced plans to provide $25 million to the regions in 2010 and 2011, in addition to the $40 million in ongoing annual tourism funding announced in the 2009 Ontario budget.

"We need to go on record in expressing our concern about that," said Peterkin. "We want to be sure the flow of tourism dollars is equitable among the region we are in."

Councillor Judy Brown said the setting up of the regions reminded her of the provinces Local Health Integration Networks (LHINS) which did not always respect historic boundaries and existing health care partnerships.

Peterkin said the province was unlikely to respond to a request to reconsider the boundaries, but said Perth should endorse Smiths Falls' request for flexibility and coordination between the three separate regions in future efforts to promote the Rideau Canal as a destination.

The committee approved a motion supporting the two letters from the town of Smiths Falls, and requesting that Perth be adequately represented in decisions on how to spend tourism funds flowing to the local region.