PARKS AND RECREATION Manitoba NDP candidate promises more

Posted on 03/31/2016 | About Manitoba

Manitoba NDP leader Greg Selinger is campaigning for a plan for a sustainable tourism investment for the province, using a formula proposed to the provincial government last year by Travel Manitoba.  Selinger says that if re-elected there will be more funds for tourism and the provincial parks will receive facelifts.

Manitoba’s tourism budget has been unchanged for ten years; with Travel Manitoba receiving $7.5 million annually. By comparison, Saskatchewan receives over $15 million and New Brunswick and Nova Scotia receive almost $13 million annually.

The formula is based on a split with a 96/4 split with the government. The province of Manitoba gets 96% of all tourism tax revenue and Travel Manitoba would get the other 4% for increased marketing.

Travel Manitoba believes the plan can increase annual tourism expenditures and give new money to the province as well as additional tax revenue to the province.

"For $4 million of investment from us, [the chamber] believes we could grow tourism in Manitoba by $96 million," Selinger said, adding that the commitment would turn Manitoba tourism into a $2-billion industry by 2020.

“It’s a priority for us because it’s part of our plan for growing the economy,” he said. “That is the No. 1 issue that we all have to address as governments and communities. We have to address economic growth to get the numbers back up. We have to show the value of the things we’ve invested in... When we do that we will make sure we have a more prosperous future and that will generate revenues to look after people in health care and education in the future.”

The NDP also offered $20 million in park improvements including expanding WiFi access in parks, adding 100 camp sites across the province and developing more comprehensive hiking and canoe maps with First Nations on the Bloodvein River and Mantario Trail.

Manitobans head to the polls April 19.