After a recent discussion with the Tourism minister, Coun. Tannis Drysdale and Fort Frances CAO Mark McCaig acknowledged it doesn’t look like the Ontario Tourism Centre here will be moving any time soon.
Coun. Drysdale reported at Monday night’s council meeting that she and McCaig met with Tourism and Recreation minister Jim Bradley last month at the Ontario Good Roads Association conference in Toronto, and the meeting was “not entirely positive.”
“The Ministry of Tourism is significantly short of funds at this time, and doesn’t perceive that in the near future they would relocate the tourist information centre unless they could achieve the same occupancy costs they have now,” said Coun. Drysdale.
“It’s virtually impossible to achieve the same occupancy costs in a building you own in a building you lease,” she added. “Someone would have to put out the money, even it was a non-profit group, to build a new building.
“I just want to caution council this will be a long-term project to have this tourist information centre moved,” Coun. Drysdale warned.
She noted Bradley also mentioned the ministry is reviewing tourist information centres across the province, and there may be some discussion of closing some of them.
“So we’ll continue to put on pressure to do anything other than that,” said Coun. Drysdale. “We’ll continue to work hard on this file, but it’s going to be a long process.”
McCaig said ever since construction of the new Canada Customs facility here, the tourist information centre has been in an “unadvantageous position,” noting far fewer people now stop there after crossing the border.
He added it’s not just an issue for Fort Frances but the whole region since the town is a “gateway.”
Without a tourist information bureau to inform tourists about events and sites, and getting them to stop in the area, there is an economic loss for everyone.
Coun. Drysdale noted “on the bright side,” Northern Development and Mines minister Rick Bartolucci has pledged to be an advocate for moving the tourist information centre.
Mayor Dan Onichuk added Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Ken Boshcoff and Thunder Bay-Superior North MP Joe Comuzzi, the minister of state for FedNor, also support solving border issues here.
“Whether they can put any pressure from the other end [regarding the information tourism centre], who knows?” said the mayor. “But anything they can do will help.”
McCaig noted the town would welcome any other advocates getting on their side, adding Fort Frances has made it clear to the province that it would get more involved in the moving of the tourist information centre if only a “solid partner” also could commit to the project.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
