Years ago, I worked with a journalist who was decidedly anti-tourism.
Well, maybe that’s not the right way to put it. I mean, it’s not like he turned green and started growling whenever he saw people travel long distances to view landmarks, buy souvenir spoons and stay in hotels.
It would be more accurate to say that he was against the notion that tourism held THE key to diversifying the economy of Flin Flon and the rest of northern Manitoba – that if we just promoted tourism more fervently, then we would all be lining up for six-figure jobs.
“If tourism was really going to be that, why hasn’t it already happened?” he used to ask.
I’d never dream of downplaying the value tourism has in our region and all across the vast expanse of northern Manitoba.
From lodges and restaurants to hotels and gas stations, tourists pump big bucks into this region. We all benefit from that through job creation and a stronger tax base, not to mention the good feeling that comes from knowing people think highly enough of our neck of the woods to stop in for a visit.
Promoting our region to would-be tourists has immense value. Flin Flon, The Pas, Snow Lake – these are places with interesting things to see and do. We’re not a destination in the mould of a Mexico or a Florida, but there is a certain type of traveller who will always be drawn to the rugged wilderness and “I’m so far away from everything!” appeal of this area.
But can tourism replace a mine? A paper mill? A refinery? No. And I don’t think I’m going out on a limb by saying it can’t even come close in terms of job numbers and wages.
Yet all too often, politicians at the local and provincial levels seem willing to focus all or most of their economic-development efforts on tourism.
One must honestly wonder how much additional tourism can be expected in northern Manitoba in the absence of more truly unique draws such as Churchill’s
polar bears.
The spotlight should really be on the industries that have a long history in this region: mining, forestry and (provided it can lower our power bills, not hike them) hydro development.
The new PC government has vowed to tear down some of the barriers to mining that the NDP put up. This process should be expedited. Companies once frightened away from Manitoba, for whatever reason, need to know that ours is a mining-friendly province – and that northern Manitoba likely still has some world-class finds that can be developed at a handsome profit.
Forestry has been active in The Pas for decades, and fortunately it looks as though the PCs will be able to help facilitate the sale of Tolko’s paper mill, once slated for a Dec. 2 closure, to an interested American company.
Assuming the mill stays open, it will be incumbent on the province to work with the new ownership group in ensuring the business can remain feasible in the long term. If this means the PCs have to budge on their “no corporate welfare” mantra, then so be it. Focused taxpayer investments in business, or initiatives to help business, can pay huge dividends when done intelligently.
Tourism is an industry in northern Manitoba, but it’s not large enough to allow our region to truly thrive. As the PC government shapes its northern economic policy, make tourism part of the conversation – but let’s not pretend it has more potential than it really does.
Local Angle is published Fridays.
