She's only been Canada's Tourism Minister since July 18th and already Melanie Joly has been written to by Banff - Airdrie MP Blake Richards telling her, in spite of what her party has planned for the tourism industry, she needs to be a champion for it.

Richards recently wrote to Joly in his role as Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet Minister for Tourism to "familiarize you with the issues and policies that stakeholders have recently brought to my attention in this critical Canadian industry."

Richards says the most critical issue, according to the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) is a labour shortage in the industry.  According to the TIAC, by 2030, labour shortages are expected to surpass a quarter of a million jobs costing the tourism sector $31.4 billion.  What has Richards so upset is the Liberal's "New Tourism Vision" which was tabled in 2017 is short-sighted in leaving out that key pillar and the main component of the previous Conservative government's Tourism Strategy.

"Even though this is, no question the number one issue I hear from the tourism industry over and over again, all over the country, this is not something that's a part of their 'so-called' tourism vision.  How can it be a tourism vision when it ignores the number one issue facing the tourism industry?"

Richards believes the government needs to put more emphasis on training for the tourism industry through post-secondary institutions.  "Really it's just trying to find ways to ensure that we can meet those needs and I think one of the ways would be to create a specific stream for tourism," he says.

Richards also believes that the Liberal government has imposed unnecessary taxes on the tourism industry and says they act as additional barriers for tourism, making Canada a less attractive destination for visitors.  He cites the Liberal carbon tax which will affect all areas of the tourism industry, including airlines, which will directly pass the tax onto consumers, many of whom are tourists.  Richards also points out things like eliminating the GST/HST rebate for non-resident tourists, the yearly increase on the excise tax rate for alcohol and other Liberal taxes as drawbacks to tourism.

In his letter, Richards offers to meet with Joly to discuss the issues he brings up.  He says regardless of whether or not she takes him up on his offer, he intends to keep pressing for an industry that employs 1.8 million Canadians and contributes $97.4 billion to the Canadian economy.

I don't intend to be a stranger or be shy about approaching her, I will certainly be doing that on every possible occasion to remind her of some of these issues.  She says she will be a champion for this industry at the cabinet table, I'm going to hold her to that."

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