Share the Wealth!

There's a bit of a backlash over the way that those provincial governments funds to counter act the Queen of the North sinking have been utilized.

The folks in the Bulkley Valley are taking a peek at the way the money has been spread out and noticed that none was earmarked for their community, despite the fact that many of the local business people say they've been negatively affected by the sinking of the ferry as well.

The Interior News had full details of the controversy.


Queen of the North bailout skips Bulkley Valley
By Rebecca Aldous
Jul 13 2006

The provincial government is forking out money to help get visitors up Hwy 16 after the sinking of the Queen of the North — but not to Smithers.

The Ministry of Tourism, Sport and Arts has earmarked $450,000 for the Northern Fund Management Committee (NFMC), which has been created to steer the one-time funding for the backlash the B.C. ferry sinking has had on northern tourism.

The money will pay for two summer tourism counsellor positions in Prince George, a marketing campaign to promote large events in the region, and a separate marketing campaign for the Queen Charlotte Islands, reports a press release from NFMC.

Bruce Wishart, executive director of Tourism Prince Rupert, said how the tourism association is spending the money was based on a consensus prior to the money’s arrival.

“Tourism Prince Rupert worked with all our northern partners and held stakeholders sessions,” Wishart said.

He said although no money is coming directly to Smithers, the three new programs will benefit all communities along Hwy 16.

Wishart said the two counsellor positions in Prince George will help inform visitors about the communities along the highway dispelling the perception that the Queen Charlotte Islands are unreachable due to the ferry sinking.

“For travellers on the road if they hear there is a problem on the circle tour they will turn around,” Wishart said. “We have the ability to steer some of those who would otherwise steer away, down [Hwy 16].”

He said like Smithers a lot of northern visitor centres need money for repairs and upgrades. Wishart noted the Prince Rupert visitor centre lost funding this year, knocking operation hours back.

However, he said the money going into the programs will increase the number of visitor to the region adding weight to the association’s requests, Wishart said.

“The more tourists that are coming to visitor centres, the higher the funding levels,” Wishart said.

Gladys Atrill, tourism coordinator for the Town of Smithers, said she is hopeful the two new positions in Prince George will prompt more tourists in the town’s direction. She said she has heard anecdotally, through people working at the visitor centre and hotels in the area, that tourism is down this year from previous years.

“The picture is not pretty,” Atrill said.

The two new tourism counsellors have been on a tour of the visitor centres along the highway, Atrill said, last week they were in Smithers. She said the money to pay for them to visit the region centres is worth it.

“There is nothing like seeing something to promote it,” Atrill said.