AMPPE Blog

Go time! Federal Tourism Minister visits the Mountain Parks

“We want the big conferences back, we want the business travellers back, but we want the travelling public to come to this beautiful space in the mountain parks. … People have missed this and we learned in COVID how important big open spaces are and the ability to really connect with nature.”- Minister of Tourism Randy Boissonneault

-Photo courtesy of Banff Lake Louise Hospitality Association

Federal Tourism Minister and Associate Minister of Finance, Randy Boissonneault visited the Mountain Parks earlier this month. During his visit, he made the much awaited announcement that fully vaccinated travellers will no longer have to show a negative pre-departure COVID-19 test to enter Canada as of April 1.

During his visit, AMPPE had several opportunities to speak to the Minister on investment in the Mountain Parks, the Ministerial mandate to develop a national trail strategy, bike paths, climate change and indigenous tourism. In Jasper, the conversation centred on labour and housing issues, but the Minister has left the door open for broader conversation on other areas of interest. The Minister talked about a number of federal programs that will be enhanced in the coming months as the country’s hardest hit industry gets back on its feet and encouraged stakeholders to take advantage of these programs as they are announced.

Minister Boissonneault was very receptive to our ideas and feedback and encouraged organizations to submit proposals for new projects to consider. He playfully commented that, as Minister of Tourism and as Associate Minister of Finance that he is able to “use both his right brain as well as his left brain.” meaning he is in a position to potentially fund tourism initiatives that come his way. AMPPE is currently working on proposals for the Minister’s consideration including proposals for investment in infrastructure to better enable active travel and for improvements for the maintenance and enjoyment of the Icefields Parkway.

Thank you to the Banff Lake Louise Hospitality Association and the Rimrock Hotel for organizing an excellent luncheon for the Minister.

Related stories:

–Tourism recovery a team effort, federal minister says during Jasper stop, West Coast Traveller

–Federal government loosening international COVID-19 travel restrictions, Rocky Mountain Outlook

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