Prime Minister touts the North as a tourist destination like no other

At a dinner attended by Yukon territorial dignitaries, Prime Minister Stephen Harper stressed the role tourism will play in building the New North.  “The beauty of your land and your way of life are powerful lures that can be capitalized upon, and tourism is the vehicle through which this will be achieved,” said the Prime Minister.

Every year, an increasing number of tourists are visiting the three territories.  The Prime Minister suggested that this trend will likely strengthen when Whitehorse hosts the 2007 Canada Winter Games, an event that will attract thousands of Canada’s most promising young athletes as well as a whole host of spectators.   

During his speech, the Prime Minister announced that the federal government will provide an additional $9.5 million to cover the cost of transporting athletes, coaches, and officials to Whitehorse. 

“Our government, Canada’s New Government, is proud to make this contribution, because our country’s most promising young athletes deserve a chance to come to Whitehorse and give it their all,” said Prime Minister Harper. 

Returning to the theme of tourism, the Prime Minister proceeded to highlight some of the natural and cultural treasures to be found in the North including festivals, national parks, and historical sites. 

“A trip to the North is an experience like no other, and that’s why I’m asking Canadians to heed the call.  Come to the land that figures so largely in our national consciousness; one that has coloured our past, and one that is going to illuminate our future.”   

The Prime Minister’s visit to the Yukon is part of a broader tour of the North to push the government’s agenda of re-asserting Canada’s Arctic sovereignty, supporting private-sector job creation, particularly in the resource development sector, and highlighting the role the region will play in making our country a global energy superpower.

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BACKGROUNDER

FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT FOR TRAVEL COSTS TO 2007 CANADA WINTER GAMES IN WHITEHORSE

At the 1995 Federal-Provincial-Territorial Sport Ministers’ conference, it was agreed that the Yukon would have the opportunity to host the 2007 Canada Winter Games on the condition that the facilities, operational plans and financing could be provided to successfully host the Games.

The funding announced by the Prime Minister will be used to fully fund the travel expenses of the athletes, coaches and officials who will be participating in the Games. This fulfils the federal government’s commitment to defray these travel expenses and ensures that all qualified athletes, coaches and officials will have the opportunity to attend the event

In total, the federal government’s contribution to the Games is $38.25 million, which includes $20 million for the construction of the Canada Games Centre in Whitehorse and $8.75 million for the operations of the Games themselves.

In addition to providing a competition opportunity for high performance winter and summer athletes from across Canada, the Games also leave a legacy of high calibre sports venues in communities where they are held.

Since the first Games in 1967, 19 medium-sized communities now enjoy improved sports facilities as a result of having served as host cities. The 2007 Games will provide both aboriginal and non-aboriginal athletes in the Yukon with access to modern sports facilities.

Hosting the Games also brings important social and economic benefits such as job creation, particularly in the small and medium-sized business sector, volunteer promotion regional development, increased tourism, enhanced infrastructure and increased emphasis on fitness and health.