by Jim Byers
Last updated: 6:40 PM ET, Mon March 29, 2021
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the province is doing everything it can to help Ontario's devastated tourism industry.
Speaking at a press event on Monday with Niagara Falls as a backdrop, Ford and two senior ministers outlined the help they're giving the tourism, hospitality and cultural sectors.
The Premier mentioned two items announced in last week's Ontario budget. One of those is a $100 million program called the Ontario Tourism Recovery Fund, which will help tourism operators and signature attractions. The other, also worth $100 million, is the Ontario Tourism and Hospitality Small Business Support Grant, which provides one-time payments of $10,000 to $20,000 to eligible small business.
"As we know, the tourism sector has been hit harder than any other sector during COVID-19," Ford said. "It has been asked to sacrifice so much to keep us safe. The impact on individuals, families and operators has been absolutely devastating. More than 200,000 jobs and more than $18 billion in revenue have been lost."
"Clearly this sector is down but it's not out," he said. "I know it will recover. But it will take time, and it will take help."
Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy said the province will invest an additional $400 million over the next three years in new initiatives to support the tourism, hospitality and cultural sectors.
"This builds on previously announced investments of $225 million to support these hard-hit sectors, bringing the total to more than $625 million since the pandemic began," he said.
"The investments in this budget will allow us to recover, reconnect and rebuild with the help of our tourism economic recovery task force and our upcoming five year plan," said Tourism Minister Lisa MacLeod. "That recovery starts today at Canada's premier tourism destination, known the world over, right here in Niagara Falls."
MacLeod said Niagara Falls has a population of 90,000 people and has lost 40,000 jobs.
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