Churchill trip for tourism grants criticized as government photo-op with little northern benefit

A government trip to Churchill was little more than a photo-op for politicians to announce tourism grants that mostly benefit the south, said the NDP opposition.

At least nine provincial politicians and bureaucrats flew to Churchill on Aug. 29 at a cost of $6,041, according to freedom of information documents.

The trip came a month after Churchill's already fragile economy was hit hard by the closing of the sea port by the town's largest employer, Omnitrax.  After that economic blow, town leaders were looking to the province for help and any signal that assistance may be on the way was significant.

• Port of Churchill layoffs 'came out of nowhere,' says town's mayor
• After closing Port of Churchill, Omnitrax cuts freight trains to once a week

Provincial officials took that flight in August to announce a $100,000 boost to tourism grants.

A CBC analysis reveals 89 per cent of the money granted by the Tourism Development Fund went to groups in the south of the province last year. Only three of the 28 grants went to groups located in Manitoba's North — $9,000 to the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, $10,000 to York Factory First Nation and $7,000 to the Thompson Railway Station.

"That's blasphemous, the North is where the tourism is. That's where the funds should go because we have a unique culture, we have that whole geography around Churchill, I mean we're part of that," said Interim Chief Ernie Bussidor of the Sayisi Dene First Nation.

Bussidor believes tourism is critical to the economic survival of his community. 

"That's our only industry that is viable for my First Nation, as remote as we are, is tourism and fishing," said Bussidor.

Click here to see details for each grant on the map 

Representatives from Sayisi Dene First Nation, along with Fox Lake Cree Nation and York Factory First Nation were supposed to meet with provincial officials during the trip to Churchill but that meeting was cancelled due to a scheduling conflict, according to provincial press Secretary, Kalen Qually.    

"I saw the photo-op there. There were a whole bunch of bureaucrats standing with the mayor and council. I saw that photograph. I don't want to comment about what other communities do. If it is Tadoule [Lake]-related I have every right to speak of opinion," said Bussidor, adding he didn't know that kind of provincial funding for tourism existed. 

"I hope it's not too late for me to apply for any kind of grant from that."

According to the province, he is too late. The deadline for applications was September 30, 2016.

"It is unfortunate the chief was not aware of it. We try to promote what we think is a very positive program for Manitobans and will be into the future," said Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister Cliff Cullen in an interview. Cullen was one of the provincial representatives to go to Churchill for the announcement.

He said it was a good opportunity to raise awareness about the plight of Churchill. 

"We can talk about the history of the past we are about looking forward and positive development for Manitoba," said Cullen. "We hope the public understands what the people in Churchill are facing."

Cullen announced the tourism fund would increase to $297,000, up from $197,000 the previous year.

Grants up to $25,000 are available this year, but an examination of the previous year's recipients shows the $6,041 spent on the day trip exceeds the amounts given to nearly 50 per cent —13 out of 28 — of the recipients.

The grants in 2015/16 ranged from $2,500 for a mobile stage for the Valley Agricultural Society in Morris to $15,000  for a workshop and planning for the International Peace Garden.

Winnipeg-based Manitou Oba Inc.received $10,000 for Aboriginal cultural tours, including cultural teachings and traditional feasts.

CBC News flew up for the provincial press conference even though officials would not reveal the specifics of the announcement in advance. The costs to send a reporter and videographer to Churchill were covered by CBC. 

'Basically, a non-announcement,' NDP Critic

The provincial party on the trip included Minister of Growth amd Enterprise Cliff Cullen, Minister of Families Scott Fielding, MLA for Thompson Kelly Bindle, two press secretaries, Fielding's political aide and three bureaucrats.

The NDP opposition is questioning the value of the trip.

"While workers in Churchill are suffering and looking to the government to step up and help them out and do something. Flying that many people to Churchill to go look at polar bears and beluga whales didn't really do a whole lot for the people in Churchill," said Tom Lindsey, NDP MLA for Flin Flon and deputy critic for northern issues. 

"It does not make any sense at all to send that many people for basically a non-announcement to Churchill, but to spend that much money when they are looking at cutting elsewhere. There's a couple of grants that could have been given out that would have helped people deal with issues as opposed to them just having a little holiday junket out of it.".

Olivia Baldwin-Valainis, director of communications and stakeholder relations for the province, noted Minister of Families Scott Fielding used the trip to inspect housing in the town and stressed the cost-effectiveness of the trip. 

"The trip involved government representatives, business owners, chambers of commerce and representatives of Manitoba's tourism industry and included multiple meetings and stakeholder engagement activities, as well as a tourism announcement via news release to the entire province."

 She also raised the issue of the NDP government's travel expenses in the past. 

CBC News has "not gathered the necessary information on the previous government's travel expenses — which I would assert is necessary in order to ensure balance," said Baldwin-Valainis.

In fact, a request was made but the province would not make it readily available. 

The latest grants are still in the approval process. Cullen would not say if the distribution of the grants will change this time around but he stressed, "We have more money available for tourism than any time in the past. Communities can apply for the grants. It's there."

List of awarded tourism grants