A news release encourages British Columbians to enjoy a 鈥渟taycation鈥� in the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast tourism region. It would be appropriate for such an invitation to come from the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association or Tourism British Columbia, but this particular come-hither was generated by the sa国际传媒 Liberal government caucus.
Damage control, anyone?
That isn鈥檛 to say the region isn鈥檛 worth visiting. It鈥檚 a fabulous piece of the province with an incredible variety of natural landscapes and an intriguing, multifaceted history.
In the words of Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett: 鈥淲hether you鈥檙e drawn to water pursuits such as freshwater and saltwater fishing and kayaking, canoeing and whitewater rafting opportunities, or if you want to head inland to explore vast parks, canyons, volcanic mountains or heritage sites, you鈥檒l find unique places and experiences here.鈥�
It could be that those words were provided for Barnett by the Liberal caucus鈥檚 spin doctors, but they are still true. Even merchants of hype would be hard put to overstate the magnificence of that part of Beautiful British Columbia.
Or any other part of our province. So why, out of the six major tourism regions, is the government directing our attention to one in particular?
The answer is in the fifth paragraph:
鈥淭ourism operators across this vast region remain open and ready to welcome visitors. Only a very small area was impacted by the Mount Polley incident.鈥�
Ah yes, the Aug. 4 breach of the tailings-pond at the Imperial Metals copper and gold mine. That incident.
There was much outcry following the spill, some of which labelled it as sa国际传媒鈥檚 worst environmental disaster. Tests of water and fish indicate that is not the case, but there is still concern about residual effects.
Apart from the environmental damage, whatever the degree, is the harm done to tourism in the region. People might be discouraged from visiting the area for fear of contamination.
That wouldn鈥檛 be fair and it wouldn鈥檛 be based on fact, but perceptions can be powerful. No one can fault chambers of commerce and tourism associations for getting the word out that an area is safe to visit.
The Cariboo Chilcotin Coast press release is linked to the province鈥檚 declaration of August as Staycation Month, an effort to encourage British Columbians to holiday at home, instead of travelling abroad this summer.
A staycation is generally understood to mean staying in your own home and availing yourself of the opportunities and attractions around you, as Greater Victoria鈥檚 鈥淏e a Tourist in Your Own Home Town鈥� campaign advocates. For Vancouver Islanders, travelling to Quesnel or Williams Lake is tantamount to going abroad. Many Europeans travelling that same distance would cross several countries.
If the province (which, incidentally, has cut the number of Mines Ministry inspectors by 21 per cent since 2004) really wants us to visit the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast region, it should highlight the Mount Polley spill, rather than trying to brush past it. Many people would probably appreciate an up-close look at what can happen when tailings ponds break. Environmental tourists could gaze out over expanses of mud and downed trees strewn across the landscape like toothpicks, standing next to signs that read: 鈥淵our sa国际传媒 tax dollars at work 鈥� or not.鈥�
We affirm that the Cariboo region is a delightful place to visit, and the spill should not discourage anyone from visiting there, but we also believe it鈥檚 not the sa国际传媒 Liberal caucus鈥檚 job to be promoting one tourism region over another.
