Comments on: Minister Bill Dooks bringing carrots and a stick to the TIANS AGM at Liscombe Lodge, Eastern Shore http://emeasures.wordpress.com/2008/05/24/minister-bill-dookes-bringing-the-carrots-and-the-stick-to-the-tians-agm-at-liscombe-lodge-eastern-shore/ Roadtrips, music festivals, folkart and more from Canada's seacoast. Sat, 28 Mar 2009 20:24:59 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Rick Bowers http://emeasures.wordpress.com/2008/05/24/minister-bill-dookes-bringing-the-carrots-and-the-stick-to-the-tians-agm-at-liscombe-lodge-eastern-shore/#comment-30 Rick Bowers Sun, 25 May 2008 01:20:31 +0000 http://emeasures.wordpress.com/?p=46#comment-30 It is of great concern that while the President of the Nova Scotia B&B Association, the President of the Inkkeepers Guild of Nova Scotia, the President of the Nova Scotia Association of Unique Country Inns and the President of the Campground Owners Association of Nova Scotia, the four largest organisations of accommodations operators in the Province, have all spoken out against the repeal of the Tourist Accommodations Act, TIANS, the organisation that claims to be the "Voice of Tourism" in Nova Scotia steadfastly claims that the industry is supporting the Government's action. It would appear that the only tourist accommodation based association that supports the repeal is the Hotel Association of Nova Scotia, an organisation made up of 25 large hotels and resorts based largely in the HRM. Do the rest of us not count? The catalyst for last year's review of the Act was the issue of "unlicenced properties" proliferating throughout the Province. In the Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage Press Release dated 07 July 2007, the Chairman of TIANS was quoted as saying: "The issue of unlicenced properties is of major concern for our membership. We believe that the prevalence of unlicenced properties throughout the province is detrimental to the sustainability and health of the entire tourism industry in Nova Scotia." Repealing the Act does nothing to solve the issue of unlicenced properties. Why, when so many accommodation operators in the Province have expressed such cogent arguments against the repeal, has TIANS, against the TIANS Board's own original submission, chosen to support the Government on the repeal? To resolve the problem of speeding on our highways, should we eliminate the speed limit? Will we repeal the Liquor Control Act to get rid of the problem of bootleg establishments? I would concede that the Act requires amendment. But repeal. Do we really want a "Buyer Beware" tourism industry in Nova Scotia? The Government should abandon this reckless course and instead redirect their efforts to strengthening and then enforcing the current Act. It is of great concern that while the President of the Nova Scotia B&B Association, the President of the Inkkeepers Guild of Nova Scotia, the President of the Nova Scotia Association of Unique Country Inns and the President of the Campground Owners Association of Nova Scotia, the four largest organisations of accommodations operators in the Province, have all spoken out against the repeal of the Tourist Accommodations Act, TIANS, the organisation that claims to be the “Voice of Tourism” in Nova Scotia steadfastly claims that the industry is supporting the Government’s action. It would appear that the only tourist accommodation based association that supports the repeal is the Hotel Association of Nova Scotia, an organisation made up of 25 large hotels and resorts based largely in the HRM. Do the rest of us not count?

The catalyst for last year’s review of the Act was the issue of “unlicenced properties” proliferating throughout the Province. In the Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage Press Release dated 07 July 2007, the Chairman of TIANS was quoted as saying: “The issue of unlicenced properties is of major concern for our membership. We believe that the prevalence of unlicenced properties throughout the province is detrimental to the sustainability and health of the entire tourism industry in Nova Scotia.” Repealing the Act does nothing to solve the issue of unlicenced properties. Why, when so many accommodation operators in the Province have expressed such cogent arguments against the repeal, has TIANS, against the TIANS Board’s own original submission, chosen to support the Government on the repeal? To resolve the problem of speeding on our highways, should we eliminate the speed limit? Will we repeal the Liquor Control Act to get rid of the problem of bootleg establishments? I would concede that the Act requires amendment. But repeal. Do we really want a “Buyer Beware” tourism industry in Nova Scotia? The Government should abandon this reckless course and instead redirect their efforts to strengthening and then enforcing the current Act.

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