Family Day promoted as Northern tourism primer

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO MINISTRY OF TOURISM

************************* Boosting tourism in the North

Visit a Northern tourist destination on Family Day

SAULT STE. MARIE, ON, February 7 - Tourism Minister Peter Fonseca and Minister of Labour Brad Duguid promoted Family Day and tourism opportunities in Northern Ontario while attending the Ontario Winter Carnival Bon Soo with Sault Ste. Marie MPP David Orazietti.

"Family Day will provide great opportunities for Ontarians to visit tourism agencies and attractions right across the province," said Fonseca. "The Ontario Winter Carnival Bon Soo is a great example of how families can enjoy time together while attending Ontario's festivals and events." "Ontarians work very hard and deserve more time to spend with family," said Duguid. "The events taking place on Family Day support a healthy balance between work and family."

Fonseca highlighted the government's support for tourism, including:

- Promoting Northern Ontario as a tourist destination in Chicago

- Conducting a competitiveness study for tourism across Ontario, and

- Providing $5 million annually to the north for marketing tourism and for program staff. As part of a tour of Northern Ontario, Fonseca announced government support for the marketing and promotion of the Ontario Winter Carnival Bon Soo and the 2008 Ontario Hockey League All Star Classic.

Fonseca also dropped the puck at the All Star Classic.

Tomorrow he will be opening the Tim Horton Events Centre in Cochrane and visiting the Polar Bear Habitat.

"Our government recognizes that supporting events like the Bon Soo Winter Carnival increases tourism and boosts Sault Ste. Marie's local economy," said Sault Ste. Marie MPP David Orazietti. "Congratulations to the event organizers for staging an award-winning carnival that families have enjoyed for the past45 years."

The province's first Family Day - February 18 - is a great opportunity to visit tourist and cultural attractions in Northern Ontario.

Great northern tourist attractions include: - The WaterWorks: Soak Up The Science exhibit at Science North in Sudbury

- Sudbury's big nickel landmark in the shape of a 1951 Canadian nickel

- Sleigh rides at Cedar Meadows Resort in Timmins and - Cree Village Ecolodge in Moose Factory. Other Ontario tourist ideas are available at this website. In the 2007 Fall Economic Statement, the government announced a $30-million expansion of Ontario's tourism marketing campaigns.

The new funding includes:

- $20 million to expand tourism marketing initiatives that will attract new domestic and international visitors to communities and to major attractions across Ontario and

- $10 million to double the funding available for economy-boosting festivals and special events to promote tourism throughout the province.

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