Editor: Governments seem to have no trouble spending taxpayers’ hard earned cash (for our good).
Businesses have a very different view and only want to spend money if it will enhance their bottom line. After all, shareholders expect a return on their investments.
Smaller owner-managed businesses are even more careful with spending. They are spending their own money and don’t want to waste it.
It looks like the majority of Canmore’s hospitality businesses (80 per cent) did not believe that spending money on fees to support CBT was worth it. If the hospitality industry does not want to support CBT, they must have their reasons.
CBT is claiming credit for the surge of tourism to Canmore. It may also have something to do with more Canadians staying in Canada due to our weak dollar and Americans and Europeans taking advantage of the cheap Canadian dollar.
CBT’s website states: simply relying on the mountains to attract visitors is not an effective strategy. It also states: Its work has focused on aligning the community and its businesses behind a very clear and appealing brand message focused on the truly authentic mountain lifestyle the region has to offer.
Speaking as a former visitor to Canmore, who decided to settle here over 18 years ago, the mountains were more than enough for me to vacation in the area frequently. Do we really want Canmore to become a branded destination? We have a community here, not a brand.
As an ordinary taxpayer without any business interests in Canmore, my concern is that the $400,000 the Town has provided in the past to CBT will be increased substantially. Municipal taxes in Canmore are high enough, do we need to support this business organization with more public money?
I understand that the organization was accountable to its membership, but since the Town provided $400,000 to it, I had expected to find CBT’s audited financial statements somewhere in the Town’s website. I didn’t find them.
But I have to admit that since the Town’s website was changed, I have a lot of difficulty finding anything on it.
I understand CBT also was managing the Alberta Tourism office, for a fee. I would have thought that it would be the other way around, as the Province has many more resources and expertise than our little Town.
I hope the Town is not considering funding CBT with taxpayers’ money.
Blanca Cervi,
Canmore
