Opposition Leader Robert Ghiz wants to know why losses at P.E.I.'s provincially-owned golf courses doubled last year.
During question period this afternoon, Ghiz went after Tourism Minister Philip Brown to explain why the losses increased to $1.3 million. The losses were projected to be $563,000.
But there were few answers.
Brown launched a scathing attack against Ghiz for not supporting the golf industry but he did not explain why the losses doubled.
"It discourages me how little support that the opposition offers for tourism in Prince Edward Island," Brown said from the floor of the P.E.I. legislature.
"Golf is a major industry here in Prince Edward Island bringing in close to $100 million in tourism expenditure revenue to this province. $100 million is a lot of money."
Ghiz said the province is once again forecasting losses of $563,000. He wanted to know what steps the province will be taking this year to cut the losses in half.
Brown was equally evasive on those questions.
Golf Links P.E.I. is a subsidiary of Tourism P.E.I. It manages the provincially-owned golf courses. Their budget is more than $6.2 million for 2007-2008.
There will be more on this story in The Guardian Wednesday.
Opposition Liberals want to know why losses doubled at crown-owned golf courses
- Published on April 17th, 2007
- Published on June 14th, 2010
-
Wayne Thibodeau
Tourism Minister Philip Brown says he's discouaraged by the lack of support shown by Opposition Liberals
- Number of views : 237
- Rate
- Top of the page
Comments
-
- Steve
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:37:37
golf is great must think highly of mr. ghiz...those ontario people think they know everything about the maritimes whether it be environmental issues or the way things run down here....and those liberals...they think do a great job federally and provincially....sponsorship scandal seems to be forgotten about when anything about the tories comes up...and oh...all i have to say is larry mcguire...hmmm
-
- golf is great
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:33:47
While I understaand Tineke's frustration, please don't take it out on Maritimers. These silly comments are from Conservative party members who see a gravy train slipping out of the station.
BUT golf is great and I sure wish I had the money to give more to P. Brown to spend on golf. -
- David
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:30:22
Well the reason the losses doubled may not be very difficult to see. Has anyone been to the Provincial Courses this year. The level of service and quality of the courses are miles ahead of the other courses in PEI. When a privately owned course is facing a quiet year they do what any business does they cut corners,lay staff off, and do other cost saving measures because all they are thinking off is their own bottom line. The problem with this is though when a tourist or someone from off Island comes to the course and sees the lower level of service it reflects badly on the entire Province. At the Government courses being just that they have a budget I am sure which is based on delivering a good quality product no matter what the bottom line says. This is done as part of the big picture I am sure. It is afterall the big that the Government is responsible for the overall image of the province the promoting of PEI and it as Golf destination. I doubt anyone would come to PEI to play golf if they looked at some of the Privately owned courses and the way they are kept.
I agree it is the Opposition's job to ask questions...but maybe the Opposition could think before they open their mouthes. Maybe they could think what their questions are and maybe they could also think of the big picture and not just their own goals of getting elected and the Hell with the damgae they may do to PEI in the process. -
- golf is great
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:30:03
Golf is the greatest for PEI. I would spend lots more of my tax dollars on golf if I could afford it.
-
- Frank
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:26:05
Anita wrote ever hear the saying if we wanted youre advice we would ask for it !!!
Point taken, you may not want our advice, but you sure as heck want our money for your transfer payment. With attitude such as Anita's it was little wonder in the 1980's that Alberta'sRalph Klein made that horrendous remark about letting the Maritimers freeze to death in the dark. And we all thought you were such nice people. After all, you invited us to come play on your gentle Island. -
- Todd
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:22:56
Tineke has a point. The PEI government spend 2 much time on how to make the the economy sustain itself with a little help from the government. We should be more like Ontario and let the good jobs go out the window just like the Ontario Gov is doing with the auto industry. VOTE LIBERAl.
-
- Steve
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:21:29
Old Robert keeps on complaining and crying.
-
- Steve
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:20:16
Tineke thinks he/she is right....i am sorry that we don't have the car plants or plants such as stelco like you guys have to fuel our economy or that we dont have the oil that alberta has...oh and you stating that we all hate ontarians...not much different then you tell us maritimers to get a life. Guess that is alright though since you guys are right all the time and we are wrong. Narrow minded views of a certain group of people like you from Ontario are the ones that will lead to problems. Mind your own business, oh and should I say Vote Binns, Vote Harper
-
- Islander looking for Answ
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:08:12
I dont see this as a bad question to ask. It it is such a huge industry and great for the province, they half a million should be very easy to support but seems no answer are ever giving just that one doesnt support this or that.
-
- Robert has a point!
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:03:49
Phil Brown's comments are pretty typical of this current government! The government should not even be in the golf course industry
, leave that to private enterpise as they actually know how to run things properly! -
- anita
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:00:54
HEY TINEKE another ontarioan who thinks they got all the answers all the time for us here in the east!! ever hear the saying if we wanted youre advice we would ask for it !!!
-
- RKS
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:56:57
hey TINEKE is right. Islanders are pathetic an you should listen to Ont and AL who run provinces that are many times the size of you. You are basically running a very small corporation, and failing miserably
-
- Sterling
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:55:54
It is so obvious by the defensive retorts to the postings by Tineke that he/she has struck a nerve with some of us Islanders. You all are defending a government that is running a deficit that will still be around when your children's children are taxpayers and you would sooner defend that corruption than to admit that the government has no place in competing with private business. With that mind set, you will continue to get the type of government you deserve.
-
- Tineke
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:54:03
For pete's sake, Robert is, after all, leader of the Opposition. It is his job to ask questions. Like, come on you Maritimers, get a freeking life!
-
- Thomas
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:46:02
I agree with Steve, Robert does nothing but complain. It would be nice to hear his solutions
-
- ???
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:45:24
It's pretty pathetic that the Tories' only strategy to answering difficult questions is to question Robert's committment to industries like farming and tourism. Let's hear where the money went, for crying out loud. Questioning how the government spends its money does not mean Robert doesn't support these industries. It means he actually might care whether the taxpayers' money is being wasted. With answers like the one Phil Brown gave today, it's pretty clear that the Binns Team does not.
-
- Randy
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:44:35
Normally when a coherent question is asked, a coherent answer is given. In the case of the Binns Government, we are seeing more and more a tendency to accuse the opposition of being anti-whatever the issue is instead of giving a clear answer. I for one have had enough of that type of approach. I will be supporting the party that cares about issues, the Liberal Party and Mr Ghiz.
-
- Tineke
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:42:35
I knew it would just be a matter of time before a all the reasons we hate Ontarians comment was made. Just remember folks, we don't have any problems with our tourism industry here and we don't have a government in direct competion with the private sector by running golf courses.
Having lived in Holland and now Ontario with relatives in PEI, I have a hard time understanding what the PEI government is doing owning golf courses. Then when I read that the Premier gets upset because the Leader of the Opposition asks questions regarding the loss of tax payers money, I can't understand how the taxpayers of PEI can blame Ghiz for asking. As I stated, it's his job. Instead of critizing him for doing his job, why are you all not up in arms as to why your government continues to fritter away your tax dollars? The people should support the government but the government should not support the people by running golf courses at a deficit just to give people enough work to collect U.I. Better they spend the taxpayers dollars on permanent, meaningful and well paying jobs . -
- Charlottetown Guy
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:42:24
Bravo randy, I am with you. no more double talk, just clear answers. go robert go.
-
- Bunker
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:35:00
It would be nice if PEI could retain ownership of the courses, but contract knowledgeable management (including financial criteria) for operations. They could set up an incentive of anything above break even would go to the vendor or make some type of portion of proceeds arrangement. The courses would then likely be well managed, appropriately priced and stop being a loss leader.
