Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for this very important question.
As members will know, this is one area within this government where we have not only held our budget but have increased
our budget because we believe that tourism marketing is one area through which we can put a lot of Canadians back to work in very short order.
To facilitate that the Prime Minister announced in early January the Canadian tourism commission. The Minister of Industry announced all the appointed members February 1 and that commission is now receiving proposals from the private sector from tourism operators.
It will consider those private sector marketing plans along with those funds. They in turn will be matched with the tourism commission's funds. Hopefully through that kind of joint venture and leveraged attempt we can-