Mr. Speaker, there is no industry more important in my riding than tourism. It accounts for half the jobs in Parry Sound-Muskoka and it is an important economic generator throughout rural Canada.
The tourism industry supports over half a million jobs Canada-wide. It is a $26 billion industry and the Canadian Tourism Commission has been successful in achieving a 13 per cent increase in our international tourism receipts which is leading to even more jobs.
This year's budget builds on that progress. The $15 million annual increase to the Canadian Tourism Commission means that we will be better positioned to market Canada around the world. Our commitment of $50 million to the Business Development Bank of Canada will result in $250 million in new loans for tourism operators in rural Canada, in areas like mine where the operators have been starved for capital in the last few years.
Our government is committed to tourism. It is committed to creating jobs for Canadians. It is committed to rural Canada.