Summertime affords Canadians the opportunity to travel to the far reaches of our beautiful country. And if you haven't taken your vacation yet, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) offers up a few suggestions of stops you may wish to make along the way because - well - YOU paid for them!

The CTF has chronicled over $48 billion in corporate welfare handouts through Industry Canada and its various agencies over the past 15 years. Some $465 million of this has been doled out to events, recreational sports and vacation spots - your tax dollars hard at play.

Out west, Western Economic Diversification (WED) has handed out some $3 million to hotels, golf courses and festivals - even the Calgary Stampede received $12,381 in grants back in 1991 and 1992! Or you may wish to drop by the Alpine Club of Canada in Lake Louise, who received part of a $1.3 million grant back in 1990.
Over the Rockies, be sure to drop by the Radium Hot Springs, they received a grant of $4,357 of your taxes in 1991. In the land of the living skies, be sure to take in the Saskatchewan Food and Wine Festival in Moose Jaw that received $17,500 in grants from 1998 to 1999. In "friendly" Manitoba, be sure to take in the Festival du Voyageur which netted $128,212.41 in grants since 1991.

In Ontario's heartland, the Federal Agency responsible for Northern Ontario (FEDNOR) has donated at least $12-million to support the tourism industry. If you want to canoe in North Bay, stop by the North Bay Canoe Company since $10,080 of your money went to purchase a new building in 1993. If eco-tourism is your thing, try the North of Superior Travel Association in Thunder Bay because the feds pumped in $100,918 of grants from 1990 to 2000.
Continuing eastward, we stop in la belle province. Yes, there's even handouts in the province of Quebec. Through Canada Economic Development for Quebec (CED-Q), Ottawa has provided $119 million to support tourism activities.

The big winner here is Mont-Tremblant with almost $50 million in federal loans from 1993 to 1998. Or drop by the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal where the joke's on you to the tune of $4 million in loans and grants over the past decade.
Finally, what holiday wouldn't be complete without a swing through Atlantic Canada The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) has generously doled out a whopping $329 million to support tourism and related events.

Check in to Check Inns in Halifax that received $3,047,633 for "business support" in '92 and '93. Or hop over to Summerside, PEI for the Sail and Power Boat Regatta where $100,000 has fuelled a few outboard motors. Don't forget "the rock" where the Grand Falls Golf club received $900,000 plus in grants from 1995 to 1998.

Since you're on vacation, please drop the Minister responsible a postcard thanking him for the 'wise' investment of your taxes. You might write something like: "Dear Minister, I really enjoyed my round of golf, but feel that my tax dollars could have been better spent on say, oh I don't know, the road getting to the course or maybe, an MRI machine for the hospital near the golf course or just lowering my taxes so I don't have to cut my family vacation short again this year."