ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the Newfoundland and Labrador government to stop wasting taxpayer dollars after the Department of Tourism spent more than $40,000 entertaining a luxury tour company in Labrador that hasn’t sent a single tourist there since.

“Taxpayers shouldn’t be taking luxury tour operators on luxury tours,” said Devin Drover, CTF Atlantic Director. “If government wants to promote tourism, it should focus on cutting taxes and red tape, not flying executives around on the taxpayer dime.

“This is a textbook failure by the government: Tens-of-thousands of dollars spent without a single tourist to show for it.”

The Department of Tourism flew a government bureaucrat and four representatives from luxury tour operator Entrée Canada to Torngat Mountains National Park for a five-day trip in August 2022 to develop a high-end tourism package.

Taxpayers covered the cost of the trip, which included private helicopter services, accommodations and other expenses, according to records obtained by the CTF.

The department has since confirmed there has been no return on investment or economic impact assessment from the tour more than three years later. Entrée Canada remains in negotiations with park stakeholders and has yet to send a single tourist to the park.

“This is exactly why government shouldn’t be in the business of corporate welfare,” said Drover. “If there’s a genuine market for luxury tours to Torngat Mountains, private industry can make that happen without government picking up the tab.”

The CTF is urging the provincial government to review all discretionary tourism spending and ensure taxpayer dollars aren’t wasted on future development trips.