Nova Scotia tourism Minister Percy Paris’s starring role in a new $1.4-million tourism campaign has the Tories crying foul.
House leader Chris d’Entremont said Tuesday that someone other than the minister should have been cast.
“We look at this as being a slippery slope on using government money for political gain,” d’Entremont said. “This is about the politician, this is about the NDP. This is not about promoting Nova Scotia tourism.”
The ad is an invitation to people to submit a one-minute video offering an enthusiastic account of their favourite things to do and places to go in the province.
In the ad, Paris introduces himself as Percy while his full name and title appear in small print for a couple of seconds in the bottom left corner of the screen.
“Hi, I’m Percy,” he says. “My Nova Scotia is all about wonderful people, warm welcomes and friendly smiles, but we want to know about you.”
Paris said he was disheartened by d’Entremont’s criticism.
“This is an advertisement encouraging Nova Scotians to be involved in promoting Nova Scotia. That’s what this is,” he said. “I’ve got a very minor role in this. I’m the minister of tourism and I would argue with anyone: isn’t that part of my mandate?”
D’Entremont said it hasn’t been the practice for ministers to appear in government ads. He said someone who works in the tourism industry could have filled the spot.
An NDP caucus office release said former Tory labour minister Mark Parent was in radio and print ads about the previous government’s intention to take away the right to strike from health-care workers, and former education minister Karen Casey was on the radio welcoming students back to school in September.
People have until May 2 to submit their videos. A My Nova Scotia audition bus will also visit 14 communities across the province between April 4 and 18.
Twenty-one people will be selected for a television campaign targeting Atlantic Canada from May 9 to Sept. 26.
The My Nova Scotia campaign will also include regional newspaper, radio and online ads as well as a social media component.
