Don't discuss new policy with media, travel agents told
Multiple sources tell the Star that local travel agents are being asked not to speak to the media about a new Yukon government pilot project.
Multiple sources tell the Star that local travel agents are being asked not to speak to the media about a new Yukon government pilot project.
The pilot will see the government book 500 of its own flights to gateway cities (Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver) rather than booking through local agents.
Travel agents are set to meet with the government sometime in the next week to discuss the new policy.
"This is just a repeat of what we've seen on so many different fronts,” Liz Hanson, the leader of the official NDP Opposition, said today.
"It seems to me that the notion that a government would create an atmosphere where local businesses are fearful of speaking out about something that affects their bottom line is really not a very positive statement about a government.
"And I would suggest to you that this is not unique to this business.
"We have many people giving us the same message that this government has created a climate of fear.”
The NDP received an anonymous call last week from a person concerned about the pilot project but uncomfortable speaking out about it.
Hanson sent a letter to Premier Darrell Pasloski on the issue dated Monday, asking for the rationale behind the program.
She has not yet received a response.
Alicia Debrenceni, a Department of Highways and Public Works spokesperson, said today the pilot is a cost savings measure. It won't require any additional hiring, she added.
"(The) Yukon government is committed to spending public funds in a responsible and cost-effective manner and has an obligation to reduce public expenditures when and where it can,” she said.
By booking directly, the government will save the $40 booking fee on each of the 500 flights, Debreceni said – a total saving of $20,000.
The government will still use local travel agents to book flights beyond the gateway cities, she added.
As of this morning, it was still unknown when the pilot project will begin.
Hanson questioned what evidence the government has to suggest these savings would actually be realized.
She also queried whether travel agents were consulted before the program was announced.
Questions posed to Highways and Public Works regarding the gag order were not answered before this afternoon's press deadline.
Comments (5)
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YUKON GLEN on Sep 13, 2013 at 4:34 am
good call YTG its 2013 no one needs the services of a travel agent to make a simple travel arrangement. It only takes a few minutes on the net, or a quick phone call. No idea why they would have to keep it a big secret though.
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DMZ on Sep 13, 2013 at 3:21 am
This isn't a supportive environment for local business, whatever they might say. It hasn't been for years.
All levels of government seem determined to make it clear to anyone not in the extraction industry that they're expendable. And for some reason many people seem to think that everyone but themselves is over-paid, an attitude which only seems to encourage stupid initiatives like this.
I think they need to look at value-added for the $20,000 they think they're "saving". Penny-wise, pound-foolish.
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Barnaby Jones on Sep 12, 2013 at 6:41 am
This is just another example of the Yukon government trying to overshadow the mega-bucks spent because they messed up big projects - school, hospitals, firehall. The dollars lost due to re-planning and re-tendering due to incompetance greatly exceeds the very small amount of savings by reducing travel industry work.
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What a waste on Sep 12, 2013 at 5:02 am
So the article suggests they will save $20,000 ... well what will be the cost to the travel industry when a local person loses their job! Take a look at all the Requests for Proposals or silly tenders each department puts out almost daily ... most are a joke and is work that should be done in-house but in an effort to seem important they hire a consultant for $100,000 to tell them the obvious. To say this is an initiative to save tax payers money is laughable ... let them think about that next time a manager wants new office furniture to the tune of $15,000
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June Jackson on Sep 11, 2013 at 12:01 pm
Oh good!! so the travel industry will be the sacrifical lamb so to speak..
Alicia Debrenceni, a Department of Highways and Public Works spokesperson, said "(The) Yukon government is committed to spending public funds in a responsible and cost-effective manner and has an obligation to reduce public expenditures when and where it can,” she said.
This statement is a joke considering the money they are throwing down the drain for their friends at SIMA. How many private sector jobs will be lost? At a educated guess, I would say the government is the single biggest travel booker.
Well..take heart, Paslawski has to call an election sooner or later, and we all get a chance to express our general displeasure with their performance.