Premier
Eves welcomes lifting of CDC travel alert
CHARLOTTETOWN, July 9 /CNW/ - Ernie
Eves, Ontario's Premier, said the lifting of the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) travel alert for Toronto is great news for the Province of
Ontario.
"The CDC's decision confirms what we all know - that Toronto
is a safe place to visit and do business," Eves said. "The CDC's
action is really a credit to our front-line health care workers and their
tireless and successful efforts to bring SARS under control."
The Eves government has committed an unprecedented $148 million for
initiatives to help the Ontario economy recover from the impact of SARS,
including:
- $128 million for a
two-year tourism-recovery plan to rebuild global
confidence in Toronto and Ontario as world-class travel
destinations;
- $10 million for a
complementary strategy to revive international
investment and business confidence;
- $10 million to
combat infectious diseases such as SARS by creating the
FitzGerald Infectious Diseases Network that will link
world-class researchers;
and
- exempting
accommodations and admissions to places of amusement across
the province from retail sales tax from May 1 to September 30,
2003.
The CDC decision to lift the travel alert as of 5 p.m. yesterday
comes on the eve of the Toronto Molson Indy this weekend. Other upcoming
tourist events in Toronto include Caribana, the Beaches Jazz Festival, the
125th Anniversary of the Canadian National Exhibition and the Toronto
International Film Festival.
"With the summer tourist season in full swing, this news from
the CDC couldn't have arrived at a better time," Eves said. "My
message to the world is: Come to Toronto. You're welcome here. We are open
for business."
