Nelson Sergerie
PERCÉ – The Town of Percé is still searching for a solution to maintain the Municipal Tourist Information Office, which has been cut due to 2024 budget reductions.
The mayor of Percé, Cathy Poirier, met on February 5 with staff from the office of the Member of the National Assembly for Gaspé, Stéphane Sainte-Croix, Tourisme et commerce Rocher-Percé, the Rocher-Percé MRC and Tourisme Gaspésie to explore possible solutions to maintain office.
Even if the Town of Percé is prepared to support a buyer to provide the service, the fact remains that the $230,000 in payroll is a significant obstacle to relaunching the office.
“It’s still a considerably high amount for the taxpayers of Percé who already have a fairly high tax rate. We had to cut all departments in the budget. Is the tourist reception office part of our obligations? No. Is snow removal part of our obligations? Yes. Is the fire service part of our obligations? Yes. The municipal council chose this way,” recalls the elected official who indicates that the tourist office represented a tax increase of 4.5%.
“Who should pay for this service? Is it the citizens? The industry? The visitors? We will continue to look to eventually find a solution,” she says.
The mayor plans to meet with Percé merchants. “We planned a meeting with some merchants. We don’t want to have the entire business community. We want to clarify possible solutions and see the interest in the resumption or continuity of operations of the tourist reception office,” explains the mayor.
The situation isn’t causing a significant mobilization in the merchants. “I don’t feel any movement being made. We are talking about it. People are still in shock. We maintain our commitment to participate in this maintenance. What we are asking for is help from the business community,” says the elected official who is still not able to define the form that the recovery will take.
“Are we going to find a hybrid way of doing it? If we can add partners to develop something else? Will it be digital?” wonders Cathy Poirier.
She, however, cautions that there is no government program to fund the operations of a tourist office.
A citizen intervenes
Citizen intervention
The co-owner of the Pit Caribou microbrewery spoke as a private citizen during the February 6 municipal council meeting after attending the January meeting.
“I believe that Percé needs to have this office. On the other hand, the budget is very tight. Incompressible expenses represent up to 90%,” mentions Jean-François Nellis.
In his opinion, the tourist fee was seen as a first step to reduce the tax burden on citizens and maintain infrastructure.
“There are 500,000 tourists who come to Percé every summer. At the moment, the majority of people who pay for infrastructure are citizens,” explains Mr. Nellis.
“That’s why I suggest we sit down and discuss. The fee went to court and was refused. The objective was commendable, but not the method used. The basis was to reduce the tax burden and I consider it important to discuss it,” continues the citizen.
“If we don’t have the tourist fee, what do we do? People come to criticize, but do we provide solutions? I only heard people venting about the town council. I would like us to sit down together and work toward a common goal,” says Mr. Nellis, who sees Ms. Poirier’s outstretched hand as an opportunity to do so.
Citizens present at the council suggested that Mr. Nellis’ intervention had been prompted by someone else. “I am capable of expressing my opinion as an individual and no one is going to control me,” he replies.