Nation-Building Value of Tourism

Honourable senators, it is an honour to rise today to speak to the important inquiry put forward by my esteemed colleague, the Honourable Senator Karen Sorensen, on the nation-building value of tourism.

Before I begin, I wish to acknowledge that Windsor-Essex is situated on the traditional territory of the Three Fires Confederacy, comprised of the Ojibway, Odawa and Potawatomi peoples. I also recognize Caldwell First Nation and the many Indigenous Peoples who have lived on, cared for and stewarded these lands and waters since time immemorial. Their enduring connection to this territory continues to enrich our communities and reminds us of our shared responsibility to advance truth, reconciliation and respect.

One of Senator Sorensen’s goals in bringing forward this inquiry is to recognize the cultural and economic benefits of tourism across Canada, while ensuring that every province and territory is represented in this conversation.

Today, as Canada faces economic and cultural pressures from both within and beyond our borders, conversations about what connects us as Canadians have never been more important. Those challenges are felt acutely in my home region of Windsor and Essex County — the automotive capital of Canada and home to one of North America’s most productive greenhouse sectors.

Through my professional work and my community connections, I have witnessed first-hand the impact of economic uncertainty on children, families and communities across our region. Never in our recent history has tourism played such a vital role in our economic future, our cultural vitality and, indeed, our sovereignty as a nation.

Tourism is about so much more than just travelling. When we share stories about who we are, how our country was built and the cultures that shape our identity, we create a sense of belonging. We strengthen the bonds that unite us. We discover that we have more in common than what divides us.

Allow me to tell you a little bit about Windsor-Essex. According to Workforce WindsorEssex, Windsor is home to approximately 490,000 people, and our region welcomed an estimated 5.6 million visitors in 2023. These visitors contributed approximately $856 million to the local economy, supporting thousands of businesses and jobs throughout the region.

Located on a peninsula in the Great Lakes, Windsor-Essex and Pelee Island offer year-round experiences for residents and visitors alike.

One of the highlights of my summer was attending the Canadian opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony and celebration of the Gordie Howe International Bridge. It was an inspiring experience and a testament to the Canadian values of perseverance, collaboration and ambition.

When we work together, we accomplish extraordinary things.

The bridge is already helping to revitalize the historic Sandwich Town community that connects directly to it.

Honourable colleagues, Windsor-Essex is also a place of profound historical significance, particularly in the story of Black Canadian history. While many are familiar with the Underground Railroad, it was in communities stretching from Windsor to Chatham and Buxton where people found freedom, built lives and established institutions that endure to this day. The Sandwich First Baptist Church, a national historic site, stands as a witness to that nation-building history.

The Amherstburg Freedom Museum stands as a cornerstone of that history. Since 2019, the museum has welcomed more than 10,000 visitors, with approximately 57% travelling more than 100 kilometres and who identify the museum as their primary destination.

According to Parks Canada, Point Pelee National Park, located at the southernmost tip of mainland Canada, is a world-renowned destination for birdwatchers and nature lovers, attracting approximately 300,000 visitors each year.

Across Windsor-Essex, there is great anticipation surrounding the creation of the Ojibway national urban park. According to the Friends of Ojibway Prairie and the City of Windsor, the Ojibway Prairie Complex protects a globally significant biodiversity hot spot that is home to more than 4,000 species, including over 160 rare plants and animals.

Colleagues, these local examples point to a broader national truth: Tourism is nation building. Tourism allows Canadians to share their stories with one another, including the complex and sometimes difficult chapters of our history, and it allows us to show up as ourselves. Tourism supports jobs and economic development.

As Senator Sorensen observed during this inquiry: 

We need to foster a tourism industry that’s inclusive and sustainable, because it’s the right thing to do, and because it will burnish Canada’s international reputation for diversity, environmental stewardship and respect for human rights.

Those words capture perfectly why tourism matters — not only economically but also socially and morally.

Tourism also contributes to individual and community well‑being. Research consistently demonstrates the positive relationship between cultural engagement, social connection and mental health.

Honourable colleagues, thank you for your patience. Tourism is far more than an industry. It is a connector, a storyteller. It is a bridge between communities, cultures and generations. It creates a sense of belonging, a place to call home.

By supporting tourism across Canada, we strengthen our communities, honour our histories, protect our natural landscapes and invest in a more connected, sustainable, prosperous, resilient and peaceful future. Thank you. Meegwetch.