PCs halt price hike for Ontario highway tourism signs

The province will not be going ahead in 2019 with planned price hikes for the blue tourism signs that dot Ontario's highways after all.

The Progressive Conservative government "heard clearly from tourism operators across the province" that they were unhappy the fee increase, said Michael Tibollo, minister for tourism, culture and sport, in a statement Thursday.

Earlier this month, the operators of anearly 19th-century mill south of Smiths Falls, Ont., spoke out about the forthcoming hike, claiming their 2019 bill for their two signshad gone up from $300 to $800.

• Price hike for tourism signs a move in the wrong direction, attractions say

Volunteer Ken Watson said the Old Stone Millcouldn't afford the increase, and he worriedvisitors wouldn't be able to find the mill without the signs.

The CEO of Attractions Ontario, which represents about 500 tourism businessesin the province, also said the sudden increase was "poorly communicated" to its members.

The tourism sign program is managed by Canadian TODS Limited under the supervision of Tibollo's ministry.

Tibollosaid Thursday that the previous Liberal government froze prices for 10 years, and blamed them for ignoring the cost of inflation and poorly communicating the price hike to businesses after signinga new contract with Canadian TODS Limitedin April 2018.

His statement did not say whether the price freeze would continue beyond 2019.