Integrated Epic Fantasy

I read this new plan for tourism in Halifax.  I admit to liking some of the individuals - Jennifer Angel dealt fairly with the washroom situation at the Stubborn Goat years ago.  But the report is filled with jargon.  Lenses peering at diversity on behalf of stakeholders in world-class venues.  Not really a plan, more like fantasy.

As always, the people in charge are all white and do not represent the voices of people with disabilities.  Their list of seven plans does not reference Access by Design 2030, which is meant to be the roadmap to an accessible province.

They do mention empty nesters for disposable income and flexibility.  But you wonder what they're smoking over there.  This study says there are 859 million people with restricted ability (a new term for 'disabled') worldwide.

The tourism plan does say that we need better public washrooms, but seems focused on hinting that Halifax is only a smidgen away from becoming the next Paris, Florence or Capetown.

Three things:

The tourism accessibility guidelines are a joke if they exist at all.   The Provincial Tourism website lists 22 (of  702) (3%) accommodations as 'wheelchair accessible'.  Enough room for the 2.6 million New Englanders over 65 and a day's drive away?

In 2019 my wonderful 80-year-old sister visited, and I took her to Lunenburg.  The Bluenose was in.  Nice steps!  Welcome empty nesters!

To hell with it.  Discover Halifax would rather dream about private jets stopping by on their way to Davos than to get practical,  Wanna buy a convention centre?  Brand new, never used......