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Which acts more like a banana republic, Costa Rica or Quebec?
Costa Rica, a tiny country with only 4.5 million inhabitants, made a choice in the 1980s to develop its tourism industry. It isn't particularly easy to get to, it doesn't have a lot of heritage sites, it's not known for its architecture, but it does have one huge asset: its environment – its rainforests and beaches.
The government has made a deal with Mother Nature that goes something like this: "We will protect you, and, in return, you will develop our economy."
This deal has paid off.
Unlike most of its neighbours, its economy no longer depends on the export of coffee, bananas or other natural resources. Today, tourism is its main driver. Eight per cent of the country's economy and 13% of its jobs are derived from this sector.
More than two million tourists visit Costa Rica each year and during the global recession of 2008, GDP actually grew by 3% (less than its more usual 7% to 9% growth, but impressive nonetheless).
Mother Nature has kept up her part of the bargain.
The people of Costa Rica have been motivated to create conservation parks (covering 23% of the country!). They have passed laws to protect the environment and regulate emissions to water. They have become pioneers of ecotourism and recently adopted the ambitious goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2021.
Quebec has a population of 8,000,000 inhabitants, an area 1000 times larger than that of Costa Rica, and a GDP of $230 billion. In principle, we should have the means to achieve our ambitions.
The three million tourists who visit our province each year help support 30,000 companies that employ 400,000 people.
Tourists come to Quebec for many reasons, but nature remains chief among them.
Talk to residents of Charlevoix or Bas-St-Laurent. For them, tourism jobs are crucial.
It is therefore not surprising that residents are upset with TransCanada's proposal to build an oil port right next to a marine park meant to protect the St.Lawrence beluga.
Sylvain Tremblay, mayor of Charlevoix town Saint-Siméon, recently told the newspaper Le Devoir that whale-watching cruises generate an estimated $80 million a year in economic spinoffs. One spill and poof! That money would go elsewhere.
Mayor Tremblay wonders why we would consider jeopardizing whale tourism to become a mere transit point for tar sands oil.
A good question!
So far, Quebec has been dithering on the oil issue. It wants to be a world leader in terms of the environment, but, at the same time, it dreams of becoming a petro-state...
It would benefit from being clearer with oil companies: We are not a banana republic!
It's time for Quebec to sign its own agreement with Mother Nature.
This article by Sidney Ribaux, executive director of Equiterre, originally appeared in French as an online column for Métro newspaper.
