The minister responsible for tourism says that the “intraprovincial air travel loop” wouldn’t work for travel to Labrador because of revenue guarantees.

The province announced last week it was partnering with PAL to create a loop between Deer Lake, St. John’s and Gander, which drew the ire of NDP MHA Jordan Brown.

Steve Crocker says that while he recognizes the need for more affordable travel, last week’s announcement was for “non-resident, visitor travel,” saying tourists going to Labrador are not typically going through St. John’s.

He says airline affordability is a federal issue, not a provincial one.

“A revenue guarantee doesn’t work for affordability. A revenue guarantee is about making sure that the route is there. We have a strategy for route development and increased capacity,” he told reporters.

“The tourist that goes to Labrador is not typically commuting through St. John’s. That tourist is actually going typically through either Halifax or Montreal.”

NDP MHA Jordan Brown says the province needs to stop taking a “tourist-centric” approach to air travel in this province.

He slammed the minister for, in his words, “subsidizing” travel for people outside the province instead of taking care of people inside the province.

“This is the problem; we’re spending money to subsidize people’s vacations while Labradorians can’t get affordable rates. That’s the big problem here. That’s the big problem that Labradorians have, and that’s why Labradorians are so upset,” he told VOCM News.

“People from outside this province are getting help to travel here, while people who actually live here cannot get any help.”

The provincial government disputes Brown’s assertion that the program acts as a subsidy. They argue that a revenue guarantee is different in that it helps with route development and access to flights, but does nothing to impact the cost of flying.