Non-profit set to shut its doors as P.E.I. government takes over tourism inspections

A non-profit that has been responsible for inspecting tourism accommodations in Prince Edward Island for more than 30 years is preparing to close up shop.

The P.E.I. government informed Quality Tourism Services this spring that it was cancelling its contract, with provincial government workers taking over the inspections. 

That process is now underway. The move will put 10 people at its Central Bedeque office out of work. 

Colin MacIntyre, executive director of Quality Tourism Services, says he's already hearing from operators concerned about the change.

"I think it's important to have an independent third party doing the inspection. There's a lot of operators concerned about favoritism," MacIntyre told CBC News.  

"They can go to their MLA and get something overruled. There's a lot of that concern and just having the third party, there's more trust in that process. We've really worked hard to build relationships with operators."

'Professionalize the industry' 

Quality Tourism Services or QTS conducts more than 2,000 inspections a year, from small cottage operations to major hotel chains.

The non-profit is managed by a board of directors made up of representatives from each sector of the tourism industry. Its services cost the province nothing because the organization is funded through licensing fees paid by operators. 

Tourism Minister Zack Bell said the province is trying to "professionalize the industry," adding that so far, staff are telling him the transition has been seamless.

"I don't want to say there were concerns [about QTS's work] by any stretch of the imagination, but it's just one of those things, that we wanted to make sure that it was being done," Bell said. 

"I do want to make sure that the inspections — it's very similar to like a restaurant that's being inspected. If I'm going to eat at a restaurant, I want to ensure that restaurant is inspected. Same as riding an elevator, you know what I mean? You want to make sure that elevator is safe and that you're going to be secure."   

'Drive some of the properties underground'

MacIntyre said he's hearing from some operators who are choosing not to operate this year because of the change.

"They do not wish to have the government inspect them, especially the smaller ones... I think it might drive some of the properties underground."

Heather MacQuarrie has been operating Cavendish Sunset Cottage on P.E.I.'s North Shore for the past 14 years.

Her last inspection was with QTS; she hasn't been inspected by provincial inspectors yet. She's planning to write to her MLA to express her concerns about the changes.

"There was no notice, and my surprise continued because I really didn't grasp what was the explanation for why this was happening," said MacQuarrie. "I had some concerns about the lack of transparency around the change, prospects for employees, and consultation with the operators." 

'In a very kind manner'

Racheal Steele, a tourism standards advisor with QTS, is one of the people losing her job. 

None of the staff members have applied to work with the province, as the government said it expected when the issue was raised in the legislature earlier this year. Some told CBC News the provincial positions paid less than QTS.

"I have talked to a few operators that have experienced both the inspection by us and also by the tourism agents and they did say there's a difference, within the level of friendliness especially," said Steele.

"If I go to a place and they might not necessarily have every single thing they need, I'm going to tell them what they need in a very kind manner and I'm not going to fail them for it. I'm just going to essentially need proof that they added those things.

"We're trying to mentor them. We're not trying to hinder them, we're not trying to lecture them. We just want to make everything is safe for guests."

'There's a lack of trust'

Kylee McQuaid-Campbell, who also works at QTS, said the operators she's been talking to have a lot of questions about what will change once the province fully takes over inspections. 

"To say that a lot of them are angry is an understatement. I think they feel like there's a lack of trust within the whole process," McQuaid-Campbell said. "I think that they just are very nervous and not really sure what to expect." 

QTS's last inspections will be June 30. It will continue to do star ratings through the summer, and will close its doors Sept 30. A spokesperson for the province says it plans to hire seven inspectors, two will be year-round and five will be seasonal. Some of those positions have already been filled. 

MacIntyre, who has been with the organization for 12 years, will then be out of job. 

"For myself, I'll be facing a career change," he said. 

"I've put a lot into it over the past 10 years. It's been my pet project, I guess, and it's been very rewarding to see how we've been able to help operators."