IQALUIT
Almost $70,000 was paid as a fee for Nunavut Tourism's CEO to appear on an American talk show, not including the cost of travel to the Lifetime Networks' Florida studio last February, according to documents obtained by Nunavut News/North through an Access to Information and Protection of Privacy (ATIPP) request.

Hosts Danielle Knox, left, and television personality Alan Thicke thank their guest, Nunavut Tourism CEO Colleen Dupuis, in the Lifetime Networks' studio in Pompano Beach, Fla., last Feb. 26. The segment, called Enchanting Arctic Paradise, aired on April 9, 19 and 26 and can be viewed at thebalancingact.com - image courtesy of the Lifetime Network

Colleen Dupuis travelled to Pompano Beach, Fla., so she could appear on The Balancing Act to promote the territory. The seven-minute segment cost $69,700, according to the contract between Nunavut Tourism and the Lifetime Network, excluding the cost to get there, meals and accommodations.

Dupuis appeared on the show, which was hosted by Danielle Knox and Alan Thicke, a Canadian actor and TV personality, despite reservations by her colleagues, according to internal e-mails contained in the documents, which total 277 pages.

In an e-mail sent prior to the Feb. 26 appearance on the show, Pam Coulter, the Government of Nunavut's director of communications at the time, expressed her apprehensions about the idea.

"Also mention that it contradicts the U.S.'s current Discover America campaign ... that is spending millions and millions and millions to get Americans to travel within their own borders," she writes to Karen Kabloona, then director of tourism and cultural industries for the Department of Economic Development and Transportation (EDT), which was responsible for Nunavut Tourism.

"Six to eight minutes on a Florida TV show will not make one iota of difference to where they will travel," Coulter adds, referring to American viewers.

Funding for the trip was granted anyway. It came from a $200,000 surplus in Nunavut Tourism's budget, from which Dupuis requested $69,700 be allocated for the trip.

Nunavut Tourism gets a large portion of its funding from the Department of Economic Development and Transportation, according to its website.

Dupuis told Nunavut News/North she only spent one night in Florida, and has noticed a "slight increase" in the number of American tourists to Nunavut since the show aired.

In another exchange, Kabloona points out reallocating the surplus for marketing purposes is not part of Nunavut Tourism's business plan.

"If it had been, then they would have applied for SIP (strategic investments program), like everyone else," she writes.

"The approval process would be fair, transparent and accountable."

In a letter to Paul Suvega, then assistant deputy minister of EDT, Dupuis asks for an addendum to the core budget in what she calls "a great marketing opportunity in a market that we have long neglected, the U.S.

"We have the dollars because of staffing issues (on disability, positions vacant for a month or so, etc.)," she adds.

Having not heard back from Suvega a week before the taping was scheduled, Dupuis sent an e-mail to him and Kabloona, saying she was leaving for Florida anyway.

"Just to confirm, we responded with information requested for the addendum to our core and have not had a response," she writes.

"This trip starts today, so we are taking no response as acceptance. It will be great coverage for Nunavut."

Suvega approved the request two days later, on Feb. 21.

Prior to the trip, Kabloona created an assessment of the request in which she would summarize the request and compare its aspects to Nunavut Tourism's 2012-2013 business plan.

She makes note of several conflicts that would arise from appearing on the show, some of which would directly contradict the plan.

No members profiled

For example, core activities for Nunavut Tourism include "marketing of our members' products, advocacy and member service," yet she remarks no tourism operators would be profiled on the broadcast.

Secondly, part of Nunavut Tourism's mandate is to continue to market Nunavut worldwide, but with an emphasis on domestic marketing and promotion.

Viewers of The Balancing Act, including 30 per cent who live in Florida, qualified as neither "worldwide" nor "domestic," Kabloona stated.

Kabloona also points out The Balancing Act broadcast amendment is 90 per cent over the approved marketing budget, "plus travel and staff time."

The marketing budget for Nunavut Tourism at the time was $36,500.

Finally, Kabloona notes that based on past information collected from surveys and consultations, Nunavut Tourism's key demographic is males 40 years of age or over, well-educated, with an annual income more than $110,000 and who take two trips per year.

According to viewership information provided to Nunavut Tourism by the Lifetime Network, the demographic of The Balancing Act is similar only in age.

Forty six per cent of viewers have a college education, are mostly single and working parents of two children, have an annual household income of $62,800 and are 68 to 76 per cent female.

"Nunavut Tourism’s marketing plan identifies a target demographic of wealthy, Canadian, mostly men," Kabloona notes. "The Balancing Act is watched by single, working moms on a tight budget. The only similarity is age."

Kabloona's final recommendations, as well as payment recommendations, were redacted.

Trip to Vancouver

The documents also include a detailed expense report from the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, attended by Dupuis and her husband, David Bergman, as well as other Nunavut Tourism officials.

In an e-mail sent June 4 last year, Kabloona called out a few inconsistencies about the trip, including the purpose of Bergman's travel.

"He's an EDT airport firefighter and Colleen's husband," she writes. "If he was travelling on duty travel, presumably he'd need the EDT minister to approve his travel. If his travel was related to the project, it needs justification."

Airfare for Dupuis to Vancouver for the Olympics topped $5,073 while Bergman's tab was $3,548.

"The Air Canada tickets for Colleen Dupuis and David Bergman are high," Kabloona writes. "Did they travel first class?"

Dupuis said her husband's trip was justified.

"He came to Vancouver because we needed logistical support," she said. "The GN, my board and everyone was aware of this. All that he was reimbursed or covered was his flights."

Matthew Illaszewicz, manager of communications with EDT, said David Bergman was on leave from the department in February 2010.

"He was not at the 2010 Olympic Games in his capacity as an employee of the Department of Economic Development and Transportation. Questions on this matter should be put to Nunavut Tourism," he wrote in an e-mail.

Per diems and honorariums for Dupuis and four Nunavut Tourism employees – Ailsa Lapp, Tony Rose, Leslie Cousins and Jessica Dewar – totaled $10,919.

"What did Tony Rose, Leslie Cousins and Jessica Dewar do? They received honorariums and per diems," Kabloona asks in the same e-mail.

Dupuis said Rose, Cousins and Dewar were staff at Nunavut House, a building co-run by the Government of Nunavut and the Government of the NWT during the Olympics.

Its purpose was to promote culture, tourism and industry of both territories.

"Northern House was staffed 13 hours a day for 12 days," Dupuis said.

The cumulative bill for dinners, over the course of a month, was more than $39,000.

One journalist was taken dog sledding ($195) while dinner and gas was provided for another ($517).

Dupuis attended the Olympics between Feb. 9 and Feb. 23 but flew to the city earlier to attend press events. One room charge for one night at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver was $614. Bergman was in Vancouver from Feb. 13 to Feb. 21.

Kabloona declined to comment in person because she no longer works for the Department of Economic Development and Transportation. Coulter also declined to comment. She left her position as director of communications on Jan. 31.