With Parliament officially back in session following King’s Throne Speech, the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies and Advisors (ACTA) is reaffirming its commitment to advocating for the retail travel industry at the federal level.

ACTA says it will continue to engage strategically with all Members of Parliament, aiming to strengthen relationships and present the priorities of travel agencies and independent travel advisors. The association is also working to build bipartisan support as the government shapes its legislative agenda.

The timing is crucial, ACTA notes, as the retail travel sector is still in recovery and facing challenges tied to the evolving Canada-U.S. relationship, including the potential economic impact of tariffs.

Key priorities 

ACTA has identified several priorities for the new parliamentary session:

• Securing ongoing recognition of the retail travel industry’s economic importance in government policy decisions
• Continue advocating for small-business-friendly policies that support recovery efforts, including mitigating challenges for companies dealing with COVID-era loan repayments
• Push for legislative and regulatory enhancements that strengthen traveller confidence
• Promote policies supporting women entrepreneurs
• Seek ongoing input opportunities on international travel policies affecting Canadian travellers
• Support for the retail travel industry as it navigates an increasingly complex Canada-US relationship, including the impacts of tariffs

Strengthening government relations 

A central focus for ACTA will be positioning itself as a key resource for newly elected MPs on travel-related matters, while leveraging its existing connections with veteran members to provide expert insight that can inform policy and legislation.

ACTA also stressed the importance of cross-party collaboration: “ACTA will continue to build relationships across party lines to ensure the retail travel industry’s voice is heard in federal decision-making.”

Source: Travelweek