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News / TIAC Tourism Advocacy Update
The most up-to-date information to help businesses navigate this difficult time
Please find the latest updates on official announcements and a recap of TIAC’s advocacy work on behalf of Canada’s Visitor Economy:
December 9, 2020:
Please find the latest updates on official announcements and a recap of TIAC’s advocacy work on behalf of Canada’s Visitor Economy:
In the House
• On Tuesday, December 8th, MP Gudie Hutchings rose in the House of Commons to speak of TIAC President and CEO, Charlotte Bell.
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• On Monday December 7 TIAC’s Acting CEO participated in a meeting of Tourism Roundtable Steering Committee • On Wednesday December 9, TIAC’s board chair presented at the Future Borders Coalition’s Government–Industry webinar; Paths to Recovery: Testing and Vaccination for Safe Restart of Air Travel • On December 9, TIAC’s Acting CEO met with MP Tony Baldinelli, Conservative Party’s Special Advisor to on Tourism Recovery • TIAC’s Acting CEO continues advocacy outreach to discuss measures outlined in the Fall Economic Statement with key decision makers
Government Announcements
• Emergency Measures Administered by the CRA • ISED participated in a meeting with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to go over the current federal emergency measure programs for businesses and individuals, administered by the CRA • Relevant Links: • Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy • Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy • On December 9, Health Canada announces it has authorized the first COVID-19 vaccine• Alberta has imposed tough new public health measures amidst rising COVID-19 infections
• All indoor and outdoor public and private gatherings prohibited
• Festivals, parades, events, concerts, exhibitions, etc. remain prohibited
• Mandatory province wide mask requirement
• LINK
• LINK
• British Columbia restrictions have been extended until January 8th , 2021
• Province wide restrictions on social gatherings and events
• BC to invest in tourism sector through Economic Recovery Plan
• Government’s $53 million in supports to create jobs and spur economic development for tourism businesses
• Manitoba extends COVID-19 restrictions through the holidays
• Gatherings to be banned this year, December 12 to January 8, 2021
• PEI has entered a two week circuit-breaker lockdown
• From December 7 to December 21, Islanders are being urged to stay home as much as possible and many non essential services and businesses have been closed
• Nova Scotia and New Brunswick restriction levels have been reduced as cases decline
• Quebec announced $1.4B for Northern development – includes portion for tourism
• Section two marks $32.4M for entrepreneurship with three of nine initiatives around tourism
• Northwest Territories have extended public health measures
• Latest extension continues through to December 22, 2020
December 2, 2020:
Please find the latest updates on official announcements and a recap of TIAC’s advocacy work on behalf of Canada’s Visitor Economy:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• On November 25th, TIAC’s Acting CEO participated in the Tourism Roundtable Steering Committee planning meeting • November 26th TIAC participated in Destination Canada’s NorthStar meeting • On November 27th TIACs’ TIAC’s Acting CEO met with members of the Canadian Ski Council as well as the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada to discuss sector priorities • On November 30th, TIAC participated in Fall Economic Stakeholder briefing calls and met with Senior Policy Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister to discuss the commitments outlined to the tourism sector
Federal Fall Economic Statement
The Federal Government delivered its Fall Economic Statement on Monday, November 30th. The Hon. Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, presented the document to the House.TIAC was encouraged by the sector specific supports that were outlined, mainly the following points:
- Creating the Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program - a 100% government-backed credit availability loan program at low-interest rates for the hardest-hit businesses.
- Increasing the maximum rate of the wage subsidy program to 75% for the next three periods or until March 13, 2021.
- Extending the current subsidy rates of the Government’s fixed cost relief program, Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy to March 13, 2021, to provide greater certainty to businesses.
- Providing $500 million in additional funding to the Regional Development Agencies to provide financing support to local businesses unable to access other federal financial assistance.
- Anticipated support for the air sector and festivals and events.
While it was encouraging to see these proposed commitments made in the House, there is much work to be done to ensure an effective roll out and strategic focus of these programs. TIAC will continue its advocacy efforts to ensure that these programs are delivered in a timely and effective manner.
TIAC will continue to monitor developments on these supports, and will send out updates as they are available.
Please read TIAC’s press statement on the Fall Economic Statement here.
Government Announcements
• Travel Restrictions Extended - Dec 21st • Bill Blair, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, and the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, announced on November 29 that Canada will extend the Mandatory Isolation Order and temporary travel restrictions for all travelers seeking entry into Canada from a country other than the US, until January 21, 2021. Travel restrictions for US citizens and foreign nationals arriving from the US remain in place until December 21, 2020 and may be extended at that time • LINK • Qualifying organizations can now apply directly for the new Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) program through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). This means qualifying organizations can apply for the subsidy without the need to claim the assistance through their landlords • LINK• Ontario is proposing a cap on delivery fees for restaurants
• The Supporting Local Restaurants Act, 2020 would cap delivery fees at 15% and 20% inclusive of all fees. Applied only to restaurants where indoor dining is prohibited
• LINK
• The General Regulation under the Travel Industry Act, 2002, has been amended to further reduce burden on travel agents and wholesalers (registrants)
• The amendments came into force yesterday, December 1, 2020
• You can find the regulatory changes on the e-laws website, found here: LINK
• Quebec Gathering Holiday at Risk
• Quebec Premier François Legault warned Tuesday that the province’s plan to allow gatherings for four days around Christmas is at risk as the number of hospitalizations in the province reached their highest level since June
• LINK
• British Columbia announces new cabinet
• Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport: Melanie Mark
• LINK
• Alberta Prepares Residents for Socially Distanced Holidays
• Dr. Deena Hinshaw, the province’s chief medical officer of health - “This is not going to be the year for in-person office parties,” she said. “This is not going to be the year for open houses, or large dinners with friends and extended family.”
• LINK
• City of Calgary has declared a local state of emergency
Will allow for Calgary to apply for additional restrictions in the future
• LINK
• City of Banff Announces New Restrictions
• Restaurants at maximum 50% capacity
• Masks required outdoors on Banff Ave and in downtown core
• LINK
• Saskatchewan Announces new Restrictions effective November 27 – Including:
• Limits to 4 per table at restaurants
• Indoor public gathering limited to 30 people, no food for drink
• Team sports activities suspended
• Gaming venues; limit 30 people for businesses with capacity of 150 – food and drink to be sectioned off as a separate service
• LINK
• Saskatchewan Premier indicates possibility of holiday travel / gatherings
• Current restrictions end Dec 17th, If the new restrictions start to bring down the number of COVID-19 cases in the province, they might loosen the restrictions over the holidays. Currently Saskatchewan has the third-highest rate of cases per capita in Canada, behind only Manitoba and Alberta
• LINK
• Manitoba is increasing enforcement on Individuals and Businesses
• Last week Manitoba issued 100 fines for Public Health Order Violation, 22 of those were to businesses
• LINK
• Nova Scotia Grant Program offers Support to Restaurants, Bars and Gyms
• Up to $5,000 to support businesses in the Halifax regional municipality, funded through the Nova Scotia COVID-19 Response Council. Applications open in the coming weeks to those who;
• Have been closed by public health orders
• Experience revenue decrease of 30% in November
• Or expect to decrease by 30% in December
• LINK
• The Federal Government announced 19.3M in funding for Nunavut
• Support for Inuit communities and Inuit organizations in their response to the pandemic
• LINK
• The Nunavut two week lockdown ends today, but masks are mandatory in all communities where there are cases of COVID-19
• LINK
• The Federal Government announced $1.3M for the Northwest Territories
• Funded through the CAnNor’s program, funds will go to supporting Northern and Indigenous employment, training, entrepreneurship, capacity building and infrastructure development
• LINK
• Federal and Yukon Government Announce $5.1M for funding ski infrastructure
• LINK
• Yukon mandates masks are required in all public places
• LINK
In Case You Missed It …
• The Hardest Hit Coalition released a position statement on the Fall Economic Statement • Link to release • Future Skills Council released a report that will help Canadians prepare for a changing and modern labour marketNovember 25, 2020:
Please find the latest updates on official announcements and a recap of TIAC’s advocacy work on behalf of Canada’s Visitor Economy:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• Last week, the Acting CEO presented to TIAC membership during the Association’s virtual Annual General Meeting • Earlier this month, TIAC hosted 3,000 tourism professionals during the first virtual Tourism Congress • Session recordings are available to TIAC members here • This week, the Acting CEO participated in COVID-19 industry impact discussions with Algonquin College’s Travel Services Program Advisory Committee and with students of Humber College’s Hospitality and Tourism Management Program • On November 24, TIAC participated in Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s weekly call with National Tourism Stakeholders
Government Announcements
• The Federal government is set to deliver its economic, fiscal update on Monday, November 30, 2020 • Qualifying organizations can now apply directly for the new Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) program through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). This means qualifying organizations can apply for the subsidy without the need to claim the assistance through their landlords • In Ontario, Premier Doug Ford is calling on the federal government to support the replacement of its 14-day quarantine measure for international travellers with rapid COVID-19 testing • The premier made the comments at a news conference, saying that the province would move forward with its own plans to implement the replacement if the federal government chooses not to • In the meantime, a lockdown has been extended in Ontario and safety measures have been strengthened for 28 days starting Monday, November 23rd • Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador have announced changes to the Atlantic bubble. All travel into these two provinces, including those travelling for work from other Atlantic provinces, will have to self-isolate for 14 days upon their arrival • Yukon has made masks mandatory in the Territory as of December 1. Premier Sandy Silver made the announcement on November 23 during the government’s weekly COVID-19 update • Yukon is the first of the three territories to make masks mandatory in all communities • Alberta’s Premier Jason Kenney announced new restrictions that prohibit all social gatherings in people’s homes and make masks mandatory for all indoor workplaces in the province’s two largest cities • B.C’s Provincial Health Officer has ordered that all events and social gatherings are suspended to reduce COVID-19 transmission. This is in effect from November 19, 2020 to December 7, 2020 • Quebec Premier Legault authorized private gatherings of no more than 10 people during Christmas time. People willing to meet will have, however, to self-isolate one week before and after this celebration time • Quebec Tables $10B Appropriations Bill for Pandemic Support – Including Tourism: • $5B for health care system the remainder are for the following • The tourism recovery plan and measures to support the hotel sector • Financial assistance to support municipalities • The concerted temporary action program for businesses • The youth educational success support fund • The cultural and communications sector economic recovery plan • Release link • Nunavut has moved to territory wide COVID-19 restrictions and has closed all recreational activities for a 2-week period beginning November 18 • The Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, Dr. Theresa Tam, stated during the press COVID-19 update that more and larger outbreaks are occurring in long term care homes, congregate living settings and hospitals, and spreading in Indigenous communities. Community transmission remains the main factor of contagion • The Public Health Agency of Canada’s statement can be found here • During Question Period on November 18th, Conservative MP Tony Baldinelli (Niagara Falls) asked why the Government has not announced a sector-specific travel and tourism recovery plan yet, 9 months into the pandemic • The question period debates can be found here • Conservative MP James Cumming (Edmonton Centre) expressed worry about the state of travel agencies, all experiencing a revenue decrease by 90%. 82% of travel agents are women whose income is totally tied to commissions from selling airfares and vacation packages to their clients • The question period debates can be found here
In Case You Missed It …
• Destination Canada’s 2020 Annual Public Meeting (APM), will be taking place virtually on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 • As of November 21, all air travellers entering Canada will have to provide specific COVID-related information including travel information, self-assessment, and quarantine plans through the government’s ArriveCAN platform • The measures are mandatory and can be completed online or through an app prior to boarding and also require post-arrival follow-up • TIAC is hopeful that innovations such as this app will help with ease of travel when international borders begin to open • Parks Canada announced plans to delay the reservation service launch date for the 2021 visitor season in order to offer visitors a safe and enjoyable experience, allowing them to make more informed decisions regarding COVID-19 • The Hardest Hit Coalition has launched a government facing campaign advocating for targeted relief measures • How can you help? • Please complete this 5 minute survey to ensure we are advocating with the most recent data: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HACNOV2020. • Read TIAC's most recent letter to Minister Freeland and watch our impact video here:November 5-10, 2020:
Please find the latest updates on official announcements and a recap of TIAC’s advocacy work on behalf of Canada’s Visitor Economy:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• On Tuesday, the Vice-President Stakeholder Relations & Business Development also participated in a meeting with the Associate Deputy Minister of Innovation Science and Economic Development (ISED) to discuss the ongoing state of the industry • Several government announcements were released early this week that will impact sector business – please see details below
Government Announcements
• This week, the government officially launched their plan for Universal Broadband Access, which means the government will ensure 98% of Canadians are connected by 2026 • These changes will help SMEs in rural and remote regions enhance their connectivity and opportunities to expand their businesses during the crucial recovery period • On Monday, Minister of Transport Marc Garneau published a statement that impacts on the airline sector have been severe, and that the government will work with Canadian airlines to stabilize the sector, and ensure the survival of regional air routes • The minister’s statement can be found here • In Ontario, Premier Doug Ford is calling on the federal government to support the replacement of its 14-day quarantine measure for international travellers with rapid COVID-19 testing • “The premier made the comments at a news conference on Monday, saying that the province would move forward with its own plans to implement the replacement if the federal government chooses not to.”
In Case You Missed It …
• As of November 21, all air travellers entering Canada will have to provide specific COVID-related information including travel information, self-assessment, and quarantine plans through the government’s ArriveCAN platform • The measures are mandatory and can be completed online or through an app prior to boarding and also require post-arrival follow-up • TIAC is hopeful that innovations such as this app will help with ease of travel when international borders begin to open
Resources for Business
• New TIAC Partner GoEzSafe have launched a new product which is an innovative solution for restaurants and tourism businesses.
2020 TIAC Tourism Congress co-presented by Ottawa Tourism
You’re invited to the first ever virtual TIAC Tourism Congress on November 17 & 18, 2020.Join TIAV for two days of thought-provoking content, insights and ideas to help rebuild the visitor economy and navigate the new tourism landscape. They’ll have a bustling virtual marketplace and plenty of networking opportunities—just like in previous years!
October 29 - November 4, 2020:
Please find the latest updates on official announcements and a recap of TIAC’s advocacy work on behalf of Canada’s Visitor Economy:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• On November 4th the Vice-President Stakeholder Relations & Business Development observed the Tourism Recovery Caucus Advisory Meeting with Conservative MPs and Opposition Tourism Recovery Advisor, Tony Baldinelli • The Vice-President Stakeholder Relations & Business Development also participated in a meeting with the Associate Deputy Minister of Innovation Science and Economic Development (ISED) to discuss the ongoing state of the industry • Last week, TIAC’s Vice-President Stakeholder Relations & Business Development held a meeting with policy staff in the Minister of Small Business & Export Development’s office to promote TIAC’s suggested recovery measures for small businesses
Government Announcements
• This week, the Prime Minister and Minister of Small Business and Export Development announced changes to the CanExport program for SMEs • These changes will help SMEs: • Develop and expand their e-commerce presence by covering partial costs associated with online sales platforms and digital strategy consulting, as well as advertising and search engine optimization • Attend virtual trade shows and other business-to-business events • Navigate new COVID-19-related trade barriers by helping pay for new international market certifications and requirements • This week, the Government announced As of November 21, all air travellers entering Canada will have to provide specific COVID-related information including travel information, self-assessment, and quarantine plans through the government’s ArriveCAN platform • The measures are mandatory and can be completed online or through an app prior to boarding and also require post-arrival follow-up • TIAC is hopeful that innovations such as this app will help with ease of travel when international borders begin to open • Late last week, The Honourable Marco Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, tabled the 2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan • This ambitious plan will see a significant increase of immigration at all levels – a crucial move that will help tourism businesses meet future demand in a recovery period • More details can be read here
In Case You Missed It …
• The Government has announced changes to Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) to make it easier for small businesses operating out of personal accounts to access emergency funding • Please find details here • Last week, Canada was ranked as the third-best “nation brand”, according to the 2020 Anholt-Ipsos Nation Brands Index (NBI) • These rankings help to increase Canada’s brand recognition globally, helping with international marketing efforts
2020 TIAC Tourism Congress co-presented by Ottawa Tourism
You’re invited to the first ever virtual TIAC Tourism Congress on November 17 & 18, 2020.Join TIAV for two days of thought-provoking content, insights and ideas to help rebuild the visitor economy and navigate the new tourism landscape. They’ll have a bustling virtual marketplace and plenty of networking opportunities—just like in previous years!
October 22-28, 2020:
Please find the latest updates on official announcements and a recap of TIAC’s advocacy work on behalf of Canada’s Visitor Economy:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• On October 26, the government announced changes to Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) to make it easier for small businesses operating out of personal accounts to access emergency funding. • Please find details here ceba-cuec.ca • Last week, TIAC’s Vice-President, Stakeholder Relations & Business Development held a meeting with policy makers in the Prime Minister’s Office to discuss the sector’s needs over the next few months • TIAC's Vice-President, Stakeholder Relations & Business Development also participated in a meeting with the Associate Deputy Minister of Innovation Science and Economic Development (ISED) to discuss the ongoing state of the industry
Government Announcements
• As stated above, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland announced that as early as October 26, 2020, the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) will be available to businesses that have been operating out of a non-business banking account • On October 23, Statistics Canada released a new report on the impact of COVID-19 Travel Restrictions on the Canadian Economy • Destination Canada has released a new COVID-19 State of the Industry report, further outlining the impact on Tourism and the Canadian Economy
In Case You Missed It …
• TIAC has relaunched TourismCounts.ca with updated advocacy messaging for the industry – including a 5 Point Plan to ensure industry survival through COVID-19 • This includes a new and improved letter writing campaign through Push Politics. Please take a moment to send another letter to your MP emphasizing that even now, #TourismCounts!
2020 TIAC Tourism Congress co-presented by Ottawa Tourism
You’re invited to the first ever virtual TIAC Tourism Congress on November 17 & 18, 2020.Join TIAV for two days of thought-provoking content, insights and ideas to help rebuild the visitor economy and navigate the new tourism landscape. They’ll have a bustling virtual marketplace and plenty of networking opportunities—just like in previous years!
October 9-21, 2020:
Please find the latest updates on official announcements and a recap of TIAC’s advocacy work on behalf of Canada’s Visitor Economy:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• TIAC has relaunched TourismCounts.ca with updated advocacy messaging for the industry – including a 5-Point Plan to ensure industry survival through COVID-19 • This includes a new and improved letter writing campaign through Push Politics. Please take a moment to send another letter to your MP emphasizing that even now, #TourismCounts!
Government Announcements
• On October 20, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Small Business & Export Minister Mary Ng, announced the launch of a Canada United Small Business Resilience fund (gocanadaunited.ca) which will be managed by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and approve relief grants of up to $5,000 • The maximum grant amount available per application is $5,000. The grant, if awarded, is to provide reimbursement of costs incurred because of COVID-19. It is not a loan, line of credit or similar repayable product • On October 16, during an interview with a Winnipeg radio station, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said to protect Canadians’ safety, the border will not open anytime soon • The government has since formally announced the extension of the U.S. border closure until at least November 21, 2020 • Late last week, the government of Nova Scotia announced a new Tourism Sector Financing Assistance Program which will provide large operators access to lower-cost financing through a loan backstop. • Operators in Nova Scotia can find out more about the program here
In Case You Missed It …
• On October 9, the Prime Minister of Canada and several Ministers, including Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland and Minister of Economic Development, Melanie Joly, announced amendments to key federal support programs for businesses. The announcements emphasized that these changes are necessary for the continued support of the hardest hit businesses in Canada, especially sectors such as tourism. • The full announcement on these measures may be viewed here
2020 TIAC Tourism Congress co-presented by Ottawa Tourism
You’re invited to the first ever virtual TIAC Tourism Congress on November 17 & 18, 2020.Join TIAV for two days of thought-provoking content, insights and ideas to help rebuild the visitor economy and navigate the new tourism landscape. They’ll have a bustling virtual marketplace and plenty of networking opportunities—just like in previous years!
October 8-14, 2020:
Please find the latest updates on official announcements and a recap of TIAC’s advocacy work on behalf of Canada’s Visitor Economy:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• Last week, the Prime Minister of Canada and several ministers announced the expansion of several COVID-19 support programs for businesses, including Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA), Rent Relief (CECRA), and the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) • More details can be found under “government announcements” below • On October 13, the President & CEO participated in a regularly scheduled call with ISED representatives to discuss the state of the industry
Government Announcements
• On October 9, the Prime Minister of Canada and several Ministers, including Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland and Minister of Economic Development, Melanie Joly, announced amendments to key federal support programs for businesses. The announcements emphasized that these changes are necessary for the continued support of the hardest hit businesses in Canada, especially sectors such as tourism • The full announcement on these measures may be viewed here • Among other things, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) program is transitioning to EI. The Government has released a set of FAQs on this transition • It may be a while before we welcome large numbers of travellers from abroad again, but the government of Canada has developed several digital tools to better facilitate public health measures for travellers: • ArriveCAN app: Allows travellers entering the country to speed up the arrival process in Canada and spend less time with border services and public health officers • COVID Alert app: Lets people know of possible exposures before any symptoms appear • COVID-19 App and Symptom tracker: Provides the latest updates, trusted resources, and a tool to self-assess and track symptoms • Wellness Together Canada: Offers free mental health and substance abuse online resources, tools, apps and connections to qualified people when needed
In Case You Missed It …
• Parks Canada is holding consultations seeking public input to help shape Parks Canada’s priorities amid the global pandemic.
2020 TIAC Tourism Congress co-presented by Ottawa Tourism
You’re invited to the first ever virtual TIAC Tourism Congress on November 17 & 18, 2020.Join TIAV for two days of thought-provoking content, insights and ideas to help rebuild the visitor economy and navigate the new tourism landscape. They’ll have a bustling virtual marketplace and plenty of networking opportunities—just like in previous years!
October 1-7, 2020:
Please find the latest updates on official announcements and a recap of TIAC’s advocacy work on behalf of Canada’s Visitor Economy:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• On October 5, the TIAC President & CEO held a meeting with the Conservative Shadow Cabinet representative for tourism, Special Advisor to the Leader for tourism Recovery, MP Tony Baldinelli (Niagara Falls) • During the call, TIAC & Mr. Baldinelli’s office shared concerns for the sustainability of our sector businesses with the phase out of government programs like rent relief, and will work together to advocate for greater recovery measures • On October 6, the President & CEO participated in a regularly scheduled call with ISED representatives to discuss the state of the industry
Government Announcements
• On October 2, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Hon. Melanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development, announced that the Regional Relief Recovery Fund and Community Futures Fund will receive a funding top up across five economic Development Agencies • Tourism was specifically mentioned in the live announcement as a target of funding support • For more information on accessing this funding, please reach out to your designated EDA • On October 5, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced changes to some border restrictions, including opening entry to some extended family members of citizens, foreign nationals entering under compassionate grounds, and international students • Early this week, Parks Canada announced virtual consultations seeking public input to help shape Parks Canada’s priorities amid the global pandemic • On October 7, the government made announcements on taking steps to create a zero-plastic waste by 2030 plan
In Case You Missed It …
• Health Canada regulators have officially approved a new rapid COVID-19 test procedure, which is expected to roll out across the country in coming weeks to help with a rise in assessments • The introduction of government approved rapid testing will be critical for the future of tourism and travel recovery, so this is positive news for the sector
2020 TIAC Tourism Congress co-presented by Ottawa Tourism
You’re invited to the first ever virtual TIAC Tourism Congress on November 17 & 18, 2020.Join TIAV for two days of thought-provoking content, insights and ideas to help rebuild the visitor economy and navigate the new tourism landscape. They’ll have a bustling virtual marketplace and plenty of networking opportunities—just like in previous years!
September 24-30, 2020:
Please find the latest updates on official announcements and a recap of TIAC’s advocacy work on behalf of Canada’s Visitor Economy:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• On September 23, the Government presented a new Throne Speech that included several significant plans that will help the Tourism sector: • Plans to extend CEWS through the summer of 2021 (a big win for the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses) • Planned investments in liquidity measures including enhancements to the CEBA and BCAP programs • “Further support” for travel and tourism, hospitality, and cultural industries • Support for regional routes for airlines • The largest investment in Canadian history in training for workers; • Acknowledgement that Immigration remains a driver of Canada’s economic growth • Announcements in the Throne Speech are not automatically put into action by government – it serves as a roadmap for future policy. TIAC will continue to advocate for these measures to be pushed through by government • Ensure you are subscribed to TIAC Talk to ensure you don’t miss out on further Throne Speech and policy updates • This week, TIAC’s President & CEO participated in a regular meeting with ISED ADM Paul Thompson
Government Announcements
• Health Canada regulators have officially approved a new rapid COVID-19 test procedure, which is expected to roll out across the country in coming weeks to help with a rise in assessments • The introduction of government approved rapid testing will be critical for the future of tourism and travel recovery, so this is potentially good news for the sector • Temperature screening for air travellers has expanded to 11 additional airports in Canada • Canada’s Chief Medical Officer stated yesterday that positive COVID-19 tests are at the same level as the country’s initial peak – raising concerns of the potential return of large scale closures • Please keep appraised of your local and provincial health authorities rules and regulations over the coming days & weeks to ensure we are all doing our best to stem the spread of COVID-19, and get back on track to recovery sooner
In Case You Missed It …
• TIAC is proud to have been a part of the launch of the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses (CHHB), which launched its campaign for the CEWS to be extended into 2021 for businesses unable to move into recovery • If you’re an association whose members are likely to sustain revenue losses of 50%+ in the coming months, and want to join the coalition, please email Meagan at mzettler@tiac-aitc.ca to get involved • Visit hardesthit.ca to learn more
2020 TIAC Tourism Congress co-presented by Ottawa Tourism
You’re invited to the first ever virtual TIAC Tourism Congress on November 17 & 18, 2020.Join TIAV for two days of thought-provoking content, insights and ideas to help rebuild the visitor economy and navigate the new tourism landscape. They’ll have a bustling virtual marketplace and plenty of networking opportunities—just like in previous years!
September 17-23, 2020:
Please find the latest updates on official announcements and a recap of TIAC’s advocacy work on behalf of Canada’s Visitor Economy:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• On September 23 at 2:00pm EST, the Governor General delivered the government’s Throne Speech on behalf of the government, which lays out the government’s priorities ahead of a fall budget • TIAC closely monitored the speech for mention of the tourism sector, and initiatives that can support struggling the visitor economy as a whole and their businesses • TIAC sent an additional note on the contents of the Speech to TIAC members • On September 21, TIAC’s President & CEO met with members of the New Democratic Party to promote the extension of the CEWS program • This meeting resulted in the NDP sending a letter of support to the government on extending the CEWS initiative • On September 22, the President & CEO participated in a meeting with ISED ADM Paul Thompson for a regular stakeholder weekly call as well as a separate meeting with an official from Minister Melanie Joly’s office • Please note that a number of Ministers’ offices have made changes to their key officials. Importantly, Minister Joly’s previous Chief of Staff, Daniel Lauzon has moved to Foreign Affairs as the new Chief of Staff to Minister François-Philippe Champagne. Mr. Lauzon is replaced by Sandra Aubé as the new Chief of Staff to Minister Joly • Please also note that Ms. Tina Namiesniowski has recently stepped down from her position as President of Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and is being replaced by Mr. Iain Stewart who begins his new role as the new head of the agency on September 28th. Mr; Stewart currently serves as President of the National Research Council • TIAC partners at TourismHR Canada are hosting a webinar on “Navigating COVID’s shock to Canada’s tourism workforce” • The webinar will be on September 28 at 2:00pm EST – Register here
Government Announcements
• Late last week, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change announced the launch of the Climate Action and Awareness Fund that will support projects that strengthen Canada’s overall capacity to understand and take action against climate change • To be eligible for funding under this request for proposals, lead applicants must be one of the following: > not-for-profit non-governmental organization > university or academic institution > Indigenous organization • Applications are due October 21, 2020
In Case You Missed It …
• TIAC is proud to have been a part of the launch of the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses (CHHB), which launched its campaign for the CEWS to be extended into 2021 for businesses unable to move into recovery • If you’re an association whose members are likely to sustain revenue losses of 50%+ in the coming months, and want to join the coalition, please email Meagan at mzettler@tiac-aitc.ca to get involved • Visit hardesthit.ca to learn more
2020 TIAC Tourism Congress co-presented by Ottawa Tourism
You’re invited to the first ever virtual TIAC Tourism Congress on November 17 & 18, 2020.Join TIAV for two days of thought-provoking content, insights and ideas to help rebuild the visitor economy and navigate the new tourism landscape. They’ll have a bustling virtual marketplace and plenty of networking opportunities—just like in previous years!
September 10-16, 2020:
A NOTE TO TIAC READERS: moving forward, TIAC will be switching the release schedule for our COVID-19 Updates. Updates will go out each Wednesday evening. Thank you for your continued support and readership.
The TIAC Team is pleased to provide you with this update on the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, including the steps government is taking to address the situation. They are working hard to make sure the industry’s voice is heard by government, and that you have the information you need to keep your business going in these uncertain times.
Please find the latest updates on official announcements and a recap of TIAC’s advocacy work on behalf of Canada’s Visitor Economy:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• On September 16, TIAC’s President & CEO will be a part of a panel on CBC’s Power and Politics to discuss the need for an extension of the CEWS program in the upcoming budget • The segment can be viewed on CBC News Channel or through CBC Gem • TIAC and the Hotel Association of Canada are leading a new industry coalition, which will officially launch its efforts tomorrow morning with a press conference at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier • The Coalition of the Hardest Hit Businesses (CHHB) is made up of 50+ organizations in tourism, arts, and cultural industries, and aims to have the CEWS program extended into 2021 for businesses with ongoing losses of over 50% • More details will be available on September 17 via TIAC’s social channels • It is expected that an extension of border closures through November
Government Announcements
• On September 16, the Prime Minister announced the next steps for the Safe Restart Agreement with Canadian premiers, where each province has laid out their plans to use the funding to safely restart their economies through public letters • Details on these agreements can be found here • This week, the Prime Minister and his Cabinet met to discusslimiting further damage from the pandemic. This comes as COVID-19 cases climb across Canada, and the winter season has experts concerned about virus resurgence • Yesterday, funding for tourism sector businesses were announced by FedNor • Last Friday September 11, Transport Canada announced it has improved COVID-19 notifications for domestic flights • The national enhanced notification process is a key improvement that allows contact tracing to be done in a more consistent manner across all jurisdictions. It will ensure that the Public Health Agency of Canada is able to post on their website, in a timely and consistent fashion, information related to flights where passengers have been potentially exposed to an individual with COVID-19
In Case You Missed It …
• TIAC partners at Destination Canada launched the first ever Canada Expedia Microsite, which in collaboration with all provinces and territories will be used as a platform for marketing tourism product across Canada • View the microsite hereSeptember 3-9, 2020:
A NOTE TO TIAC READERS: moving forward, TIAC will be switching the release schedule for our COVID-19 Updates. Updates will go out each Wednesday evening. Thank you for your continued support and readership.
The TIAC Team is pleased to provide you with this update on the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, including the steps government is taking to address the situation. They are working hard to make sure the industry’s voice is heard by government, and that you have the information you need to keep your business going in these uncertain times.
Please find the latest updates on official announcements and a recap of TIAC’s advocacy work on behalf of Canada’s Visitor Economy:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• On September 9, TIAC’s President and CEO presented virtually to the Canadian Council of Tourism Ministers, which brings together all ministers responsible for tourism across the country • In her presentation, the President & CEO called for better coordination between the federal and provincial governments to ensure the tourism sector is receiving adequate support during the pandemic, regardless of where they are located. This includes a balanced recovery and reopening plan that is similar across jurisdictions. She also called for positive messaging to Canadians from elected officials to encourage travel. • Keith Henry from ITAC also presented a dire picture of how COVID is impacting Indigenous tourism businesses across the country • TIAC continues to work with various stakeholder groups to grow TIAC advocacy voice and initiatives • This week, TIAC’s President & CEO participated in a stakeholder call with officials from ISED to discuss the industry’s ongoing need for liquidity support and extension of the CEWS specifically to help the hardest hit businesses • The President & CEO also participated in several calls with Canada’s Tourism Roundtable • In the coming days, TIAC and the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) will launch a short industry survey to help them gather more recent data to support their joint advocacy efforts. Please keep your eyes out for the link to this new survey!
Government Announcements
• On September 8, the Government of Canada announced that Rent Relief for small businesses through the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program will be extended by one month to help eligible businesses pay rent through September • Last week, Parks Canada announced the extension of visitor season operations for Georges Island National Historic Site, citing high public interest from visitors • New Conservative Party leader, Erin O’Toole announced the members of his ‘shadow cabinet’ who will act as opposition critics to various government portfolios • Notably, long-time tourism critic Blake Richards (Banff-Airdrie) will now serve as the Conservative Party’s Chief Opposition Whip, and Tony Baldinelli (Niagara Falls) will take on the position of Special Advisor on Tourism Sector Recovery • TIAC congratulates both Mr. Baldinelli and Mr. Richards on their new roles. TIAC has already reached out to Mr. Baldinelli to schedule a call in the near future
In Case You Missed It …
• TIAC partners at Destination Canada launched the first ever Canada Expedia Microsite, which in collaboration with all provinces and territories will be used as a platform for marketing tourism product across Canada • View the microsite hereSeptember 1-2, 2020:
A NOTE TO TIAC READERS: moving forward, TIAC will be switching the release schedule for our COVID-19 Updates. Updates will go out each Wednesday evening. Thank you for your continued support and readership.
The TIAC Team is pleased to provide you with this update on the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, including the steps government is taking to address the situation. They are working hard to make sure the industry’s voice is heard by government, and that you have the information you need to keep your business going in these uncertain times.
Please find the latest updates on official announcements and a recap of TIAC’s advocacy work on behalf of Canada’s Visitor Economy:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• On September 2, TIAC’s President & CEO participated in a number of strategic calls with other industry leaders in order to coordinate advocacy approaches • TIAC continues to be apart of Canada’s Tourism Roundtable
Government Announcements
• No significant announcements to report
In Case You Missed It …
• Restaurants Canada announced the appointment of a new President and CEO, Todd Barclay. TIAC welcomes Mr. Barclay and looks forward to working together • Read the full press release here • On August 28, TIAC partners at Destination Canada launched the first ever Canada Expedia Microsite, which in collaboration with all provinces and territories will be used as a platform for marketing tourism product across Canada • View the microsite hereAugust 27-31, 2020:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• The TIAC President & CEO participated in a phone meeting with staff in the Hon. Melanie Joly’s office on Friday, where TIAC continued to emphasize the need for support for tourism businesses • TIAC is hopeful that through ongoing dialogue with government stakeholders, TIAC will see a plan for tourism sector support through the upcoming throne speech and federal budge
Government Announcements
• On August 28, the Department of Finance Canada announced the extension of the application deadline for the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) to October 31, 2020. Applications were scheduled to close on August 31 • To support this extension, Export Development Canada launched a call centre to support businesses who have questions about the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA). The CEBA hotline can be reached at 1-888-324-4201 • Finance also announced that the Business Credit Availability Program BCAP is being extended through June 2021 • The press release on both CEBA and BCAP extensions can be viewed here • The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) made two tourism related funding announcements late last week • $700,000 dedicated to help tourism recover, attract new investments and diversify employment opportunities in PEI • Funding to restore the historic Greenspond courthouse in Greenspond, Newfoundland
In Case You Missed It …
• On August 28, TIAC partners at Destination Canada launched the first ever Canada Expedia Microsite, which in collaboration with all provinces and territories will be used as a platform for marketing tourism product across Canada • View the microsite here • Applications for Period 5 of the CEWS program opened on August 17th. There are now new resources, including a CEWS calculator, available to businesses to help navigate changes to this program • See the government website for further detailsAugust 25-26, 2020:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• The Canadian Revenue Agency has begun testing a new chat tool via its website to provide better support to businesses applying to support programs. The tool should launch permanently in the coming days and will be available to members at the link below: • LINK • The TIAC President & CEO participated in a phone meeting with ISED Associate Deputy Minister, Paul Thompson, to provide a stakeholder update on the state of the industry
Government Announcements
• On August 25, the federal government conducted a briefing on COVID-19 with the Minister of Health, Patty Hajdu, and the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, Dr. Theresa Tam • The briefing focused on public-private partnerships for PPE innovation, and case trends across Canada • There was no mention of information on Canadian travel • On August 26, the government announced $2 billion in transfers to provincial and territorial governments to implement safer back to school plans
In Case You Missed It …
• Applications for Period 5 of the CEWS program opened on August 17th. There are now new resources, including a CEWS calculator, available to businesses to help navigate changes to this program • See the government website for further details • For TIAC’s members using the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA), Export Development Canada has announced a new call centre starting up to provide status updates and document assistance to applicants as some applicants have had challenges receiving the application support they need to receive funds through CEBA • LINK
Resources for Businesses
• Tourism HR Canada offers a wide range of checklists and resources to help tourism operators and their teams rebound from the crisis and build a resilient workforce through their Tourism Workforce Recovery Toolkit. They also publish the latest tourism employment numbers and insights in their Employment Tracker • TIAC Member Keepoint is offering members of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada a 10% discount on its products for a period of 60 days. You will be able to purchase our products from TIAC website at keepoint.ca – click here for promo code • The Manitoba Tourism Education Council (MTEC) is offering their “Clean It Right” program certification free to tourism, hospitality, and retail industry businesses in Manitoba until June 1, 2021 – click here for more details • The certification is also available to operators in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador – please check with your provincial tourism association for costs and other information • TIAC partners at Destination Canada are creating free online educational videos for tourism businesses – “Marketing Tips and Tricks” to increase their digital marketing presence. The first video in the series is available now • TIAC member Tempest has created a free content platform called Rediscover Canada for destination professionals to share travel stories and ‘hidden gems’ in their communities. You can check out and contribute to the initiative here • The UNWTO has an online dashboard of international statistics on the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism sector • MPI has created a coronavirus resource page that pulls together meetings and events info and also links to several other resources helpful to the Business Events portion of our sector • The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has begun releasing Global Safety Protocols for reopening with the ‘new normal’ in mind • Go2HR has compiled a comprehensive list of resources for all types of sector businesses related to COVID-19 • For operators looking for information on how to prepare to safely reopen their operations in the coming weeks, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has a series of bilingual guidelines available to businesses regarding COVID-19 • Google for SMEs has also launched a page dedicated to supporting businesses during COVID-19 including practical steps and free digital skills training
Looking Ahead – COVID-19 Recovery
Several provinces have begun announcing plans for reopening economies. Timelines and actions vary, but can provide businesses and workers with information on what to expect in the upcoming weeks and months. TIAC is following up on measures announced by British Columbia to limit gatherings of more than 50 people and seeking a coordinated approach between provinces in the recovery phase. TIAC has reached out to their provincial counterparts to work together in an effort to create an orderly recovery strategy that will address health concerns and support tourism businesses. TIAC will continue to add links to provincial recovery plans as they become available:Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland & Labrador
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
The Council of Atlantic Premiers – Travel Bubble release
Maclean’s - Coronavirus in Canada: Reopening plans province-by-province
Canada’s Tourism Roundtable guide on traveling in Canada
August 20-24, 2020:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• Late last week, the government announced a 4 week extension to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). This extends the program to a total of 28 weeks, where it will transition to a revamped EI system on September 28th. Key items of note for TIAC’s members include: • To help individuals qualify with a minimum of 120 hours of work, EI claimants will receive a one-time insurable hours credit of: • 300 insurable hours for claims for regular benefits (job loss) • 480 insurable hours for claims for special benefits (sickness, maternity/parental, compassionate care or family caregiver) • To support Canadian businesses and workers through the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government is freezing the EI premium rate at the 2020 level: • The rate for employees is $1.58 per $100 of insurable earnings for two years • The rate for employers, who pay 1.4 times the employee rate, will also remain unchanged at $2.21 per $100 of insurable earnings • Overnight, the Conservative Party of Canada announced the results of its leadership race after a difficult vote count. Durham MP Erin O’Toole took the leadership over candidates Peter MacKay, Leslyn Lewis, and Derek Sloan • TIAC looks forward to engaging the new opposition leader on supporting the tourism sector through COVID-19 recovery
Government Announcements
• On August 21, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages Melanie Joly announced $4M through FedNor to boost tourism in Northern Ontario. A complete list of beneficiaries is listed in the linked backgrounder • On twitter, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and Trade, Mary Ng promoted York Region’s “Ready When You Are” campaign to encourage local tourism. The campaign provides easy access to York Region’s experiences, restaurants, and attractions for potential tourists to consider • Information on the campaign can be found here • Minister Ng also shared a new resource last week that aims to help businesses reopen safely. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has released a free 30-minute course to educate business owners and staff on their responsibilities relating to COVID-19 • LINK • In Ontario, the government is investing $1.2 million through Destination Ontario and Destination Northern Ontario for a new multi-seasonal marketing campaign encouraging domestic tourism within Northern Ontario. The campaign encourages travelling local and domestic
In Case You Missed It …
• Over the weekend, Minister of Transportation Marc Garneau released more details on “Canada’s Flight Plan for Navigating COVID-19”. A full document is available featuring useful graphics and detailed measures for travelers and tourists hoping to restart travel by air • Link to Report • Link to Release • Applications for Period 5 of the CEWS program opened on August 17th. There are now new resources, including a CEWS calculator, available to businesses to help navigate changes to this program • See the government website for further details • For TIAC’s members using the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA), Export Development Canada has announced a new call centre starting up to provide status updates and document assistance to applicants as some applicants have had challenges receiving the application support they need to receive funds through CEBA • Link
Resources for Businesses
• Tourism HR Canada offers a wide range of checklists and resources to help tourism operators and their teams rebound from the crisis and build a resilient workforce through their Tourism Workforce Recovery Toolkit. They also publish the latest tourism employment numbers and insights in their Employment Tracker • TIAC Member Keepoint is offering members of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada a 10% discount on its products for a period of 60 days. You will be able to purchase our products from TIAC website at keepoint.ca – click here for promo code • The Manitoba Tourism Education Council (MTEC) is offering their “Clean It Right” program certification free to tourism, hospitality, and retail industry businesses in Manitoba until June 1, 2021 – click here for more details • The certification is also available to operators in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador – please check with your provincial tourism association for costs and other information • TIAC partners at Destination Canada are creating free online educational videos for tourism businesses – “Marketing Tips and Tricks” to increase their digital marketing presence. The first video in the series is available now • TIAC member Tempest has created a free content platform called Rediscover Canada for destination professionals to share travel stories and ‘hidden gems’ in their communities. You can check out and contribute to the initiative here • The UNWTO has an online dashboard of international statistics on the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism sector • MPI has created a coronavirus resource page that pulls together meetings and events info and also links to several other resources helpful to the Business Events portion of our sector • The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has begun releasing Global Safety Protocols for reopening with the ‘new normal’ in mind • Go2HR has compiled a comprehensive list of resources for all types of sector businesses related to COVID-19 • For operators looking for information on how to prepare to safely reopen their operations in the coming weeks, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has a series of bilingual guidelines available to businesses regarding COVID-19 • Google for SMEs has also launched a page dedicated to supporting businesses during COVID-19 including practical steps and free digital skills training
Looking Ahead – COVID-19 Recovery
Several provinces have begun announcing plans for reopening economies. Timelines and actions vary, but can provide businesses and workers with information on what to expect in the upcoming weeks and months. TIAC is following up on measures announced by British Columbia to limit gatherings of more than 50 people and seeking a coordinated approach between provinces in the recovery phase. TIAC has reached out to their provincial counterparts to work together in an effort to create an orderly recovery strategy that will address health concerns and support tourism businesses. TIAC will continue to add links to provincial recovery plans as they become available:Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland & Labrador
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
The Council of Atlantic Premiers – Travel Bubble release
Maclean’s - Coronavirus in Canada: Reopening plans province-by-province
Canada’s Tourism Roundtable guide on traveling in Canada
August 18-19, 2020:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• On August 18, major changes to government were made including the Hon. Chrystia Freeland becoming the new Minister of Finance, and the prorogation of Parliament to September 23, 2020 • TIAC is working diligently to adapt their advocacy efforts to respond to these changes, and will be sharing more with the industry in the coming days and weeks • On August 18, the government announced the appointment of Marsha Walden as President and CEO of Destination Canada. TIAC welcomes Ms. Walden and looks forward to working closely together with her and Destination Canada to continue supporting the tourism sector • Read the press release here • On August 19, the TIAC-led Industry Policy Committee met to discuss ongoing efforts to support the industry with the impacts of COVID-19, especially as businesses are moving into the shoulder fall season
Government Announcements
• On August 18, Finance Minister Bill Morneau resigned from his position as Finance Minister. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland has been tasked with taking over the position of Finance Minister in addition to her duties as Deputy PM. Minister Freeland will be the first female finance minister in Canada • Parliament has been prorogued until September 23, when a new Speech from the Throne will be delivered. This means all committees will have to be reappointed and the pre-budget consultations will have to be re-adopted and reintroduced • An important consideration of this update is that the Speech from the Throne will likely force a confidence vote in Parliament. TIAC will be watching closely for updates on this situation • On August 19, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and Trade Mary Ng shared a new resource to help businesses reopen safely. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has released a free 30 minute course to educate business owners and staff on their responsibilities relating to COVID-19 • Link
In Case You Missed It …
• Over the weekend, Minister of Transportation Marc Garneau released more details on “Canada’s Flight Plan for Navigating COVID-19”. A full document is available featuring useful graphics and detailed measures for travelers and tourists hoping to restart travel by air • Link to Report • Link to Release • Applications for Period 5 of the CEWS program opened on August 17th. There are now new resources, including a CEWS calculator, available to businesses to help navigate changes to this program • See the government website for further details • For TIAC’s members using the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA), Export Development Canada has announced a new call centre starting up to provide status updates and document assistance to applicants as some applicants have had challenges receiving the application support they need to receive funds through CEBA • Link
Resources for Businesses
• Tourism HR Canada offers a wide range of checklists and resources to help tourism operators and their teams rebound from the crisis and build a resilient workforce through their Tourism Workforce Recovery Toolkit. They also publish the latest tourism employment numbers and insights in their Employment Tracker • TIAC Member Keepoint is offering members of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada a 10% discount on its products for a period of 60 days. You will be able to purchase our products from TIAC website at keepoint.ca – click here for promo code • The Manitoba Tourism Education Council (MTEC) is offering their “Clean It Right” program certification free to tourism, hospitality, and retail industry businesses in Manitoba until June 1, 2021 – click here for more details • The certification is also available to operators in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador – please check with your provincial tourism association for costs and other information • TIAC partners at Destination Canada are creating free online educational videos for tourism businesses – “Marketing Tips and Tricks” to increase their digital marketing presence. The first video in the series is available now • TIAC member Tempest has created a free content platform called Rediscover Canada for destination professionals to share travel stories and ‘hidden gems’ in their communities. You can check out and contribute to the initiative here • The UNWTO has an online dashboard of international statistics on the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism sector • MPI has created a coronavirus resource page that pulls together meetings and events info and also links to several other resources helpful to the Business Events portion of our sector • The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has begun releasing Global Safety Protocols for reopening with the ‘new normal’ in mind • Go2HR has compiled a comprehensive list of resources for all types of sector businesses related to COVID-19 • For operators looking for information on how to prepare to safely reopen their operations in the coming weeks, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has a series of bilingual guidelines available to businesses regarding COVID-19 • Google for SMEs has also launched a page dedicated to supporting businesses during COVID-19 including practical steps and free digital skills training
Looking Ahead – COVID-19 Recovery
Several provinces have begun announcing plans for reopening economies. Timelines and actions vary, but can provide businesses and workers with information on what to expect in the upcoming weeks and months. TIAC is following up on measures announced by British Columbia to limit gatherings of more than 50 people and seeking a coordinated approach between provinces in the recovery phase. TIAC has reached out to their provincial counterparts to work together in an effort to create an orderly recovery strategy that will address health concerns and support tourism businesses. TIAC will continue to add links to provincial recovery plans as they become available:Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland & Labrador
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
The Council of Atlantic Premiers – Travel Bubble release
Maclean’s - Coronavirus in Canada: Reopening plans province-by-province
Canada’s Tourism Roundtable guide on traveling in Canada
August 13-17, 2020:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• On August 13, TIAC’s President and CEO, Charlotte Bell, had a call with MP Elizabeth May, former leader of the Green Party of Canada to brief MP May on the realities faced by tourism businesses and to outline sector support measures • On August 13, TIAC joined the Business Liaison Group hosted by Judith Andrew, Commissioner (Employers) of the Canada Employment Insurance Commission. The group was joined by Ted Gallivan, Assistant Commissioner of the Canada Revenue Agency and colleagues who outlined the new Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) rules • On August 14, TIAC participated on a Canadian Travel & Tourism Roundtable committee call comprised of leaders across the tourism industry calling on government for the responsible reboot of the travel and tourism industries by prioritizing safety and adherence to new regulation • On August 17, TIAC’s President and CEO, Charlotte Bell, had a call with officials from the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages’ office to highlight continued struggles of the tourism sector and encourage further support for immediate liquidity access to get businesses through the crisis
Government Announcements
• On August 14, Deputy Prime Minister, Chrystia Freeland, announced Canada and the US have agreed to extend the temporary restriction of all non-essential travel across the Canada-US border another month until September 21, 2020 • deputypm.canada.ca • On August 14, the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages announced a $3M investment for the Gaspésie region to support businesses and tourism. Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) will be administering the funding to 14 projects in the area. Support has been coming through Regional Development Agencies over the past few weeks for specific businesses and tourism operators in regions across Canada • canada.ca • Over the weekend, Minister of Transportation Marc Garneau released more details on “Canada’s Flight Plan for Navigating COVID-19”. A full document is available featuring useful graphics and detailed measures for travelers and tourists hoping to restart travel by air • Link to Report: tc.canada.ca • Link to Release: canada.ca
In Case You Missed It …
• Last week, TIAC’s President & CEO appeared before the federal Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology (INDU) to discuss with Members of Parliament the crucial need for liquidity support for the industry in the face of COVID-19 • You can view the recording of the committee meeting here • Last week, the government of Canada officially launched a calculator to help Canadian businesses using the CEWS program to better assess their upcoming eligibility as changes to payments come into effect. While TIAC continues to advocate for better CEWS eligibility terms for the sector, they encourage businesses to access these tools to help plan for upcoming pay and staffing periods • See the government press release for further details • TIAC’s team has been hard at work to plan TIAC's virtual Tourism Congress in November and will cover a variety of topics including more information on COVID-19 recovery and industry advocacy. Find out more here • Meetings Mean Business Canada and TIAC still need you to send letters to your MPs to support the COVID-19 advocacy initiatives! Please click on the following links to send a letter of support: • MMBC • Tourism Counts
Resources for Businesses
• Tourism HR Canada offers a wide range of checklists and resources to help tourism operators and their teams rebound from the crisis and build a resilient workforce through their Tourism Workforce Recovery Toolkit. They also publish the latest tourism employment numbers and insights in their Employment Tracker • TIAC Member Keepoint is offering members of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada a 10% discount on its products for a period of 60 days. You will be able to purchase our products from TIAC website at keepoint.ca – click here for promo code • The Manitoba Tourism Education Council (MTEC) is offering their “Clean It Right” program certification free to tourism, hospitality, and retail industry businesses in Manitoba until June 1, 2021 – click here for more details • The certification is also available to operators in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador – please check with your provincial tourism association for costs and other information • TIAC partners at Destination Canada are creating free online educational videos for tourism businesses – “Marketing Tips and Tricks” to increase their digital marketing presence. The first video in the series is available now • TIAC member Tempest has created a free content platform called Rediscover Canada for destination professionals to share travel stories and ‘hidden gems’ in their communities. You can check out and contribute to the initiative here • The UNWTO has an online dashboard of international statistics on the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism sector • MPI has created a coronavirus resource page that pulls together meetings and events info and also links to several other resources helpful to the Business Events portion of our sector • The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has begun releasing Global Safety Protocols for reopening with the ‘new normal’ in mind • Go2HR has compiled a comprehensive list of resources for all types of sector businesses related to COVID-19 • For operators looking for information on how to prepare to safely reopen their operations in the coming weeks, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has a series of bilingual guidelines available to businesses regarding COVID-19 • Google for SMEs has also launched a page dedicated to supporting businesses during COVID-19 including practical steps and free digital skills training
Looking Ahead – COVID-19 Recovery
Several provinces have begun announcing plans for reopening economies. Timelines and actions vary, but can provide businesses and workers with information on what to expect in the upcoming weeks and months. TIAC is following up on measures announced by British Columbia to limit gatherings of more than 50 people and seeking a coordinated approach between provinces in the recovery phase. TIAC has reached out to their provincial counterparts to work together in an effort to create an orderly recovery strategy that will address health concerns and support tourism businesses. TIAC will continue to add links to provincial recovery plans as they become available:Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland & Labrador
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
The Council of Atlantic Premiers – Travel Bubble release
Maclean’s - Coronavirus in Canada: Reopening plans province-by-province
Canada’s Tourism Roundtable guide on traveling in Canada
August 11-12, 2020:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• On August 11th TIAC’s Vice-President, Stakeholder Relations and Business Development participated in a regular call with ISED’s tourism department on COVID-19. TIAC continues to use these meetings as an opportunity to inform the government on the continued struggles of the tourism sector, and encourage further support for immediate liquidity access to get businesses through the crisis • On August 11th, the government of Canada officially launched a calculator to help Canadian businesses using the CEWS program to better assess their upcoming eligibility as changes to payments come into effect. While TIAC continues to advocate for better CEWS eligibility terms for the sector, TIAC encourages businesses to access these tools to help plan for upcoming pay and staffing periods • See the government press release for further details
Government Announcements
• On August 10th, the government of Saskatchewan announced the launch of a $35M program to aid the tourism sector in the province. Under the Saskatchewan Tourism Sector Support Program, businesses can receive up to $50k. TIAC’s members can apply under 2 streams, the first being “Accommodations and Major Event Facilities Funding” and the second “Event, Attractions or Tour Sector Business Funding”. – saskatchewan.ca • Over the weekend, the federal government released funding for Indigenous businesses across Canada on the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples. These funds support projects in Indigenous communities across the country, including tourism initiatives. These funds will be released through Regional Development Agencies to organizations outlined in each province • Please visit your respective RDA’s website for more details
In Case You Missed It …
• On August 10th, TIAC’s President & CEO appeared before the federal Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology (INDU) to discuss with Members of Parliament the crucial need for liquidity support for the industry in the face of COVID-19 • You can view the recording of the committee meeting here • TIAC’s team has been hard at work to plan TIAC's virtual Tourism Congress in November and will cover a variety of topics including more information on COVID-19 recovery and industry advocacy. Find out more here • Meetings Mean Business Canada and TIAC still need you to send letters to your MPs to support TIAC's COVID-19 advocacy initiatives! Please click on the following links to send a letter of support: • MMBC • Tourism Counts
Resources for Businesses
• Tourism HR Canada offers a wide range of checklists and resources to help tourism operators and their teams rebound from the crisis and build a resilient workforce through their Tourism Workforce Recovery Toolkit. They also publish the latest tourism employment numbers and insights in their Employment Tracker • TIAC Member Keepoint is offering members of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada a 10% discount on its products for a period of 60 days. You will be able to purchase our products from TIAC website at keepoint.ca – click here for promo code • The Manitoba Tourism Education Council (MTEC) is offering their “Clean It Right” program certification free to tourism, hospitality, and retail industry businesses in Manitoba until June 1, 2021 – click here for more details • The certification is also available to operators in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador – please check with your provincial tourism association for costs and other information • TIAC partners at Destination Canada are creating free online educational videos for tourism businesses – “Marketing Tips and Tricks” to increase their digital marketing presence. The first video in the series is available now • TIAC member Tempest has created a free content platform called Rediscover Canada for destination professionals to share travel stories and ‘hidden gems’ in their communities. You can check out and contribute to the initiative here • The UNWTO has an online dashboard of international statistics on the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism sector • MPI has created a coronavirus resource page that pulls together meetings and events info and also links to several other resources helpful to the Business Events portion of our sector • The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has begun releasing Global Safety Protocols for reopening with the ‘new normal’ in mind • Go2HR has compiled a comprehensive list of resources for all types of sector businesses related to COVID-19 • For operators looking for information on how to prepare to safely reopen their operations in the coming weeks, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has a series of bilingual guidelines available to businesses regarding COVID-19 • Google for SMEs has also launched a page dedicated to supporting businesses during COVID-19 including practical steps and free digital skills training
Looking Ahead – COVID-19 Recovery
Several provinces have begun announcing plans for reopening economies. Timelines and actions vary, but can provide businesses and workers with information on what to expect in the upcoming weeks and months. TIAC is following up on measures announced by British Columbia to limit gatherings of more than 50 people and seeking a coordinated approach between provinces in the recovery phase. TIAC has reached out to their provincial counterparts to work together in an effort to create an orderly recovery strategy that will address health concerns and support tourism businesses. TIAC will continue to add links to provincial recovery plans as they become available:Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland & Labrador
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
The Council of Atlantic Premiers – Travel Bubble release
Maclean’s - Coronavirus in Canada: Reopening plans province-by-province
Canada’s Tourism Roundtable guide on traveling in Canada
August 6-10, 2020:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• On August 10th, TIAC’s President & CEO appeared before the federal Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology (INDU) to discuss with Members of Parliament the crucial need for liquidity support for the industry in the face of COVID-19 • This message was supported by several other travel sector organizations and strongly underscored the need for federal assistance for the sectorGovernment Announcements
• On Friday August 7th, FedDev Ontario announced an investment of $250,000 to grow microbrewery, cidery and winery tourism in Southern Ontario. Using the Canadian Experiences Fund (CEF), The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages released the funding as the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) • Statistics Canada has released the July job numbers, highlighting numbers for the accommodation and service industry. “In July, as the continued easing of COVID-19 restrictions allowed Canadians to return to restaurants and outdoor patios, employment rose by 101,000 (+12.3%) in accommodation and food services, the third consecutive monthly increase. Despite these gains, employment in the industry was only 74.9% of its February level.” • The Minister of Transport, the Honourable Marc Garneau announced new measures to support essential air access to remote communities. These include 1) seeking bilateral agreements with provinces and territories to ensure continuity of service for at least six months, 2) establishing a $75-million funding program for the federal contribution for the first six months and maintaining these essential services through an investment of up to $174 million over 18 months, if needed
In Case You Missed It …
• Meetings Mean Business Canada and TIAC still need you to send letters to your MPs to support TIAC's COVID-19 advocacy initiatives! Please click on the following links to send a letter of support: • MMBC • Tourism Counts
Resources for Businesses
• Tourism HR Canada offers a wide range of checklists and resources to help tourism operators and their teams rebound from the crisis and build a resilient workforce through their Tourism Workforce Recovery Toolkit. They also publish the latest tourism employment numbers and insights in their Employment Tracker • TIAC Member Keepoint is offering members of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada a 10% discount on its products for a period of 60 days. You will be able to purchase our products from TIAC website at keepoint.ca – click here for promo code • The Manitoba Tourism Education Council (MTEC) is offering their “Clean It Right” program certification free to tourism, hospitality, and retail industry businesses in Manitoba until June 1, 2021 – click here for more details • The certification is also available to operators in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador – please check with your provincial tourism association for costs and other information • TIAC partners at Destination Canada are creating free online educational videos for tourism businesses – “Marketing Tips and Tricks” to increase their digital marketing presence. The first video in the series is available now • TIAC member Tempest has created a free content platform called Rediscover Canada for destination professionals to share travel stories and ‘hidden gems’ in their communities. You can check out and contribute to the initiative here • The UNWTO has an online dashboard of international statistics on the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism sector • MPI has created a coronavirus resource page that pulls together meetings and events info and also links to several other resources helpful to the Business Events portion of our sector • The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has begun releasing Global Safety Protocols for reopening with the ‘new normal’ in mind • Go2HR has compiled a comprehensive list of resources for all types of sector businesses related to COVID-19 • For operators looking for information on how to prepare to safely reopen their operations in the coming weeks, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has a series of bilingual guidelines available to businesses regarding COVID-19 • Google for SMEs has also launched a page dedicated to supporting businesses during COVID-19 including practical steps and free digital skills training
Looking Ahead – COVID-19 Recovery
Several provinces have begun announcing plans for reopening economies. Timelines and actions vary, but can provide businesses and workers with information on what to expect in the upcoming weeks and months. TIAC is following up on measures announced by British Columbia to limit gatherings of more than 50 people and seeking a coordinated approach between provinces in the recovery phase. TIAC has reached out to their provincial counterparts to work together in an effort to create an orderly recovery strategy that will address health concerns and support tourism businesses. TIAC will continue to add links to provincial recovery plans as they become available:Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland & Labrador
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
The Council of Atlantic Premiers – Travel Bubble release
Maclean’s - Coronavirus in Canada: Reopening plans province-by-province
Canada’s Tourism Roundtable guide on traveling in Canada
July 30 - August 5, 2020:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• TIAC has released the results of their July industry survey on government support measures, and the state of industry businesses • You can review the results on TIAC’s website • On August 5th, the Tourism Industry Recovery Committee, Chaired by David McKenna, President of Banff Jasper Collection by Pursuit and TIAC’s Board Chair, met to discuss the ongoing situation in all tourism sectors, and the next steps to push forward measures outlined in TIAC’s industry recovery plan • On August 3rd, TIAC’s President & CEO will appear in front of the parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology (INDU), to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on tourism • TIAC will be emphasizing the importance of enhanced recovery measuresGovernment Announcements
• On Friday July 31st, the Prime Minister announced the government’s goal to transition everyone currently on CERB to a revamped EI system • There will be a catch-all program put in place to help those who don’t currently qualify for EI like contractors • Over the weekend, the federal and provincial governments remained relatively quiet on tourism changes across the country. The federal government has not announced any further changes to CEWS since Bill-20 (Act respecting further COVID-19 measures) passed on July 27th • The CRA has announced CEWS take-up is lower than expected with the update, and more effort will go into encouraging businesses to apply • The CRA will be launching a website on August 11th to get businesses ready for the ‘Period 5’ application opening on August 17th • On Tuesday August 4th, Minister Ng met with the Tourism Industry Association of PEI and tweeted that “tourism supports 100k jobs across Atlantic Canada”. Minister Ng recommended that Atlantic Canadians travel local this summer as well
In Case You Missed It …
• Meetings Mean Business Canada and TIAC still need you to send letters to your MPs to support TIAC's COVID-19 advocacy initiatives! Please click on the following links to send a letter of support: • MMBC • Tourism Counts
Resources for Businesses
• TIAC Member Keepoint is offering members of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada a 10% discount on its products for a period of 60 days. You will be able to purchase our products from TIAC website at keepoint.ca – click here for promo code • The Manitoba Tourism Education Council (MTEC) is offering their “Clean It Right” program certification free to tourism, hospitality, and retail industry businesses in Manitoba until June 1, 2021 – click here for more details • The certification is also available to operators in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador – please check with your provincial tourism association for costs and other information • TIAC partners at Destination Canada are creating free online educational videos for tourism businesses – “Marketing Tips and Tricks” to increase their digital marketing presence. The first video in the series is available now • TIAC member Tempest has created a free content platform called Rediscover Canada for destination professionals to share travel stories and ‘hidden gems’ in their communities. You can check out and contribute to the initiative here • The UNWTO has an online dashboard of international statistics on the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism sector • MPI has created a coronavirus resource page that pulls together meetings and events info and also links to several other resources helpful to the Business Events portion of our sector • The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has begun releasing Global Safety Protocols for reopening with the ‘new normal’ in mind • Go2HR has compiled a comprehensive list of resources for all types of sector businesses related to COVID-19 • For operators looking for information on how to prepare to safely reopen their operations in the coming weeks, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has a series of bilingual guidelines available to businesses regarding COVID-19 • Google for SMEs has also launched a page dedicated to supporting businesses during COVID-19 including practical steps and free digital skills training
Looking Ahead – COVID-19 Recovery
Several provinces have begun announcing plans for reopening economies. Timelines and actions vary, but can provide businesses and workers with information on what to expect in the upcoming weeks and months. TIAC is following up on measures announced by British Columbia to limit gatherings of more than 50 people and seeking a coordinated approach between provinces in the recovery phase. TIAC has reached out to their provincial counterparts to work together in an effort to create an orderly recovery strategy that will address health concerns and support tourism businesses. TIAC will continue to add links to provincial recovery plans as they become available:Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland & Labrador
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
The Council of Atlantic Premiers – Travel Bubble release
Maclean’s - Coronavirus in Canada: Reopening plans province-by-province
Canada’s Tourism Roundtable guide on traveling in Canada
July 28-29, 2020:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• On July 28th, the steering committee of Canada’s Tourism Roundtable, including TIAC, held discussions with Minister Melanie Joly (Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, representing Tourism) to discuss the state of the industry and advocate for future support for the tourism sector • The Tourism Roundtable also met with Minister Lisa MacLeod (Ontario Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries) to hear about Ontario’s support for tourism sector businesses in OntarioGovernment Announcements
• On July 28th, Minister Joly held a press conference addressing $95 million in support which had been released through Western Diversification RRRF funding, supporting businesses unable to get access to other federal relief measures
In Case You Missed It …
• TIAC would like to thank all industry stakeholders who participated in their recent government programs survey. They are in the process of preparing a summary of their findings in the next few days. In the meantime, if you have not already done so, please take a moment to send a letter to your MP encouraging them to prioritize tourism in all future funding programs tourismcounts.ca
Resources for Businesses
• The Manitoba Tourism Education Council (MTEC) is offering their “Clean It Right” program certification free to tourism, hospitality, and retail industry businesses in Manitoba until June 1, 2021 – click here for more details • The certification is also available to operators in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador – please check with your provincial tourism association for costs and other information • TIAC partners at Destination Canada are creating free online educational videos for tourism businesses – “Marketing Tips and Tricks” to increase their digital marketing presence. The first video in the series is available now • TIAC member Tempest has created a free content platform called Rediscover Canada for destination professionals to share travel stories and ‘hidden gems’ in their communities. You can check out and contribute to the initiative here • The UNWTO has an online dashboard of international statistics on the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism sector • MPI has created a coronavirus resource page that pulls together meetings and events info and also links to several other resources helpful to the Business Events portion of our sector • The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has begun releasing Global Safety Protocols for reopening with the ‘new normal’ in mind • Go2HR has compiled a comprehensive list of resources for all types of sector businesses related to COVID-19 • For operators looking for information on how to prepare to safely reopen their operations in the coming weeks, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has a series of bilingual guidelines available to businesses regarding COVID-19 • Google for SMEs has also launched a page dedicated to supporting businesses during COVID-19 including practical steps and free digital skills training • TIAC partners at Tourism HR Canada have opened their Emerit courses and created a resource hub for sector businesses
Looking Ahead – COVID-19 Recovery
Several provinces have begun announcing plans for reopening economies. Timelines and actions vary, but can provide businesses and workers with information on what to expect in the upcoming weeks and months. TIAC is following up on measures announced by British Columbia to limit gatherings of more than 50 people and seeking a coordinated approach between provinces in the recovery phase. TIAC has reached out to their provincial counterparts to work together in an effort to create an orderly recovery strategy that will address health concerns and support tourism businesses. TIAC will continue to add links to provincial recovery plans as they become available:Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland & Labrador
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
The Council of Atlantic Premiers – Travel Bubble release
Maclean’s - Coronavirus in Canada: Reopening plans province-by-province
Canada’s Tourism Roundtable guide on traveling in Canada
July 23-27, 2020:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• On Friday July 24th, TIAC’s President & CEO took part in a steering committee call with members of Canada’s Tourism roundtable, to discuss ongoing advocacy efforts towards collaboration with government in restarting the visitor economy and building consumer confidence for domestic travel in Canada • The steering committee of the Roundtable is preparing for discussions with Minister Melanie Joly (Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, representing Tourism) tomorrow morning. The Tourism Roundtable will also meet with Minister Lisa MacLeod (Ontario Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries) later in the day • TIAC would like to thank all industry stakeholders who participated in TIAC's recent government programs survey. TIAC is in the process of preparing a summary of their findings in the next few days. In the meantime, if you have not already done so, please take a moment to send a letter to your MP encouraging them to prioritize tourism in all future funding programs tourismcounts.caGovernment Announcements
• On July 27th, Minister of Health the Honourable Patty Hajdu announced more details of the distribution of federal funds for the gradual safe restart of the economy • The Government of Canada will provide $4.28 billion to further expand testing and contact tracing capacity, and the associated data management and information sharing systems • Canada will also provide $7.5 billion towards personal protective equipment • Last Thursday July 23rd, the Quebec provincial government announced new measures that expand public gathering limits to 250 people for indoor and outdoor public venues
In Case You Missed It …
• The latest edition of Twenty31’s industry dashboard is now available on the TIAC website • Alberta’s public health officer Dr. Hinshaw officially announced the reopening of indoor exhibits and trade shows in Alberta – a positive step forward in reopening the important meetings and conventions sector in a safe and sustainable way • TIAC and other partners continue to advocate for smart reopening policies such as this one throughout Canada
Resources for Businesses
• The Manitoba Tourism Education Council (MTEC) is offering their “Clean It Right” program certification free to tourism, hospitality, and retail industry businesses in Manitoba until June 1, 2021 – click here for more details • The certification is also available to operators in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador – please check with your provincial tourism association for costs and other information • TIAC partners at Destination Canada are creating free online educational videos for tourism businesses – “Marketing Tips and Tricks” to increase their digital marketing presence. The first video in the series is available now • TIAC member Tempest has created a free content platform called Rediscover Canada for destination professionals to share travel stories and ‘hidden gems’ in their communities. You can check out and contribute to the initiative here • The UNWTO has an online dashboard of international statistics on the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism sector • MPI has created a coronavirus resource page that pulls together meetings and events info and also links to several other resources helpful to the Business Events portion of our sector • The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has begun releasing Global Safety Protocols for reopening with the ‘new normal’ in mind • Go2HR has compiled a comprehensive list of resources for all types of sector businesses related to COVID-19 • For operators looking for information on how to prepare to safely reopen their operations in the coming weeks, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has a series of bilingual guidelines available to businesses regarding COVID-19 • Google for SMEs has also launched a page dedicated to supporting businesses during COVID-19 including practical steps and free digital skills training • TIAC partners at Tourism HR Canada have opened their Emerit courses and created a resource hub for sector businesses
Looking Ahead – COVID-19 Recovery
Several provinces have begun announcing plans for reopening economies. Timelines and actions vary, but can provide businesses and workers with information on what to expect in the upcoming weeks and months. TIAC is following up on measures announced by British Columbia to limit gatherings of more than 50 people and seeking a coordinated approach between provinces in the recovery phase. TIAC has reached out to their provincial counterparts to work together in an effort to create an orderly recovery strategy that will address health concerns and support tourism businesses. TIAC will continue to add links to provincial recovery plans as they become available:Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland & Labrador
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
The Council of Atlantic Premiers – Travel Bubble release
Maclean’s - Coronavirus in Canada: Reopening plans province-by-province
Canada’s Tourism Roundtable guide on traveling in Canada
July 21-22, 2020:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• Following the government’s announcement last Friday July 17on amendments to the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy program, TIAC has been in discussions with the Minister’s office, the Finance department as well as several members of parliament to highlight concerns related to the complexity of the new program and possible ways to address those challenges • TIAC continues to emphasize that while the extension of CEWS and the safe harbour clause are positive steps taking us to the end of the summer, the program as designed falls short of meeting the needs of our industry in the Fall. It also introduces very complex processes and conditions that will be difficult for everyone, including small businesses to navigate. TIAC's discussions with government are ongoing • Yesterday July 21 TIAC joined Judith Andrew, Commissioner (Employers) at the Canada Employment Insurance Commission who hosted a call with the Business Liaison Group for a briefing by the Department of Finance on new CEWS rules where the complexity of the program was raised by all stakeholders • On July 22, Statistics Canada released monthly international visitor statistics for May showing that visitation continues to be down by a staggering 98.5% compared to this time last year. Overall, international visitation is down 60.6% YTD in all inbound markets this year • TIAC continues to work with their partners such as the Canadian Tourism Roundtable to encourage the government to implement a smart, strategic reopening plan for international borders in order to help recover some arrival numbers when it is safe to do soGovernment Announcements
• On July 22, the government of Newfoundland and Labrador announced that is looking to bring in new regulations requiring all short-term property rentals in the province — including Airbnb listings — register for a license • There will be no fees associated with registering, although a license will give municipalities the opportunity to know who is operating in their jurisdictions, and tax accordingly • Late last week, Alberta’s public health officer Dr. Hinshaw officially announced the reopening of indoor exhibits and trade shows in Alberta – a positive step forward in reopening the important meetings and conventions sector in a safe and sustainable way • TIAC and other partners continue to advocate for smart reopening policies such as this one throughout Canada
In Case You Missed It …
• The latest edition of Twenty31’s industry dashboard is now available on the TIAC website • Thanks to you, TIAC is closer to reaching their letter writing campaign goal to garner 1000 letters by the end of this week. If you haven’t already done so, please go to TourismCounts.ca and click “Send your Letter” to help TIAC reach their goal. Your voice is important and we need to make sure government decision-makers know that tourism counts!Resources for Businesses
• TIAC partners at Destination Canada are creating free online educational videos for tourism businesses – “Marketing Tips and Tricks” to increase their digital marketing presence. The first video in the series is available now • TIAC member Tempest has created a free content platform called Rediscover Canada for destination professionals to share travel stories and ‘hidden gems’ in their communities. You can check out and contribute to the initiative here • The UNWTO has an online dashboard of international statistics on the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism sector • MPI has created a coronavirus resource page that pulls together meetings and events info and also links to several other resources helpful to the Business Events portion of our sector • The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has begun releasing Global Safety Protocols for reopening with the ‘new normal’ in mind • Go2HR has compiled a comprehensive list of resources for all types of sector businesses related to COVID-19 • For operators looking for information on how to prepare to safely reopen their operations in the coming weeks, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has a series of bilingual guidelines available to businesses regarding COVID-19 • Google for SMEs has also launched a page dedicated to supporting businesses during COVID-19 including practical steps and free digital skills training • TIAC partners at Tourism HR Canada have opened their Emerit courses and created a resource hub for sector businesses
Looking Ahead – COVID-19 Recovery
Several provinces have begun announcing plans for reopening economies. Timelines and actions vary, but can provide businesses and workers with information on what to expect in the upcoming weeks and months. TIAC is following up on measures announced by British Columbia to limit gatherings of more than 50 people and seeking a coordinated approach between provinces in the recovery phase. TIAC has reached out to their provincial counterparts to work together in an effort to create an orderly recovery strategy that will address health concerns and support tourism businesses. TIAC will continue to add links to provincial recovery plans as they become available:Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland & Labrador
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
The Council of Atlantic Premiers – Travel Bubble release
Maclean’s - Coronavirus in Canada: Reopening plans province-by-province
Canada’s Tourism Roundtable guide on traveling in Canada
July 16-20, 2020:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• Late Friday afternoon on July 17th, the Government of Canada released new details on proposed changes to the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) program – announcing that the program would be extended until December 2020. Changes include a top-up for those businesses hardest hit, with a maximum base CEWS rate for employers with a revenue drop of 50% or more • Recognizing that the new criteria for the CEWS program are very complex, TIAC is still working through this with outside counsel to navigate through the new calculations and what they mean for tourism businesses seeking to access the program. They are also still in discussions with government officials as the program has not yet received approval in the House of Commons • TIAC hopes to have additional, plain-language details available soon for tourism sector businesses to help you navigate through the new program and hopefully get the support you need. In the coming days and perhaps beyond this, TIAC will be pushing to have the new Safe Harbor Principle, which applies for July and August, to be extended through December, especially for businesses in the tourism sector which have been hardest hit • The full details of the new program can be seen here • The President and CEO made a presentation during a webinar organized by Conference Centres of Canada on Thursday, July 16th to discuss TIAC’s work supporting the industry, TIAC priorities and challenges as we navigate through this difficult period • On Friday, July 17, the President and CEO participated in a bi-weekly call with officials from Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) where she urged government to allow international students to enter the country for the upcoming semester, among other things • Following the government announcement concerning proposed extensions and changes to the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy Program (CEWS) on July 17, the President and CEO spoke with Minister Joly’s office as well as officials in the Finance Department to express concerns regarding the complexity of the new proposal in an effort to better understand the mechanics of the proposal • TIAC and the Hotel Association of Canada are collaborating on next steps concerning the proposed amendments to the programGovernment Announcements
• As covered above, the most significant government announcement last week dealt with updates to the CEWS program, which is before the House of Commons this week for approval • On Thursday, the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister held a press conference announcing a pan-Canadian recovery agreement with the provinces and territories, noting that the federal government will be investing $19 billion dollars for operational costs for cities and municipalities to help Canadians get back to work safely and prepare for a potential second wave • The federal government noted that it hopes this will give provinces stability for the next 6-8 months. The plan has seven pillars: • Testing/contact tracing • PPE • Senior support via long term care homes, homecare, and palliative care • Childcare • Paid sick leave • Municipalities • Transit • The money must be targeted to these areas and provinces cannot shift money around between the buckets • The Prime Minister also confirmed on Thursday that the border closure with the United States has been extended until August 21st
In Case You Missed It …
• The latest edition of Twenty31’s industry dashboard is now available on the TIAC website • Thanks to you, TIAC is closer to reaching their letter writing campaign goal to garner 1000 letters by the end of this week. If you haven’t already done so, please go to TourismCounts.ca and click “Send your Letter” to help TIAC reach their goal. Your voice is important and we need to make sure government decision-makers know that tourism counts!Resources for Businesses
• TIAC member Tempest has created a free content platform called Rediscover Canada for destination professionals to share travel stories and ‘hidden gems’ in their communities. You can check out and contribute to the initiative here • The UNWTO has an online dashboard of international statistics on the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism sector • MPI has created a coronavirus resource page that pulls together meetings and events info and also links to several other resources helpful to the Business Events portion of our sector • The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has begun releasing Global Safety Protocols for reopening with the ‘new normal’ in mind • Go2HR has compiled a comprehensive list of resources for all types of sector businesses related to COVID-19 • For operators looking for information on how to prepare to safely reopen their operations in the coming weeks, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has a series of bilingual guidelines available to businesses regarding COVID-19 • Google for SMEs has also launched a page dedicated to supporting businesses during COVID-19 including practical steps and free digital skills training • TIAC partners at Tourism HR Canada have opened their Emerit courses and created a resource hub for sector businesses
Looking Ahead – COVID-19 Recovery
Several provinces have begun announcing plans for reopening economies. Timelines and actions vary, but can provide businesses and workers with information on what to expect in the upcoming weeks and months. TIAC is following up on measures announced by British Columbia to limit gatherings of more than 50 people and seeking a coordinated approach between provinces in the recovery phase. TIAC has reached out to their provincial counterparts to work together in an effort to create an orderly recovery strategy that will address health concerns and support tourism businesses. TIAC will continue to add links to provincial recovery plans as they become available:Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland & Labrador
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
The Council of Atlantic Premiers – Travel Bubble release
Maclean’s - Coronavirus in Canada: Reopening plans province-by-province
Canada’s Tourism Roundtable guide on traveling in Canada
July 14-15, 2020:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• Thank you to everyone who participated in TIAV latest industry survey on government programs. They received just under 500 responses, which TIAC is tabulating now to assist in our efforts in advocating to government for extensions and improvements on COVID-19 support programs • TIAC will provide a summary of results to the sector early next week • On June 15, the President and CEO participated in a meeting with representatives from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) to discuss the status of international students who are registered to begin classes in the fall and advocated for permission to allow these students to enter Canada for their studies • On June 14, TIAC’s President and CEO spoke with Minister Joly about the state of the industry, the work being conducted by the tourism roundtable and other matters • She also participated in a regularly scheduled meeting with ISED ADM Paul Thompson where the CEWS, CEBA and Industry Council led by ISED were discussed • The President and CEO also participated in the Canada’s Tourism Roundtable discussions on June 14 concerning ongoing border issues
Government Announcements
• On June 15, Premier Blaine Higgs of New Brunswick announced that he is considering extending the Atlantic bubble to include the Gaspésie region of Quebec before the end of the week, but suggested opening up to the rest of Canada should be pushed back for at least another week • New Brunswick also announced a 20% rebate (to a maximum of $1000) on overnight vacations taken by residents within the province. TIAC applauds these measures as a way to encourage and stimulate domestic travel • The government of Canada is expected to announce a continued Canada-U.S. border closure to at least August 21, 2020 • TIAC awaits details on the expected CEWS extension announced by the Prime Minister. Stay tuned for further details
In Case You Missed It …
• Destination Canada is looking for stories from tourism businesses that outline how these businesses have adapted to COVID-19 health and safety requirements but also still maintain a great guest experience. They want to showcase how Canada is ready to welcome visitors and demonstrating the innovation and creativity across the industry • All you need to do is send the name of your business with a short description along with any images or links to help round out the story. Deadline: July 17 Send to: Communications@destinationcanada.com • The latest edition of Twenty31’s industry dashboard is now available on the TIAC website • Thanks to you, TIAC is closer to reaching their letter writing campaign goal to garner 1000 letters by the end of this week. If you haven’t already done so, please go to TourismCounts.ca and click “Send your Letter” to help TIAC reach their goal!Resources for Businesses
• TIAC member Tempest has created a free content platform called Rediscover Canada for destination professionals to share travel stories and ‘hidden gems’ in their communities. You can check out and contribute to the initiative here • The UNWTO has an online dashboard of international statistics on the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism sector • MPI has created a coronavirus resource page that pulls together meetings and events info and also links to several other resources helpful to the Business Events portion of our sector • The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has begun releasing Global Safety Protocols for reopening with the ‘new normal’ in mind • Go2HR has compiled a comprehensive list of resources for all types of sector businesses related to COVID-19 • For operators looking for information on how to prepare to safely reopen their operations in the coming weeks, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has a series of bilingual guidelines available to businesses regarding COVID-19 • Google for SMEs has also launched a page dedicated to supporting businesses during COVID-19 including practical steps and free digital skills training • TIAC partners at Tourism HR Canada have opened their Emerit courses and created a resource hub for sector businesses
Looking Ahead – COVID-19 Recovery
Several provinces have begun announcing plans for reopening economies. Timelines and actions vary, but can provide businesses and workers with information on what to expect in the upcoming weeks and months. TIAC is following up on measures announced by British Columbia to limit gatherings of more than 50 people and seeking a coordinated approach between provinces in the recovery phase. TIAC has reached out to their provincial counterparts to work together in an effort to create an orderly recovery strategy that will address health concerns and support tourism businesses. TIAC will continue to add links to provincial recovery plans as they become available:Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland & Labrador
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
The Council of Atlantic Premiers – Travel Bubble release
Maclean’s - Coronavirus in Canada: Reopening plans province-by-province
Canada’s Tourism Roundtable guide on traveling in Canada
July 9-13, 2020:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• On June 13, the government confirmed that the CEWS program will be extended until December 2020, a measure that TIAC and others have been pushing for in recent weeks to support businesses through recovery • TIAC is extremely pleased to see this important program extended. TIAC’s President and CEO has been in contact with a number of government officials today emphasizing the importance of providing details concerning the program extension and the conditions for businesses to qualify as clarity is critical for business planning purposes • TIAC has been told that details are imminent and TIAC expects more to be announced later this week. Please rest assured that they will communicate all details related to this important program as soon as they become available • On June 14, TIAC’s President and CEO is scheduled to speak with Minister Joly to discuss, among other things, the state of the industry, the work being conducted by the tourism roundtable and other matters • Last Friday, TIAC’s President and CEO participated on a bi-weekly call with ISED officials including Associate Deputy Minister Paul Thompson during which she emphasized the importance of the CEWS program, its extension and ensuring clear communication of any conditions for businesses to qualify • The President & CEO also reported that TIAC’s latest survey will soon be closed, at which point TIAC will share important data concerning the CEWS, BCAP and RRRF programs • Discussions on labour issues, with an emphasis on dealing with upcoming provincial layoff deadlines were discussed and are ongoing • Government officials reported that the Industry Council (which includes tourism/transportation) met recently and that the urgency of developing a communications stance that focuses on recovery/safe travel rather than lockdown is being discussed • TIAC has long advocated for a change in the narrative towards a more recovery/safe travel focus and is pleased to see discussions taking place through the Industry Council Table led by ISED • Late last week, employment numbers were released by Statistics Canada, showing that unemployment is decreasing across the country • The tourism sector added 243,900 jobs back into the economy in May and June, mostly full-time employees • TIAC is hopeful that continued government support will continue to increase employment numbers and help the sector get back to business • Twenty31’s latest report on the 'State of the Industry' is available now on the TIAC website • Canadian Heritage has released Phase II of emergency COVID-19 funding for cultural, heritage and sports organizations. Those in the live music industry and organizations who did not get approved for phase I funding in the program should look at FACTOR’s funding criteria, who will distribute funds on behalf of governmentGovernment Announcements
• On June 13, the Prime Minister announced that the wage subsidy will be extended until December, as was expected following the additional $50 billion allocated to the program in last week’s Fiscal Snapshot • Details on the extension’s criteria are expected to be announced imminently • The government will also provide an update on the federal/provincial Safe Restart program later in the week • With the international border closure deadline approaching, the Prime Minister was asked about a timeline for reopening the border in today’s news conference • The Prime Minister did not provide any new details, but did note the government would have more information later in the week • It has been noted that the volume of travellers across the border has increased recently and the government has bolstered screening efforts at 36 points of entry across Canada • The Ontario Premier announced today that most parts of Ontario will move to phase 3 of reopening on Friday July 17. This means that businesses able to abide by social distancing guidelines may begin to host up to 50 people indoors, and 100 people outdoors • Greater details on what phase 3 looks like in Ontario and guides to other Provincial reopening plans, can be found below
In Case You Missed It …
• Destination Canada is looking for stories from tourism businesses that outline how these businesses have adapted to COVID-19 health and safety requirements but also still maintain a great guest experience. They want to showcase how Canada is ready to welcome visitors and demonstrating the innovation and creativity across the industry. • All you need to do is send the name of your business with a short description along with any images or links to help round out the story. Deadline: July 17 Send to: Communications@destinationcanada.com • There are two days left to submit your response to TIAC’s Government Measures survey, that will help us make the case to government to extend and expand COVID-19 recovery support for the tourism sector • Click here to fill in the survey – it closes Tuesday July 14 at midnight eastern time. • Tourism sector businesses and organizations who want to comment on the government’s development of the Municipal Nominee Program and levels of future immigration can now fill out an online consultation form here. • Thanks to you, we are closer to reaching our letter writing campaign goal to garner 1000 letters by the end of this week. If you haven’t already done so, please go to TourismCounts.ca and click “Send your Letter” to help us reach our goal!
Resources for Businesses
• TIAC member Tempest has created a free content platform called Rediscover Canada for destination professionals to share travel stories and ‘hidden gems’ in their communities. You can check out and contribute to the initiative here • The UNWTO has an online dashboard of international statistics on the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism sector • MPI has created a coronavirus resource page that pulls together meetings and events info and also links to several other resources helpful to the Business Events portion of our sector • The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has begun releasing Global Safety Protocols for reopening with the ‘new normal’ in mind • Go2HR has compiled a comprehensive list of resources for all types of sector businesses related to COVID-19 • For operators looking for information on how to prepare to safely reopen their operations in the coming weeks, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has a series of bilingual guidelines available to businesses regarding COVID-19 • Google for SMEs has also launched a page dedicated to supporting businesses during COVID-19 including practical steps and free digital skills training • TIAC partners at Tourism HR Canada have opened their Emerit courses and created a resource hub for sector businesses
Looking Ahead – COVID-19 Recovery
Several provinces have begun announcing plans for reopening economies. Timelines and actions vary, but can provide businesses and workers with information on what to expect in the upcoming weeks and months. TIAC is following up on measures announced by British Columbia to limit gatherings of more than 50 people and seeking a coordinated approach between provinces in the recovery phase. TIAC has reached out to their provincial counterparts to work together in an effort to create an orderly recovery strategy that will address health concerns and support tourism businesses. TIAC will continue to add links to provincial recovery plans as they become available:Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland & Labrador
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
The Council of Atlantic Premiers – Travel Bubble release
Maclean’s - Coronavirus in Canada: Reopening plans province-by-province
Canada’s Tourism Roundtable guide on traveling in Canada
July 7-8, 2020:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• On June 8, Finance Minister Bill Morneau gave a fiscal update, and released an “Economic and Fiscal Snapshot” outlining the details of Canada’s current economic conditions • Importantly, the snapshot provides recognition of tourism’s disproportionate burden of the pandemic’s negative impacts, which indicates the government is listening and understands the gravity of the situation faced by the travel sector • Further, an additional $50 billion will be allocated to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), and it is expected that an extension of the program will be announced shortly • Broader details on the fiscal update can be found below under Government Announcements. The full Economic and Fiscal Update can be downloaded here • On June 7, TIAC’s President & CEO spoke with Minister Joly’s office to discuss the ongoing need for COVID-19 support programs and additional funds for the tourism sector into recovery. TIAC continues to need data to make the case for additional support for the visitor economy. TIAC's survey was launched last week and they invite you to provide them with much-needed data to help TIAC advocate on your behalf • Please take the survey now • If you are in the meetings and events sector, TIAC strongly encourages you to send a letter to your MP to support the Meetings Mean Business Canada’s latest campaign, which can be found here • Tourism sector businesses and organizations who want to comment on the government’s development of the Municipal Nominee Program and levels of future immigration can now fill out an online consultation form hereGovernment Announcements
• Early this afternoon, Finance Minister Bill Morneau gave an economic update in the House of Commons, highlighting the federal deficit increase to $343 billion as a result of COVID-19 spending • Of this, $212 billion represents direct federal support to individuals and businesse • They also highlighted that despite significant increases to the federal debt, they expect the economy to bounce back by 5.5% next year • TIAC continues to advocate for ongoing support for the tourism sector while emphasizing their ability to help Canada’s economic recovery to get back to previous business levels • This morning, Prime Minister Trudeau announced that this summer the government will be developing a ‘work plan’ to address systemic racism in Canada, which will include updates to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program • New polls from Nanos Research show that 81% of Canadians want the U.S. border to remain closed for ‘the foreseeable future’. You can read more on these insights here • Service Canada has given notice that they have begun to open Service Canada Centres across Canada for in-person services • While Canadians are encouraged to continue to use online or telephone services whenever possible, those requiring in-person support should check the status of their local operations and book and appointment where possible
In Case You Missed It …
• Thanks to you, TIAC is closer to reaching their letter writing campaign goal to garner 1000 letters by the end of this week. If you haven’t already done so, please go to TourismCounts.ca and click “send your letter” to help TIAC reach their goal!
Resources for Businesses
• The UNWTO has an online dashboard of international statistics on the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism sector • MPI has created a coronavirus resource page that pulls together meetings and events info and also links to several other resources helpful to the Business Events portion of our sector • The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has begun releasing Global Safety Protocols for reopening with the ‘new normal’ in mind • Go2HR has compiled a comprehensive list of resources for all types of sector businesses related to COVID-19 • For operators looking for information on how to prepare to safely reopen their operations in the coming weeks, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has a series of bilingual guidelines available to businesses regarding COVID-19 • Google for SMEs has also launched a page dedicated to supporting businesses during COVID-19 including practical steps and free digital skills training • TIAC partners at Tourism HR Canada have opened their Emerit courses and created a resource hub for sector businesses
Looking Ahead – COVID-19 Recovery
Several provinces have begun announcing plans for reopening economies. Timelines and actions vary, but can provide businesses and workers with information on what to expect in the upcoming weeks and months. TIAC is following up on measures announced by British Columbia to limit gatherings of more than 50 people and seeking a coordinated approach between provinces in the recovery phase. TIAC has reached out to their provincial counterparts to work together in an effort to create an orderly recovery strategy that will address health concerns and support tourism businesses. TIAC will continue to add links to provincial recovery plans as they become available:Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland & Labrador
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
The Council of Atlantic Premiers – Travel Bubble release
Maclean’s - Coronavirus in Canada: Reopening plans province-by-province
Canada’s Tourism Roundtable guide on traveling in Canada
July 3-6, 2020:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• TIAC has launched an in-depth industry survey that seeks information on the use of government support programs to obtain much-needed data to Government in order to address support for the visitor economy • While TIAC understands that multiple requests for surveys may feel burdensome on industry, TIAC must continue to collect quantifiable data about your businesses in order to show government the continued need for sector-wide support. Relying on anecdotal information does not meet government requirements to address gaps in the system. As such, TIAC needs to ensure they have a reasonable response rate to ensure they get government attention on these important issues • 👉 Take the survey now • Thanks to you, TIAC has sent nearly 800 letters to Members of Parliament asking them to prioritize the travel and tourism sector, and support recovery measures to help tourism businesses in their constituencies • TIAC is hoping this campaign will reach 1000 letters by the end of this week. If you haven’t already done so, please go to TourismCounts.ca and click “send your letter” to help TIAC reach this goal! • From June 23-30, TIAC led a series of regional online press conferences to discuss the need for coordinated recovery efforts. This media push resulted in extensive coverage and over 25 million individual audience views. TIAC thanks our industry partners for taking a leading role in these regional press conferences • You can view some of these articles and videos at the following links: • Newfoundland and Labrador (English) • Quebec (French) • Alberta (English) • Ontario (English)Government Announcements
• This upcoming Wednesday, Finance Minister Bill Morneau will give a fiscal update in the House of Commons • TIAC will report on significant outcomes in Wednesday’s update email • This weekend was the first weekend of the “Atlantic Bubble” launch, and this reopening effort resulted in large lineups at provincial borders, and a reported higher amount of foot traffic in local businesses. Though 5 additional COVID-19 cases were reported in PEI, none have been linked to the Atlantic Bubble • TIAC continues to monitor the outcomes of the “bubble” and will continue to advocate for increased inter-provincial cooperation to encourage to encourage domestic travel
In Case You Missed It …
• TIAC’s latest letter writing campaign is ongoing, and TIAC needs your help reaching politicians across Canada to send the message that #TourismCounts. We need support now • Visit TourismCounts.ca and click “Send Your Letter” to ask your MP to support the tourism industry through COVID-19 recovery efforts • TIAC asks business leaders to also encourage their staff and suppliers to send a letter as well – TIAC needs everyone to lend a voice to their message! • Tourism HR Canada’s latest labour market data has been released, showing that following a decrease in tourism employment of 881,700 in March and April, tourism employment increased in May by 83,900 • All provinces saw increases, with the exception of Saskatchewan • Read more and subscribe to THRC’s bi-weekly newsletter here
Resources for Businesses
• MPI has created a coronavirus resource page that pulls together meetings and events info and also links to several other resources helpful to the Business Events portion of our sector • The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has begun releasing Global Safety Protocols for reopening with the ‘new normal’ in mind • Go2HR has compiled a comprehensive list of resources for all types of sector businesses related to COVID-19 • For operators looking for information on how to prepare to safely reopen their operations in the coming weeks, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has a series of bilingual guidelines available to businesses regarding COVID-19 • Google for SMEs has also launched a page dedicated to supporting businesses during COVID-19 including practical steps and free digital skills training • TIAC partners at Tourism HR Canada have opened their Emerit courses and created a resource hub for sector businesses
Looking Ahead – COVID-19 Recovery
Several provinces have begun announcing plans for reopening economies. Timelines and actions vary, but can provide businesses and workers with information on what to expect in the upcoming weeks and months. TIAC is following up on measures announced by British Columbia to limit gatherings of more than 50 people and seeking a coordinated approach between provinces in the recovery phase. TIAC has reached out to their provincial counterparts to work together in an effort to create an orderly recovery strategy that will address health concerns and support tourism businesses. TIAC will continue to add links to provincial recovery plans as they become available:Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland & Labrador
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
The Council of Atlantic Premiers – Travel Bubble release
Maclean’s - Coronavirus in Canada: Reopening plans province-by-province
Canada’s Tourism Roundtable guide on traveling in Canada
June 30 - July 2, 2020:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• TIAC has launched an in-depth industry survey that will cover the use of government support programs to obtain much-needed data to Government in order to address support for the visitor economy • While TIAC understands that multiple requests for surveys may feel burdensome on industry, they must continue to collect quantifiable data about your businesses in order to show government the continued need for sector-wide support. Relying on anecdotal information does not meet government requirements to address gaps in the system. As such, TIAC needs to ensure they have a reasonable response rate to ensure they get government attention on these important issues • 👉 Take the survey now • On June 2nd, the TIAC President & CEO participated in a call with Canada’s Tourism Roundtable, where TIAC continues to work with sector leaders on a safe reopening of Canada’s inter-provincial borders • Tourism HR Canada’s latest labour market data has been released, showing that following a decrease in tourism employment of 881,700 in March and April, tourism employment increased in May by 83,900 • All provinces saw increases, with the exception of Saskatchewan • Read more and subscribe to their bi-weekly newsletters here
Government Announcements
• There have been no new government press conferences on COVID-19 since Monday, but here are a few select announcements pertinent to the tourism sector: • Canada is extending the ban on most foreign travellers until at least July 31, 2020 • The ban applies to everyone who is not a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or American travelling for essential purposes • The exceptions for air crews, diplomats, and immediate family members of citizens as well as some seasonal workers, caregivers, and international students still apply • Similarly, the mandatory 14-day self isolation rule for returning travelers is also being extended • Canada has made the list of 14 countries that the EU have deemed safe to allow non-essential travel from in July. EU will review the list every two weeks and update travel protocols accordingly • Announcements were made Tuesday by the mayors of Toronto, Brampton and Mississauga announcing the move to mandatory use of masks/non-medical face coverings in all indoor spaces • It is expected such announcements will continue to roll out across many regions – keep appraised of local announcements and how this will impact your business
In Case You Missed It …
• TIAC has launched a new letter writing campaign, and they need your help reaching politicians across Canada to send the message that #TourismCounts and TIAC needs support now • Visit TourismCounts.ca and click “Send Your Letter” to ask your MP to support the tourism industry through COVID-19 recovery efforts • TIAC asks business leaders to also encourage their staff and suppliers to send a letter as well – TIAC needs everyone to lend a voice to their message!
Resources for Businesses
• MPI has created a coronavirus resource page that pulls together meetings and events info and also links to several other resources helpful to the Business Events portion of our sector • The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has begun releasing Global Safety Protocols for reopening with the ‘new normal’ in mind • Go2HR has compiled a comprehensive list of resources for all types of sector businesses related to COVID-19 • For operators looking for information on how to prepare to safely reopen their operations in the coming weeks, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has a series of bilingual guidelines available to businesses regarding COVID-19 • Google for SMEs has also launched a page dedicated to supporting businesses during COVID-19 including practical steps and free digital skills training • TIAC partners at Tourism HR Canada have opened their Emerit courses and created a resource hub for sector businesses
Looking Ahead – COVID-19 Recovery
Several provinces have begun announcing plans for reopening economies. Timelines and actions vary, but can provide businesses and workers with information on what to expect in the upcoming weeks and months. TIAC is following up on measures announced by British Columbia to limit gatherings of more than 50 people and seeking a coordinated approach between provinces in the recovery phase. TIAC has reached out to their provincial counterparts to work together in an effort to create an orderly recovery strategy that will address health concerns and support tourism businesses. TIAC will continue to add links to provincial recovery plans as they become available:Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland & Labrador
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
The Council of Atlantic Premiers – Travel Bubble release
Maclean’s - Coronavirus in Canada: Reopening plans province-by-province
Canada’s Tourism Roundtable guide on traveling in Canada
Keep Your Employees & Customers Safe
In addition to following your provincial and municipal/regional health guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19, ensuring you’re equip with proper PPE is now crucial to many of our sector’s operations.TIAC’s newest member, Safe Direct is offering special member savings on PPEs.
Safe Direct Medical Supplies (Safe Direct) is one of the largest PPE suppliers in Canada and have taken the initiative to offer affordable, high-quality, and reliable PPE to Canadians.
For more info and to access the Special TIAC Member Code click here.
June 25-29, 2020:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• Early tomorrow, TIAC will be launching an in-depth industry survey that will cover the use of government support programs to obtain much-needed data to Government in order to address support for the visitor economy • While TIAC understands that multiple requests for surveys may feel burdensome on industry, they must continue to collect quantifiable data about your businesses in order to show the government the continued need for sector-wide support. Relying on anecdotal information will not meet our needs for support • Last week, TIAC President & CEO held a meeting with the office of Minister Joly, where TIAC emphasized the importance of clarifying support for the industry during government announcements, and the fair allocation and distribution of funding to support sector recovery • Later today, TIAC representatives will participate in a Business Liaison Group call with the Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Development Canada, Graham Flack and Employment Commissioner Judith Andrews to discuss CERB and the return to Employment Insurance
Government Announcements
• Today, the Prime Minister announced that the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program will be extended by one month, and the government is working with the provinces to accomplish this • The Prime Minister also announced that, after today, daily public health briefings will be suspended • Moving forward, these briefings will only take place when new information is available • The Minister of Finance recently announced that the expanded CEBA program will now be offered via Canada’s banks instead of just through the government portal • The Minister says they are working on bringing this to credit unions as fast as possible • On June 25, FedDev Ontario, in partnership with the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, announced the names of the destination marketing organizations that will receive funding from the Regional Relief & Recovery Fund
In Case You Missed It …
• TIAC has launched a new letter writing campaign, and they need your help reaching politicians across Canada to send the message that #TourismCounts and TIAC needs support now • Visit TourismCounts.ca and click “Send Your Letter” to ask your MP to support the tourism industry through COVID-19 recovery efforts • TIAC asks business leaders to also encourage their staff and suppliers to send a letter as well – TIAC needs everyone to lend a voice to their message!
Resources for Businesses
• MPI has created a coronavirus resource page that pulls together meetings and events info and also links to several other resources helpful to the Business Events portion of our sector • The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has begun releasing Global Safety Protocols for reopening with the ‘new normal’ in mind • Go2HR has compiled a comprehensive list of resources for all types of sector businesses related to COVID-19 • For operators looking for information on how to prepare to safely reopen their operations in the coming weeks, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has a series of bilingual guidelines available to businesses regarding COVID-19 • Google for SMEs has also launched a page dedicated to supporting businesses during COVID-19 including practical steps and free digital skills training • TIAC partners at Tourism HR Canada have opened their Emerit courses and created a resource hub for sector businesses
Looking Ahead – COVID-19 Recovery
Several provinces have begun announcing plans for reopening economies. Timelines and actions vary, but can provide businesses and workers with information on what to expect in the upcoming weeks and months. TIAC is following up on measures announced by British Columbia to limit gatherings of more than 50 people and seeking a coordinated approach between provinces in the recovery phase. TIAC has reached out to their provincial counterparts to work together in an effort to create an orderly recovery strategy that will address health concerns and support tourism businesses. TIAC will continue to add links to provincial recovery plans as they become available:Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland & Labrador
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
The Council of Atlantic Premiers – Travel Bubble release
Maclean’s - Coronavirus in Canada: Reopening plans province-by-province
Canada’s Tourism Roundtable guide on traveling in Canada
June 23-24, 2020:
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• In June 24, the TIAC-led industry policy committee met to share how businesses in our sector are adapting to regional re-openings, and the work done so far to promote the industry recovery plan • Statistics Canada’s international visitation numbers for April have been released showing a steep decline in international arrivals by 98.3% year over year. Year-to-date numbers show a decline of 44% in international arrivals • TIAC and other stakeholders continue to work with the Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable to open up much-needed dialogue with government to discuss border restrictions that are severely impacting the visitor economy. The time to act is now! Please support our industry at #timetotravel #voyageons
Government Announcements
• On June 24, Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil confirmed that the Council of Atlantic Premiers had reached a deal to create the “Atlantic bubble”, which will begin on July 3rd. This means that anyone residing in the four Atlantic provinces can visit any of the other 3 sister provinces without the need to self isolate before or after traveling • This is most welcome news to our members in Atlantic Canada, where regional visitors may now help bring some much-needed business where it is safe to do so • When asked last week about allowing visitors from the rest of the country, Premiere McNeil said he hoped to welcome the rest of Canada around the midway point of July but gave no firm timeline or commitments • On June 23, Minister Joly made an announcement regarding the distribution of COVID-19 funding to Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. Please see the press releases below for further details • TIAC notes that this is not new funding, but rather an announcement on the allocation of previously announced funding • TIAC continues to call on government to support the sector and emphasizes the ongoing need to support reopening and recovery efforts • canada.ca • canada.ca
In Case You Missed It …
• On Thursday, June 18th, the Prime Minister announced that the funding portal for cultural industries struggling due to COVID-19 would be launched. This portal can be accessed here • TIAC has launched a new letter writing campaign, and they need your help reaching politicians across Canada to send the message that #TourismCounts and TIAC needs support now • Visit TourismCounts.ca and click “Send Your Letter” to ask your MP to support the tourism industry through COVID-19 recovery efforts • TIAC asks business leaders to also encourage their staff and suppliers to send a letter as well – they need everyone to lend a voice to their message!
Resources for Businesses
• MPI has created a coronavirus resource page that pulls together meetings and events info and also links to several other resources helpful to the Business Events portion of our sector • The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has begun releasing Global Safety Protocols for reopening with the ‘new normal’ in mind • Go2HR has compiled a comprehensive list of resources for all types of sector businesses related to COVID-19 • For operators looking for information on how to prepare to safely reopen their operations in the coming weeks, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has a series of bilingual guidelines available to businesses regarding COVID-19 • Google for SMEs has also launched a page dedicated to supporting businesses during COVID-19 including practical steps and free digital skills training • TIAC partners at Tourism HR Canada have opened their Emerit courses and created a resource hub for sector businesses
Looking Ahead – COVID-19 Recovery
Several provinces have begun announcing plans for reopening economies. Timelines and actions vary, but can provide businesses and workers with information on what to expect in the upcoming weeks and months. TIAC is following up on measures announced by British Columbia to limit gatherings of more than 50 people and seeking a coordinated approach between provinces in the recovery phase. TIAC has reached out to their provincial counterparts to work together in an effort to create an orderly recovery strategy that will address health concerns and support tourism businesses. TIAC will continue to add links to provincial recovery plans as they become available:Alberta
Ontario
Saskatchewan
Quebec
New Brunswick
Manitoba
Prince Edward Island
British Columbia
June 18-22, 2020
TIAC’s Advocacy Update
• On June 23, the Honourable Melanie Joly will announce financial assistance to support the tourism sector in its recovery efforts at 1:30pm • More information can be found here • TIAC will keep the industry apprised of developments • Building off TIAC's June 5th national press conference on TIAC’s Recovery Plan, this week they will be bringing more local attention to tourism issues through regional press conferences • On Tuesday, at 9:30am EST, John Dunn of Floor13 will host an online press conference in French – media can register for this press conference here • On Tuesday, at 10:00 NDT, Steve Denty, Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador Chair will host an online press conference on post-pandemic support – media can register for this press conference here • TIAC partners at TourismHR Canada will launch the Tourism Workforce Recovery Toolkit via a webinar event taking place Wednesday June 24th (1:00 – 2:00pm ET) • Hosted by Tourism HR Canada President and CEO Philip Mondor, this one-hour webinar will provide guidance, support, and practical tools to the 200,000 tourism operators across the country devastated by the impacts of COVID-19 • Register here • The Outdoor Council of Canada has launched an industry survey on the future of outdoor operations post-COVID – take some time to fill out the survey
Government Announcements
• On Thursday, June 18th, the Prime Minister announced that the funding portal for cultural industries struggling because of COVID-19 would be launched. This portal can be accessed here • On June 22nd, the Prime Minister referenced the recent push to lift international travel restrictions and the plan for the US border. The Prime Minister reiterated that health and safety continue to be the government's top priority, and cautioned that if we move too quickly, we run the risk of a second wave and having to shut down the economy again • The government will look carefully at where and when they can open specific borders, but he cautioned that government will move forward gradually and carefully concerning international borders • Transport Canada continues to remind people of the three-phased approach for temperature checks at airports • Starting June 30th all air operators will be required to conduct temperature screenings of all passengers travelling to Canada prior to departure from international or transborder points of departure • By the end of July, Montréal, Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver will have temperature screening stations • By September, the government plans to put in place temperature screening capabilities in the next 11 busiest airports • The Canada Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has a new resource portal for workplaces to share best practices and tips to help businesses make safer reopening decisions
In Case You Missed It …
• TIAC has launched a new letter writing campaign, and they need your help reaching politicians across Canada to send the message that #TourismCounts and we need support now • Visit TourismCounts.ca and click “Send Your Letter” to ask your MP to support the tourism industry through COVID-19 recovery efforts • TIAC asks business leaders to also encourage their staff and suppliers to send a letter as well – TIAC need everyone to lend a voice to their message!
Resources for Businesses
• MPI has created a coronavirus resource page that pulls together meetings and events info and also links to several other resources helpful to the Business Events portion of our sector • The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has begun releasing Global Safety Protocols for reopening with the ‘new normal’ in mind • Go2HR has compiled a comprehensive list of resources for all types of sector businesses related to COVID-19 • For operators looking for information on how to prepare to safely reopen their operations in the coming weeks, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has a series of bilingual guidelines available to businesses regarding COVID-19 • Google for SMEs has also launched a page dedicated to supporting businesses during COVID-19 including practical steps and free digital skills training • TIAC partners at Tourism HR Canada have opened their Emerit courses and created a resource hub for sector businesses
Looking Ahead – COVID-19 Recovery
Several provinces have begun announcing plans for reopening economies. Timelines and actions vary, but can provide businesses and workers with information on what to expect in the upcoming weeks and months. TIAC is following up on measures announced by British Columbia to limit gatherings of more than 50 people and seeking a coordinated approach between provinces in the recovery phase. TIAC has reached out to their provincial counterparts to work together in an effort to create an orderly recovery strategy that will address health concerns and support tourism businesses. TIAC will continue to add links to provincial recovery plans as they become available:Alberta
Ontario
Saskatchewan
Quebec
New Brunswick
Manitoba
Prince Edward Island
British Columbia
Click here to see TIAC updates from March 25 - June 15, 2020
