December 15, 2021:

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, as well as highlights of TIAC's recent advocacy efforts. TIAC is 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 Advocacy Update

Last week, TIAC President and CEO, Beth Potter, appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance to discuss the importance of targeted support for hard hit businesses. Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses Co-Chair, Susie Grynol, President and CEO of the Hotel Association of Canada, also appeared to represent the hardest hit sectors.

We appeared to discuss Bill C2 - An Act to provide further support in response to COVID-19. We are actively advocating that this Bill pass before the House rises. If it is delayed, this will cause a disruption in subsidy support lasting several months. And although the support is retroactive, our members will face cash flow challenges in the short term.

Travel Advisory Update

The federal government has re introduced its advisory against Canadians travelling outside of Canada for non essential purposes due to the rapidly circulating Omicron COVID-19 variant. The advisory will remain in place for at least four weeks and then be re-evaluated.

The government is also going to further expand its on-arrival testing and isolation rule which so far is only being randomly applied to air travellers. The government has said it will be made universal to all air travellers outside of the United States, but it hasn’t yet said when that will happen.

These new restrictions, especially on the cusp of the holiday season, will be another devastating blow to Canada’s tourism industry, which has already been the hardest hit of all industries by the pandemic.

This now adds even more pressing urgency for Parliament to pass Bill C-2 and move as quickly as possible to launch the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery and Hardest-Hit Business Recovery programs. The survival of our industry depends on it.

TIAC and the tourism industry across Canada believe the health and safety of all people, including all travellers, is of paramount importance, and that COVID-19 and its variants will be a fact of life for the foreseeable future. This reality must be managed effectively and in a concerted fashion by both industry and all levels of government.

It is becoming increasingly clear that Canada needs a playbook that will help guide the most appropriate reaction to the resurgence of variants. It is critical that this playbook also ensure greater predictability and consistency to the thousands of operators that are on the front lines of travel and tourism and which are directly impacted and are being called upon to help manage the constantly changing travel restrictions and testing requirements.

Economic and Fiscal Update 2021 TIAC Analysis 

Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland, presented the 2021 Canadian fiscal update.

This year, it provides Canadians with a report on the nation’s finances almost two years into a global pandemic.

Click here for the Economic and Fiscal Update and for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance's speech.

Snapshot on COVID-19 measures

The Economic and Fiscal Update outlined the government’s plan to:

• Ensure that booster shots are free for Canadians in all provinces and territories
• Protect children by making sure that Canada has the pediatric vaccines needed for children five and over to get their shots
• Procure millions of rapid tests free to provinces, territories, and Indigenous communities
• Invest in new anti-viral drugs for COVID-19 patients that prevent hospitalizations and can save lives and in building ventilation improvements to prevent outbreaks at schools and workplaces
• Support works and businesses through new programs like Local Lockdown Support and the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit
• Move forward on ten days of paid sick leave for workers in federally-regulated businesses
• Proposing $1.7 billion to Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada to continue supporting provinces and territories in securing the rapid testing supplies they need to keep Canadians safe and healthy, including through expanded school and workplace testing programs

Key Items for Tourism:

• Extending Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP) to March 31, 2022. This program was set to expire on December 31, 2021

Legislation introduced for the Hardest Hit Sectors:

• Introduced legislation on The Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program which would provide support through wage and rent subsidies to organizations in the tourism and hospitality sectors, with a subsidy rate of up to 75 per cent, and The Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Programwhich would provide support through wage and rent subsidies to organizations that have faced deep losses, with a subsidy rate of up to 50 per cent
• This legislation would also Extend the Canada Recovery Hiring Program until May 7, 2022 for eligible employers with current revenue losses above 10 percent, and to increase the rate to 50 per cent
• Bill C2 will need to be re introduced in the House for a third reading and final vote, and will then be sent to the Senate. TIAC is advocating for the timely passage of this Bill before the House rises this week 
• The Local Lockdown Program would provide organizations that face new local COVID-19-related lockdowns with up to the maximum amount available through the wage and rent subsidy programs
• These programs would be available until May 7, 2022, with the proposed subsidy rates available until March 12, 2022. From March 13 to May 7, 2022, the support would decrease by half, in anticipation that the virus will be even more fully under control and our recovery will be firmly taking hold in all areas of the economy. Lockdown Support would continue to provide additional rent support of 25 per cent and be pro-rated based on the number of days a particular location was affected by a lockdown until May 7, 2022
• Extending the deadline for repayment of Canada Emergency Business Account loans

Small Businesses Air Quality Improvement Tax 

• The government proposes a refundable Small Businesses Air Quality Improvement Tax Credit of 25 per cent on eligible air quality improvement expenses incurred by small businesses to make it more affordable for them to invest in safer and healthier ventilation and air filtration. Businesses would receive the credit on eligible expenses incurred between September 1, 2021, and December 31, 2022, related to the purchase or upgrade of mechanical heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and the purchase of standalone devices designed to filter air using high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, up to a maximum of $10,000 per location and $50,000 in total

Vaccine Mandates Making Travel Safer

Vaccine mandates are helping businesses safely reopen and recover, which help create jobs, increase workers’ hours and wages, and grow the middle class. To protect the safety of travellers and workers, the government took action to put in place a requirement that:

• All travellers now departing from Canadian airports, on VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer trains, or on cruise ships (or non-essential passenger vessels on voyages of 24 hours or more) must be fully vaccinated, with very limited exceptions
• All employers in the federally regulated air, rail and marine transportation sectors must establish vaccination policies that ensure employees are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The government proposes to provide $37.4 million over three years, starting in 2021-22, to Transport Canada to support the implementation and oversight of this vaccine mandate for federally regulated air, rail, and marine employees and passengers

Support for Proof of Vaccination 

The federal government is committed to a national proof of vaccination standard and is working with every province and territory to develop a standard proof of vaccination. This will help fully vaccinated Canadians to travel within the country and internationally. All provinces and territories have confirmed that they are moving forward with a standardized proof of vaccination certificate. The government is putting aside the necessary funds for provinces’ and territories’ expenditures related to the implementation of their proof of vaccination programs.

The federal government has also been working with international partners so that the Canadian proof of vaccination standard is recognized widely at foreign borders, allowing fully vaccinated Canadians to travel around the world.

• TIAC is very pleased with this measure as we have been consistently calling for one, standardized national proof of vaccination mandate, to help ensure a seamless travel experience for both domestic and international travellers

The Economic Update also provided alternative economic scenarios based on the ability to adapt to Omicron, and possible future variants of concern. These scenarios would impact the tourism industry in increasingly devastating ways. TIAC is monitoring the omicron variant and its impacts.

To learn more or provide comments on any of our advocacy initiatives, please reach out to Madison Simmons, Director of Government Affairs, at msimmons@tiac-aitc.ca.

TIAC in the Media

President and CEO Beth Potter has been active in the media over the past two weeks given the numerous announcements. Watch Beth’s interviews here:

• Travel, tourism sectors see glimmers of hope amid Omicron uncertainty 
• As Omicron variant spreads, some Sask. residents cancel, reconsider holiday travel plans
• UNLOCKING THE U.S. Bilateral e cCANADA BORDER: oordination ssential for t ravel r remains ecovery

TIAC in the Media

President and CEO Beth Potter has been active in the media over the past two weeks given the numerous announcements. Watch Beth’s interviews here:

• How new COVID-testing rules impact the pandemic-weary travel industry

Vaccine Update

➜ Vaccine Progression by Province
➜ Canada COVID Tracker
➜ Global COVID Tracker

PHAC Resources on COVID-19

• Among the eligible population, young adults aged 18 to 39 years have the lowest vaccination coverage, as of October 16, 2021
  • 75% of 18 to 29-year-olds are fully vaccinated
  • 77% of 30 to 39-year-olds are fully vaccinated
• Between July 14 and October 18, 2021, within the 18 to 39-year-old age group: 
  • 2,037 people have been hospitalized with COVID-19
  • 384 people have been admitted to ICU
  • 45 people with COVID-19 have died
• There is no way to tell how COVID-19 will affect you. While young people may sometimes have mild symptoms when infected with COVID-19, they can still get sick from the virus, spread the virus to others, and experience longer-term effects

Being fully vaccinated is one of the most effective ways to protect our families, communities and ourselves against COVID-19. By sharing this information with your stakeholders, clients and employees, you can help all of us to get back to the people and activities we miss.    

• Video: We can all help 
• Video: I’m young and healthy. Why should I get vaccinated if I’m not at risk? 
• Video: Can the COVID-19 vaccines affect fertility? 
• Video: Do I need to get the second dose? 
• Social media shareables: Get the facts about the COVID-19 vaccines 

A COVID-19 Awareness Toolkit is also available online with additional COVID-19 resources and in multilingual formats.  

Travel Restrictions

Destination Canada provides up-to-date domestic travel restrictions and traveller self-isolation requirements for all provinces and territories. Explore Canada!

December 8, 2021:

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, as well as highlights of TIAC's recent advocacy efforts. TIAC is 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:

Next Member Talk is December 14 – join us!

Solving Canada's Tourism Industry Labour Crisis will be a strategic journey. Learn more and contribute to the conversation by participating in TIAC's last 2021 MEMBER Talk on Tuesday, December 14th, 2:00 - 3:00 pm ET. Philip Mondor, President with Tourism HR Canada will join TIAC President and CEO Beth Potter and present the comprehensive tourism labour market strategy. 

Register here

Thank you for another great edition of the Tourism Congress!

TIAC hopes you enjoyed the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) 2021 edition of the Tourism Congress and Canadian Tourism Awards.

Survey

Below you will find a links for TIAC's post-event survey (approx. 5 minutes to complete). Over the last 20 months, TIAC knows you have completed many of these and ask for your indulgence once more. Completing the survey will help TIAC better understand the steps they need to take to improve next year's event. The survey will be open until December 13.

Attended in-person: take the survey here
Attended online only: take the survey here

Online Content

TIAC is also pleased to inform you that the online Tourism Congress Sessions are now available On-Demand on the event platform. Click here to access the sessions. If you have forgotten your login information, please click on the "Reset Password" and check your inbox.

Note: The sessions that were broadcasted online from the in-person event will not be available for viewing On-demand.

A note from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada  

Getting the right information for international travellers

If you’re welcoming international visitors, help them understand the requirements for a safe and smooth trip, by providing them with information about vaccine requirements and using, as is mandatory, ArriveCAN to submit mandatory travel information. As border measures continue to evolve, the Canada Border Services Agency’s website continues to be the best source for up-to-date information on Canada’s entry requirements.

Review current measures: here

Canada Digital Adoption Program

Do you want to become more competitive by getting your business online or using digital technology to make your operations more efficient? The Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) will be available to you early in 2022 and help your business innovate, become more productive and get to the next level.

 Learn more about CDAP: here

To learn more or provide comments on any of TIAC advocacy initiatives, please reach out to Madison Simmons, Director of Government Affairs, at msimmons@tiac-aitc.ca.

MOU with the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada

TIAC and the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) have agreed to formalize their partnership through a signed memorandum of understanding (MOU). This represents a concrete collaboration between the national Indigenous tourism organization and the national advocacy organization for the tourism industry in Canada.

The primary goal of this MOU is to work collaboratively and coordinate efforts to provide leadership, advocacy and engagement opportunities, supporting the recovery of the Indigenous tourism sector in Canada. ITAC and TIAC will work together to share and develop knowledge, complementary expertise and market intelligence.

TIAC in the Media

President and CEO Beth Potter has been active in the media over the past two weeks given the numerous announcements. Watch Beth’s interviews here:

• How new COVID-testing rules impact the pandemic-weary travel industry

Vaccine Update

➜ Vaccine Progression by Province
➜ Canada COVID Tracker
➜ Global COVID Tracker

PHAC Resources on COVID-19

• Among the eligible population, young adults aged 18 to 39 years have the lowest vaccination coverage, as of October 16, 2021
  • 75% of 18 to 29-year-olds are fully vaccinated
  • 77% of 30 to 39-year-olds are fully vaccinated
• Between July 14 and October 18, 2021, within the 18 to 39-year-old age group: 
  • 2,037 people have been hospitalized with COVID-19
  • 384 people have been admitted to ICU
  • 45 people with COVID-19 have died
• There is no way to tell how COVID-19 will affect you. While young people may sometimes have mild symptoms when infected with COVID-19, they can still get sick from the virus, spread the virus to others, and experience longer-term effects

Being fully vaccinated is one of the most effective ways to protect our families, communities and ourselves against COVID-19. By sharing this information with your stakeholders, clients and employees, you can help all of us to get back to the people and activities we miss.    

• Video: We can all help 
• Video: I’m young and healthy. Why should I get vaccinated if I’m not at risk? 
• Video: Can the COVID-19 vaccines affect fertility? 
• Video: Do I need to get the second dose? 
• Social media shareables: Get the facts about the COVID-19 vaccines 

A COVID-19 Awareness Toolkit is also available online with additional COVID-19 resources and in multilingual formats.  

Travel Restrictions

Destination Canada provides up-to-date domestic travel restrictions and traveller self-isolation requirements for all provinces and territories. Explore Canada!