Tourism Advocacy Update – August 13-17, 2020

by Leanne Czerwinski, posted on 12:32 PM, August 17, 2020
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August 13-17, 2020
Dear Tourism Stakeholders,
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. We 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 Thursday, 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.
  • Thursday, 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.
  • Friday, 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.
  • Today, 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
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.
  • 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, we encourage businesses to access these tools to help plan for upcoming pay and staffing periods.
  • TIAC’s team has been hard at work to plan our 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 our COVID-19 advocacy initiatives! Please click on the following links to send a letter of support:
Resources for 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. We have reached out to our 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: