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TIAC Presents to International Trade Committee Hearings on Canada-U.S. Relations

At a hearing on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, March 12, TIAC President and CEO Randy Williams and Vice President, Public Affairs Chris Jones helped situate the tourism sector within the Standing Committee on International Trade’s investigation of trade relations between Canada and the United States.

TIAC’s presentation focused on the importance of the U.S. market to Canada’s tourism sector, and the potential impact of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative as it comes into effect for land and sea crossings in June of 2009.

In his opening remarks to the Committee, Randy Williams spoke of the recent declines in American visitation, and noted that while some of the factors that contribute to these declines may be beyond our control, this only underscores the need to take action where we can to help facilitate the process of crossing our border for our valued American customers.

The full transcript of the Standing Committee on International Trade’s hearings can be found by clicking here.

Funding to Support Marquee Tourism Events Announced

On Monday, April 6, the Honourable Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism announced the launch of the Marquee Tourism Events Program, an initiative which will help fund festivals and tourism events across Canada. This federal program aims to help protect and create jobs across the country and stimulate the visitor economy. It will also help Canada to become an even more vigorous player in the competitive global tourism industry.

This funding will start flowing almost immediately, with one injection of funds, the Summer 2009 Marquee Tourism Events funding stream, aimed at ensuring upcoming summer tourism events receive the support they need to help them have a successful 2009 season in the face of the current recession. Over a two-year period, funding will continue to be delivered so that eligible events are afforded the opportunity to participate in the program and receive assistance to help expand their reach.

In addition to the one-time funding being provided immediately for summer 2009 events, there are two main funding streams for applicants. The first stream, or Tier 1, is for significant events that have an established international presence, with overall attendance of at least 250 000 visitors. The second stream, or Tier 2, is intended for those smaller events with a minimum overall attendance of 50 000 visitors that may have an international presence or are proposing to develop one with program support.

“The Marquee Tourism Events Program announced today is a timely and vital investment in Canada's tourism sector,” said Tourism Industry Association of Canada President and CEO, Randy Williams. “By ensuring that these world-class events have the necessary funding to succeed and prosper, this program will help to provide travellers from around the world with undeniably compelling reasons to visit communities across Canada in the coming summer travel period and beyond.”

To view the official release on the introduction of the Marquee Tourism Events Program, please click here.

For more information, contact:

Chris Jones
Vice President, Public Affairs
Tel:  613-238-7557
E-Mail: cjones@tiac.travel

Senate Banking Committee and Competition Bureau Examine Merchant Fees for Credit and Debit Cards 

In separate processes, both the Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce and the Competition Bureau are currently examining the fees paid by Canadian merchants to accept credit card payments from customers.

As this is an issue that impacts on many tourism businesses, TIAC is actively involved in the Stop Sticking It To Us Coalition, a group of Canadian associations led by the Retail Council of Canada and backed by over 120,000 businesses from coast-to-coast that is raising the issue of skyrocketing credit card fees.  Canada is one of the few industrialized countries in the world that doesn’t regulate these “interchange” fees, which is why they are among the highest in the world and continue to rise.

To help assess the impact of these fees on tourism businesses in Canada, TIAC is requesting that its members fill in a very brief survey on this subject. The survey can be accessed by clicking here.

This anonymous survey is just four questions, and should take no more than a minute to complete. The results of this survey will help the Coalition to make the case against these hidden fees.

For more information on the Stop Sticking It To Us Coalition, visit http://www.stopstickingittous.com.

For more information on this issue, please contact:

Chris Jones
Vice President, Public Affairs
Tel:  613-238-7557
E-Mail: cjones@tiac.travel

TIAC Member Benefit Offers Preferred Rates for Payment Processing

As a member of TIAC, you can now benefit from Global Payments’ preferred rates for credit and debut card processing, PLUS access to a broad range of robust Point of Sale (POS) devices with market-specific features and functionality and specialized value-added solutions beyond credit and debit card processing, such as gift cards and loyalty programs.

As industry experts with over 40 years experience, Global Payments is committed to providing you with reliable, secure and state-of-the-art solutions. With Global Payments you receive the best in payment processing, including streamlined access to Canada’s most popular credit and debit cards.

For more information on this benefit, please click here.

For more information on TIAC Member Benefits, please contact:

Andrea Labelle
Director, Business Development
Tel: 613-688-1454
E-Mail: alabelle@tiac.travel

Budget 2009 provides easier access to federal programs meant to help businesses avoid staff layoffs

The 2009 federal budget made it easier for businesses experiencing a temporary slowdown caused by factors beyond their control to access the Work-Sharing program.  Work-Sharing is an adjustment program designed to help employers and workers avoid temporary layoffs when there is a reduction in the normal level of business activity that is beyond the control of the employer. The measure provides income support to workers eligible for Employment Insurance benefits who are willing to work a temporarily reduced work-week.  Work-Sharing Agreements must be agreed upon by both employee and employer representatives, and approved by Service Canada.  Work-Sharing is about helping employers retain skilled employees and avoid the costly process of recruiting and training new employees when business returns to normal levels; and helping employees maintain their skills and job by supplementing their wages with Employment Insurance benefits for the days they are not working.

For more information on this program, please visit Service Canada's website by clicking here.

Quebec Launches WHTI-Compliant Enhanced Drivers License

On March 16th, Quebec accepted the first applications for its new enhanced driver’s licenses (EDLs).  The EDL meets the new border identification requirements that will become mandatory under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) as of June 1, 2009.  The provincial government expects up to 500,000 residents will enroll in the program in its first 4 years.

Traditionally, Canadians and U.S. citizens have been exempt from presenting a passport or other secure document to enter the United States.  However, under the WHTI, the number of documents that can be presented when entering the United States will be limited to a passport or a handful of highly secure identification cards approved by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Quebec’s Enhanced Driver’s License meets the WHTI and DHS requirements, allowing residents to carry a single, secure document that meets their driving, identity, and land and sea border crossing needs.  It is not accepted for air travel.  There is an additional $40 (CDN) fee for a Quebec EDL, but the fee is less than the fee for a passport.

For more information, please see the official press release by clicking here