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May 27, 2009 |
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Parks Canada Freezes Visitor Entry and Camping Fees for Two Years On May 9, 2009, the Honourable Jim Prentice, Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada announced that Parks Canada is freezing its visitor entry and camping fees for two years. “Parks Canada is a major partner within the Canadian tourism industry, with a network of more than 200 national treasures that it protects and presents for the benefit of today’s and future generations of Canadians,” said Minister Prentice. “Unlike some industries, tourism and Parks Canada are present throughout the country; they have what it takes to support Canadians and stimulate local economies across Canada during this global recession.” The fee freeze, which takes effect immediately, affects all Parks Canada entry fees, camping at national parks, lockage and mooring at historic canals and several other national fees for basic services. The 2008 prices for independent visitors will remain in effect until April 1, 2011, while 2009 prices for commercial groups will remain in effect until April 1, 2012. “Congratulations to Parks Canada for responding to these challenging times in an appropriate and important way,” said Randy Williams, TIAC President and CEO. “As Canada’s national parks and historic sites are significant demand generators for tourism, this fee freeze will help us remain competitive in the global tourism marketplace.” For more information, please contact:
TIAC presents to Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities on Bill C-7 On May 5, 2009, Chris Jones, TIAC Vice President, Public Affairs helped situate the marine adventure tourism sector within the review of Bill C-7 by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. Bill C-7 seeks to amend the Marine Liability Act to exclude marine adventure tourism from Part IV of the Act. As it was conceived, the MLA applied wholly to vessels that are commercial in nature (e.g. ferries, cruise ships) and not at all to vessels used for pleasure purposes. However, the MLA does not clearly define which marine activities are subject to the Act. As a result, all marine operators have been subject to the same insurance regime, establishing minimum insurance coverage requirements and invalidating liability waivers. In its presentation, TIAC indicated its support for Bill C-7, as operators in the marine adventure tourism industry have experienced difficulties securing affordable liability insurance since the introduction of the MLA. In addition, safety standards for marine adventure tourism already exist within Canada’s Shipping Act, and are distinct from other commercial passenger vessels subject to the MLA. The industry in Canada has committed to not only comply with existing regulations, but to exceed many of the standards and requirements. In practice, a “safety-first” philosophy has resulted in a low incidence of injuries in water-based adventure tourism. For the complete transcript of Mr Jones’ presentation to the Standing Committee, please click here. For more information, please contact:
A Call to Action for Merchants from the StopStickingItToUs Coalition TIAC and the StopStickingItToUs Coalition have appealed on your behalf in front of the Senate and House of Commons to bring an end to the gouging of merchants by credit card companies, the banks that issue their cards and the acquirers/processors. Our coalition has been successful in getting the government’s attention on this important issue and now your personal participation is vital to pressuring government to act! MPs and Senators need to know just how important this issue is for you and your business. Act now. It only takes a moment to have your voice heard and make a difference. Visit the coalition website and follow three quick and easy steps to send a letter and/or postcard to your MP. It is important that every one of the 250,000 merchants in our coalition make their voices heard, so please act today. There is sometimes an air of resignation about rising fees and charges from banks, processors and credit card companies. It is as though there are so many of them that there’s no way for merchants to fight back. There is a way to fight back and by taking action today, you’ll be doing your part. For more information, please contact:
WHTI Coming into Effect June 1st; Ontario Government Launches Enhanced Driver’s License Ahead of Deadline As of June 1, 2009, the United States government's Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) requires Canadian citizens entering the United States by land or water to present a valid passport or approved secure document that establishes the bearer's identity and citizenship. A valid passport is still required to enter the U.S. by air. The Ontario provincial government launched its Enhanced Driver’s License (which meets the WHTI requirements) in early May - Ontario drivers who are Canadian citizens can now apply for the EDL. Nine ServiceOntario centres are now accepting applications for this passport alternative, which can be used at Canada-U.S. land and water border crossings. An enhanced driver's licence is completely optional, and is an additional $40.00. Those who wish to apply for a licence should visit www.ServiceOntario.ca to book an application appointment. For information on travel documents required under the WHTI, please refer to the CBSA factsheet (for Canadian travellers), the US-CBP factsheet (for American travellers), or visit www.getyouhome.gov (for travellers from any country of origin and travelling to, from, or through the United States). For more information, please contact:
Questionnaire on a comprehensive economic agreement between Canada and the European Union On May 6, 2009, Canada and the European Union (EU) announced the launch of negotiations towards a comprehensive economic agreement. The joint study estimates that trade liberalization between Canada and the EU could lead to a $12 billion boost in Canada’s annual gross domestic product, and increase bilateral trade by over 20 percent. A bilateral trade agreement with the EU will help to protect and advance Canada’s future prosperity, by generating new investment and export opportunities through improved access to the European marketplace. In order to ensure that Canadian priorities are taken into account during the negotiations, the Government of Canada is consulting Canadian stakeholders with an interest in the EU market. These consultations will continue throughout the negotiations, and will focus on a number of issues that are subject to negotiation, including those pertaining to access for goods (including tariff and non-tariff barriers), rules of origin, technical barriers to trade, intellectual property, cross-border trade in services, investment and government procurement. TIAC members are invited to respond to the questionnaire by June 30, 2009. The survey can be accessed by clicking here. Contributions may be sent to the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade via email, fax or mail to:
For more information on this initiative, please click here. Canadian Tourism Commission Tables 2008 Annual Report in Parliament Documenting a year that saw Canada’s tourism brand win international kudos, Minister of Industry, the Honourable Tony Clement tabled the 2008 Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) Annual Report May 6th, 2009 in Parliament. Said CTC President and CEO Michele McKenzie, “Despite the challenges faced by the global economy and the highly competitive market for tourism dollars, significant brand recognition for Canada during 2008 is proof that the 'Canada. Keep exploring' brand is sound, solid and working.” Looking ahead, McKenzie said that the CTC will focus on inspiring Canadians to travel within Canada and entry into the new, high-growth emerging markets of India and Brazil, supported by the federal government’s economic stimulus funding. “Canada’s future competitiveness depends on growth from international markets, and the investment by the federal government recognizes that further expansion of Canada’s Brand can increase tourism export revenues at home.” As well, CTC recognizes the importance of priority markets such as the United States and will be doing even more to inspire our American neighbours to rediscover Canada. To download the full report, please click here. For further information, please contact:
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“Interchange fees ” are hidden fees charged by banks and major credit card issuers every time a credit or debit card is used to pay for a purchase. The fee varies with type of card, size of merchant and other factors, but as much as $2 of every $100 spent goes to card issuers. Source: The StopStickingItToUs Coalition |
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