COVID-19 Updates > Tourism Advocacy Update – April 24, 2020
Publié le 24 Avril 2020
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Dear Tourism Stakeholders,
The TIAC Team continues to monitor and provide daily updates 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 Tourism Sector:
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April 24, 2020
TIAC’s Work
- Today, consistent with TIAC advocacy asks, the Prime Minister announced commercial rent relief measures for SMEs through the new Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses
- Details on the new program can be found below in “Government Announcements”
- TIAC understands that these measures may not meet the support needs of all tourism businesses. As such, it is important that we provide your feedback to government. Please send your comments to us directly at communications@tiac-aitc.ca
- The latest State of Tourism in Canada during COVID-19 Dashboardreport prepared by TIAC partners Twenty31 is now available to the industry.
- This project is made possible through Canadian Experience Fund contributions.
- This evening, TIAC President and CEO will be speaking to her counterparts in Australia and the United States on advocacy efforts for recovery. Our continued work on recovery includes looking at international recovery programs already in progress in numerous countries. Our continued dialogue with our counterparts internationally are beneficial to TIAC’s advocacy efforts.
- The President & CEO participated in a regular call with ISED ADM Paul Thompson to discuss the state of the industry.
- TIAC participated in the Business Liaison Group hosted by Judith Andrew, Commissioner (Employers) from the Canada Employment Insurance Commission to learn more about workforce government measures.
In case you missed it …
- Tourism businesses have the opportunity to participate in a telephone townhall meeting hosted by the Official Opposition this weekend. Conservative Shadow Ministers for Tourism, Small Business, Rural Economic Development, and Associate Shadow Minister for Finance will be leading the call on Saturday, April 25 at 1pm EST/10am PST.
- This call provides an opportunity for the industry to share challenges being faced during this global health pandemic, and what gaps remain in government programs.
- To participate in the town hall, you must register. Please sign-up here: https://www.conservative.ca/cpc/small-business-tele-town-hall/. You will receive a call on Saturday at 1pm EST/10am PST that will automatically connect you to the townhall.
- Next week, TIAC’s President & CEO will once again participate in a Destination Canada COVID-19 public webinar
Government Announcements
- Today, the Prime Minister announced that an agreement has been reached with the provinces and territories regarding the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program
- The program will provide forgivable loans to qualifying commercial property owners to cover 50 per cent of three-monthly rent payments that are payable by eligible small business tenants who are experiencing financial hardship during April, May, and June 2020.
- The loans will be forgiven if the mortgaged property owner agrees to reduce eligible small business tenants’ rent by at least 75 per cent for the three corresponding months under a rent forgiveness agreement, which will include a term not to evict the tenant while the agreement is in place. The small business tenant would cover the remainder, up to 25 per cent of the rent.
- Impacted small business tenants are businesses paying less than $50,000 per month in rent and who have temporarily ceased operations or have experienced at least a 70 per cent drop in pre-COVID-19 revenues. This support will also be available to non-profit and charitable organizations.
- The Prime Minister will participate in a call with the provinces later today, where discussions will continue on gradual reopening of businesses after the crisis. As announced, COVID-19 has not hit each region the same way, and as such, responses will need to adjust to the realities in each province and territory.
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Your Feedback is Essential
TIAC would like to thank the over 800 industry businesses who participated in our latest survey, issued in coordination with Destination Canada and McKinsey & Company. Your contributions are invaluable and are being shared with Government decision-makers. Your comments and feedback will help assist in planning for recovery for the tourism sector.
While the survey is now closed, we encourage you to continue to reach out and share your stories and information. TIAC continues to share your feedback with government regularly. Should you want to share this information by email or phone, we will include your feedback. Please contact:
Jennifer Taylor, VP Marketing and Member Relations
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TIAC Members: Making a difference
Thank you to the many TIAC Members who are helping during this difficult time. From those offering support like temporary housing for essential service providers, to others who brought home stranded Canadians from around the world. You are making a difference.
Today, we would like to celebrate a few organizations. Our partners at Explore Edmonton reached out to us to share their story about many Edmonton entrepreneurs making a difference by giving back to their community. Like TIAC, Explore Edmonton will recognize these contributions on an ongoing basis on their website. Translation and marketing firm, LAT Multilingual, also shared with us their company’s transition to helping tourism businesses connect with the Chinese market to keep Canadian experiences and products top of mind to potential future travellers. Thank you to for sharing your stories!
Do you have a story to share about how tourism businesses are supporting communities during these challenging times? We want to hear from you whether you’re a TIAC member or not. We need to celebrate our industry and recognize your generosity during these trying times. Please share your stories with us at communications@tiac-aitc.ca.
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