Publié le 20 Janvier 2021
January 20, 2021
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:
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TIAC’s Advocacy Update
- TIAC’s Acting CEO continues advocacy outreach and is actively working to communicate the revised tourism specific recovery document to officials in Government.
- Yesterday, TIAC participated in a meeting with the Associate Deputy Minister of Innovation Science and Economic Development (ISED) to discuss the ongoing state of the industry.
- This week TIAC’s Acting CEO participated in a meeting of Tourism Roundtable Steering Committee.
- Today, TIAC’s Acting CEO met with MP Tony Baldinelli, Conservative Party’s Special Advisor to on Tourism Recovery.
- At the end of December, Conservative MP and Special Advisor to the Leader on Tourism Recovery, Tony Baldinelli, has sponsored an electronic petition that calls upon the Government of Canada to present a tourism recovery plan on or before the 2021 federal budget.
- Destination Canada has launched a new survey to better understand how we can improve COVID-19 research reports and what research you find valuable as we move forward.
- Health Canada (HC) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) have developed a wide range of free resources intended to give organizations tools to help Canadians stay safe, healthy, and informed. The COVID-19 Awareness Toolkit provides the latest resources, ready-to-print posters, videos, social media content, and other valuable links intended for all Canadians, including seniors, youth, and Indigenous Canadians.
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Government Announcements
- The Prime Minister has released supplementary mandate letters for Cabinet Ministers. TIAC looks forward to continued work to introduce sector-specific measures for tourism industry recovery. Content in supplementary letters included language on the hardest-hit businesses, and tailored support for travel and tourism, and hospitality.
- Specifically, Melanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development’s letter included the following:
- Recognizing that Canada’s air travel network is a key enabler of economic development and opportunity, work with the Minister of Transport and with local communities on measures for the air travel sector that sustains regional air infrastructure, support regional economic development, and enable growth in other key sectors such as tourism. You will be supported in this work by the Special Representative for the Prairies.
- Support the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry to introduce sector-specific measures for industries that have been hit hardest by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including tourism and hospitality
- https://pm.gc.ca/en/mandate-letters/2021/01/15/minister-economic-development-and-official-languages-supplementary
- Vaccine Update
- The COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech is likely to protect against a more infectious variant of the virus discovered in Britain that has spread around the world, according to results of further lab tests released on Wednesday.
- Additional Service Cuts to Air Canada
- Announced a further scaling down of operations in response to a new wave of COVID-19 restrictions. Now operating at approximately 20 percent compared to the beginning of 2019.
- News Link: https://bit.ly/2N4ThXU
- QC Premier Calls for a Federal Suspension of Non-Essential Flights to Canada
- Flights continue to arrive at Quebec's airports from sunshine destinations every day and Premier François Legault wants it to stop. Legault said he's worried that people travelling to vacation destinations will bring new variants of COVID-19 back to the province. Trudeau has since urged Canadians travelling for pleasure to cancel their plans, and he raised the prospect of tighter restrictions.
- News Link: https://bit.ly/39NTq9L
- Federal Government Promising Quebec Tourism Investment for Recovery
- The Government of Canada has been announcing investments in the Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions to support the tourism industry’s recovery in targeted Quebec regions.
- News Release: https://bit.ly/3p3gvfc
- Ontario's Small Business Support Grant Open Applications
- Small businesses required to close or significantly restrict services under the provincewide shutdown will be able to apply for grants ranging between $10,000 and $20,000.
- Release Link: https://bit.ly/3oPjnMn
- Newfoundland and Labrador Establishes Tourism Advisory Council
- The 14-member Council will focus on providing advice to the Provincial Government on short-term measures to assist with the sustainability, reopening, and recovery of the tourism sector in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Release Link & Members: https://bit.ly/39vrVBK
- Manitoba's Chief Public Health Officer May Recommend Relaxing Public Health Orders
- With case numbers trending down, Dr. Brent Roussin indicated that Manitoba may be in a position to begin a gradual loosening of restrictions.
- News Link: https://bit.ly/38YVZXs
- Today is Inauguration Day. Joe Biden becomes the 46th President of the United States.
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