Budget 2015: Travel & Tourism Highlights

Stay tuned for more Budget 2015 updates in our Special TIAC Talk Thursday

Promoting Canadian Tourism (p.204)

Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to provide additional support to the Canadian Tourism Commission to embark on a new marketing campaign in the United States, in partnership with the tourism industry. Details will be announced in the coming months. Canada’s tourism sector is an important contributor to our economy, comprising 178,000 businesses across Canada in industries such as transportation, accommodation, food and beverage services, recreation and entertainment, and travel services.

Building on the Canadian Tourism Commission’s strong track record of marketing Canada to visitors from all over the world, Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to provide additional support for the Commission to lead a new initiative, in partnership with the tourism industry, to promote Canada to travellers from the United States. This targeted campaign is expected to attract a larger number of American visitors to destinations across Canada, helping to promote economic activity and job creation in the tourism sector. Details will be provided in the coming months after the Government consults with important stakeholders in the tourism sector.

Economic Action Plan 2015 also proposes to expand the Electronic Travel Authorization eligibility to low-risk travellers from four countries, including Brazil and Mexico, which are two of the Commission’s priority markets where a visa is required for citizens travelling to Canada. This will help make Canada a more attractive destination for tourism and business, while allowing the Government to focus resources where it matters most—on higher-risk travellers (see Chapter 4.3, “Facilitating Legitimate Travel to Canada”).

Facilitating Legitimate Travel to Canada (p.330)

Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to provide $15.7 million over five years, starting in 2015–16, to expand eligibility for the Electronic Travel Authorization to low-risk travellers from Brazil, Bulgaria, Mexico and Romania to make it easier and faster for legitimate travellers from these countries to come to Canada.

Facilitating legitimate travel to Canada supports the Government’s economic agenda by boosting trade and supporting economic growth. The Government is committed to attracting an increasing number of genuine visitors, students and business people to Canada, while ensuring the safety and security of Canadians. That is why the Government is proposing to expand eligibility for the Electronic Travel Authorization announced under the Beyond the Border Action Plan to low-risk travellers from Brazil, Bulgaria, Mexico and Romania. The Government will introduce legislative amendments to support this proposal. This approach will allow the Government of Canada to better tailor screening requirements to the risks posed by individual travellers, making it easier and faster for low-risk travellers to come to Canada. This will help make Canada a more attractive destination for tourism and business, while allowing the Government to focus resources where it matters most— on higher-risk travellers.

Other Measures Including Tax Breaks for Small Business and Support for Canada’s 150^th Anniversary

Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs

• Reducing the small business tax rate from 11 per cent to 9 per cent by 2019.
• Increasing access to venture capital financing to help innovative, high-growth companies grow and create jobs.
• Providing $14 million over two years to Futurpreneur Canada in support of young entrepreneurs.
• Supporting the Action Plan for Women Entrepreneurs to help women business owners succeed.

Employers

• Enhancing labour market information, including the launch of a new one-stop national labour market information portal.

Infrastructure

• Providing an additional $750 million over two years, starting in 2017–18, and $1 billion per year ongoing thereafter for a new and innovative Public Transit Fund.
• Creating a new dedicated infrastructure fund to support the renovation, expansion and improvement of existing community infrastructure in all regions of the country as part of the Canada 150 celebrations.
• $204 million to support enhancements to federally owned and operated airports as well as improvements to VIA Rail Canada Inc.’s rail infrastructure.

Trade

• Providing $50 million over five years for a program to share the cost of exploring new export opportunities with small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Providing $42 million over five years to expand the footprint and resources of the Trade Commissioner Service.

Canadian Heritage and Canada’s 150^th Anniversary

• Supporting activities and events to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary in 2017, with $210 million over four years, starting in 2015–16.
• Providing $25 million over five years, beginning in 2016–17, to renew the Harbourfront Centre Funding Program.
• $191 million to undertake renewal and repairs of heritage and museum sites.
• Extending the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Program by providing$10 million per year for three years, starting in 2016–17. 

General budget info:

• Finance Minister Joe Oliver will deliver long-awaited budget on Tuesday, April 21st in Ottawa at 4 p.m. ET
• The Budget is the centrepiece of fiscal policy
• Federal budgets are presented annually by the Government of Canada to identify planned government spending, expected government revenue, and forecast economic conditions for the upcoming year
• The budget is announced in the House of Commons by the Minister of Finance, who traditionally wears new shoes while doing so
• The Budget is then voted on by the House of Commons