AMPPE's Membership Update. News you won't find elsewhere .
‌
January 26, 2021
Members,

The last ten months have certainly tested our resilience. While we have reason to be optimistic in 2021, we know that recovery will take effort over the long term and that advocacy will play an ever more critical role in the months and years ahead.

In addition to Covid-related developments, the coming year will see continued park planning consultations, the formation of a transportation committee, and municipal elections. The outcomes of each of these items will tremendously impact will the way we both recreate, and do business in the Mountain Parks.

AMPPE has created a plan for 2021 that will see us continuing to monitor these developments as they happen while finding opportunities to influence outcomes to ensure continued access to Mountain Park recreational activities, improved visitor experience, increased investment within the parks, and effective and transparent park management.

AMPPE's plan includes actions to better align with, and support partners such as Banff Lake Louise Tourism, Banff Lake Louise Hospitality Association, and Jasper Tourism while not duplicating efforts.

AMPPE will continue to work with Global Public Affairs to find, build, and maintain strategic relationships and leverage opportunities to bring attention to the issues facing AMPPE members at federal and provincial government levels.

Locally, Debbie Harksen (Director of Communications and Engagement) will focus on engaging members and partners and building support for our advocacy efforts. AMPPE's strength as an organization lies in our collective action.

Over the year, AMPPE will ask for your help and expertise to develop cycling strategies, nordic skiing proposals, and share your ideas for new winter activities and facility enhancement. If you are a skier, cyclist, or have a passion for developing some quality experiences, please contact Debbie at director@amppe.org or 587-335-0829.

P.S.
In case you missed them, you can read past newsletters HERE
Call to action!
Banff Bow Valley Sustainable People Moving Framework Expert Advisory Panel:
Parks Canada is creating an expert panel to advise the Agency on the development of a long-term framework for the sustainable movement of visitors in the Bow Valley in Banff National Park. The expert panel will be guided by a Terms of Reference (ToR) document that describes the makeup of the group, their priorities, and how they will work together to develop a suite of recommendations for Parks Canada.

Parks Canada has released a draft term of reference (ToR) document for public review. The deadline for input and questions is February 5, 2021. Parks is accepting feedback on the ToR and is seeking recommendations for panel members. To send feedback email Parks at opinion@canada.ca

The panel will provide Parks Canada with recommendations that, if implemented, could have massive impacts on the Bow Valley. Please help us to take action by reading this document and letting us know what you think. If you are sending comments on the ToR to Parks, please cc us on your response (director@amppe.org) so we can track your comments and AMPPE's response as a whole.
**JUST ANNOUNCED** Government launches the Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP)
Today, the federal government announced the launch of the Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP). 

Through HASCAP, the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) has been mandated to provide a guarantee to Canadian financial institutions to help businesses heavily impacted by COVID-19 access additional liquidity and cover operating costs, as follows:

  • loans ranging from $25,000 to $1 million to qualifying businesses;
  • hard-hit businesses such as a hotel or restaurant chain with multiple locations under one entity could be eligible for up to $6.25 million;
  • low-interest loans and repayment terms of up to 10 years;
  • up to a 12-month postponement on principal repayments at the start of the loan; and,
  • BDC will provide a guarantee to the financial institution for 100% of the value of the loan.

Eligibility requirements:
  • The business must have been financially stable and viable before the current economic situation;
  • Businesses need to show a year-over-year revenue decline of at least 50% in three months, within the eight months before their application;
  • The loan will be used to continue or resume operations;
  • The business must be Canadian based; and,
  • The business must have previously applied for either the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) or the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS).

To confirm eligibility and apply to HASCAP, you will need to contact your primary financial institution.  Eligible businesses can start applying as early as February 1 at their principal financial institutions, and more widely by February 15. HASCAP will be available to businesses in all sectors until June 30, 2021.
Worth mentioning again...2021 Board Changes
Board of Directors:
2020 saw a few changes to AMPPE's Board of Directors. Long time Board members Mark Howe (Jasper Rafting) and David Roberts (Fairmont Hotels) have retired from the Board. AMPPE thanks them for their years of service.

AMPPE is also pleased to announce that two new members have joined the Board, Welcome to Clare McCann, local mountain biker and owner of Bikescape, and Tracy Lowe, General Manager of the Chateau Lake Louise. Check out AMPPE's 2021 Board of Directors.

“No one will protect what they don’t care about;
and no one will care about what they have never experienced.”

~ Sir David Attenborough
CONTACT- Debbie Harksen, Director of Communications
director@amppe.org
Phone-587-335-0829