November 17, 2021

The TIAC Team is working around the clock to ensure a phenomenal experience for you at TIAC Tourism Congress coming up on November 30 and December 1. Though we would love to welcome more members of the industry, I am happy to say that we have sold out our in-person tickets! We do still have availability to tune in online and encourage you to register virtually if you haven’t already. Please visit www.tourismcongress.ca for more information. We have an outstanding roster of speakers and session topics. 

TIAC continues its efforts to advocate for the removal of the PCR test required for re-entry into Canada for fully vaccinated travellers via all ports of entry. We are also asking that there be a level playing field in requirements across all modes of transportation be it by plane, car, boat or train. 

With Parliament resuming on Monday, we are looking forward to continued discussions with Members of Parliament from all parties to ensure the newly announced support programs are as effective as possible for tourism businesses and are implemented quickly. I had a productive call with Finance and my Coalition Co-Chair, Susie Grynol, on these programs last week. We reiterated our key recommendations and areas where clarity is needed, including scope of program and seasonal business qualifications. We look forward to sharing updates with industry as soon as possible. 

The labour challenge is forefront in our advocacy priorities, and we are looking forward to exploring our strategy moving forward with delegates during the National Policy Forum at Congress. 
 
Please reach out with any comments or questions on our advocacy work at beth@tiac-aitc.ca.

Sincerely,

Beth Potter
President & CEO
Tourism Industry Association of Canada
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, as well as highlights of our recent advocacy efforts. 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:
Advocacy Update

TIAC Vice President, Marc Seguin, met with Liberal MP Francis Drouin last week to discuss a few advocacy priorities including labour and the need to remove the PCR test for returning fully vaccinated travellers. MP Drouin was supportive and will work with us moving forward on our strategy to combat the labour challenge.  
 
TIAC President and CEO, Beth Potter, together with Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses Co-Chair, Susie Grynol, met with Finance last week to discuss the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program. The department was well briefed on the industry’s recommendations and we look forward to hearing further details on this program, including when applications will open. We are well aware that industry is anxious to get answers on this program. 
 
We continue with our weekly touch bases with the department to ensure top priorities for the industry are understood.   
To learn more or provide comments on any of our advocacy initiatives, please reach out to Madison Simmons, Director of Government Affairs, at msimmons@tiac-aitc.ca.
Class Action Regarding Credit Card Acceptance  
 
Are you a merchant in Canada who accepted Visa or Mastercard credit cards?  
  
If you accepted Visa or Mastercard credit cards as payment for goods or services in Canada after March 23, 2001, your rights could be affected by a proposed national class action settlement with Royal Bank of Canada, Toronto-Dominion Bank, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Bank of Montreal and Bank of Nova Scotia. Updates have also been made to the plan for distributing the settlement money. For more information or to view a copy of the settlement and distribution plan, visit creditcardsettlements.ca.
PHAC Resources on COVID-19

Among the eligible population, young adults aged 18 to 39 years have the lowest vaccination coverage, as of October 16, 2021.
  • 75% of 18 to 29-year-olds are fully vaccinated. 
  • 77% of 30 to 39-year-olds are fully vaccinated.  
  • Between July 14 and October 18, 2021, within the 18 to 39-year-old age group: 
  • 2,037 people have been hospitalized with COVID-19; 
  • 384 people have been admitted to ICU; 
  • 45 people with COVID-19 have died. 
  • There is no way to tell how COVID-19 will affect you. While young people may sometimes have mild symptoms when infected with COVID-19, they can still get sick from the virus, spread the virus to others, and experience longer-term effects.  
  
Being fully vaccinated is one of the most effective ways to protect our families, communities and ourselves against COVID-19. By sharing this information with your stakeholders, clients and employees, you can help all of us to get back to the people and activities we miss.    
   
  
COVID-19 Awareness Toolkit is also available online with additional COVID-19 resources and in multilingual formats 
Travel Restrictions

Destination Canada provides up-to-date domestic travel restrictions and traveller self-isolation requirements for all provinces and territories.