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Canadian COVID-19 Update | Monday, April 20

April 20, 2020

TIAC’s Work

  • TIAC’s President and CEO reported on industry feedback on relief measures today on a regularly scheduled call with ISED Associate Deputy Minister, where she emphasized again that many stakeholders are reporting long waiting times to receive answers on relief measures.  
  • Further details are now available regarding last week’s announcement of the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) funding:
    • The Government of Canada has created a Regional Relief and Recovery Fund, a special initiative valued at $962 million dollars over two years, to mitigate financial pressures experienced by businesses and organizations to allow them to continue their operations, including paying their employees. The funds will also support projects to help businesses prepare for a successful post-COVID-19 recovery.
    • This Canada-wide initiative will be launched shortly, and will include two components:
      • $675 million to support regional economies: businesses and organizations, as well as communities in regions all across Canada;
      • $287 million to support the national network of Community Futures Development Corporations, which could provide support specifically targeting critical businesses and organizations in rural communities across the country.
      • As government works to roll out this important funding, we will continue to keep you apprised of developments, details on how to apply and other information you need to know. 
    • Meanwhile, please refer to this guide for contacting your RDAs.
  • Over the weekend, Canada and the U.S. reached an agreement to keep current border restrictions in place for another 30 days. 
  • The Prime Minister also announced up to $306.8 million in funding to help small and medium-sized Indigenous businesses, including tourism businesses. The funding will allow for short-term, interest free loans through Aboriginal Financial Institutions which offer financing and business support services to First Nations, Inuit and Métis businesses.
  • As we start looking towards the travel and tourism sector’s path to recovery, our partners at Twenty31 have developed a snapshot report of recent key global, regional and domestic tourism health and economic updates. The purpose of this report is to provide insights on a weekly basis of the current impact of COVID-19 on the travel and tourism industry.
    • Insights are based on the current state and future potential of key drivers of tourism recovery including the most important tourism channels – tour operators, airlines, travellers, source markets and tourism business operators and will be available on a weekly basis for the next 9 weeks.
    • This research is made possible through TIAC’s Elevating Canadian Experiences program funded by the Government of Canada’s Canadian Experience Fund.
  • We are delighted that nearly 500 tourism businesses have responded to our survey in collaboration with McKinsey & Company and Destination Canada to assess recovery measures to help the tourism sector when the COVID-19 crisis subsides. 
    • Please know that each entry is captured and reported to government officials and decision- makers daily. Your continued participation and input are vital. Thank you to everyone who already participated. Please see the survey details & link below 

Government Announcements

  • Today, the Prime Minister recognized the lives lost in the Nova Scotia shooting. He also acknowledged the hard work of the RCMP across Canada. A virtual vigil will be held on Friday through Facebook to commemorate the victims.
  • Parliament resumed today, April 20, with the House meeting in person. The Liberal government is proposing one in-person and two virtual sittings per week moving forward, however, an all-party consensus must be reached on this decision.
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