Canadian COVID-19 Update | Monday, April 6
April 6, 2020
TIAC’s Work
- TIAC’s President and CEO, Charlotte Bell, has been invited to speak to the Parliamentary Finance Committee (FINA) on Wednesday April 8 from 4:00-6:00 pm EST to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism sector.
- To build on the ongoing feedback we are getting from members through the survey and direct communications, we are also analyzing and segmenting priority topics that help us inform our relief requests and recommendations to Government, as such, we will be reaching out to members that can provide additional input. Please see the survey link below.
- A recording is available of last week’s webinar, where TIAC’s President and CEO joined Minister Joly and Ben Cowan-Dewar, Chair of the Destination Canada Board, for the second COVID-19 webinar organized by Destination Canada, see link below:
- A new analysis of global policies related to COVID-19 was released by the OECD today, and can be viewed online:
- Government of Canada and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce established the Canadian Business Resilience Network to help Canadian businesses navigate the COVID-19 reality and prepare for recovery. They are also partnering with Stats Canada on a national survey – goal to measure the impact on business, from a national perspective.
Government Announcements
- Today, the Prime Minister announced that additional supports are being looked at for Canadians who do not qualify for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), including those who are still working but are receiving less than the monthly benefit through CERB ($2,000); those working 10 hours a week or less; and students who were planning to work over the summer but will no longer have the option – a situation that the tourism industry is very familiar with.
- This news comes on the day that applications to CERB are officially open. Those with a birthday in January, February or March can apply today and any Monday, and those with birthdates in other months can apply through the rest of the week (April, May, June birthdays apply on Tuesdays; July, August, September birthdays apply on Wednesdays; October, November, December birthdays apply on Thursdays; anyone can apply between Friday and Sunday).
- The link for applications can be found here
- The Prime Minister also announced that the government is drafting legislation and working with the other parties to recall Parliament to enact the 75% Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) program – a much needed relief for tourism operators and businesses across Canada.
- As of April 6, there are 15,822 cases of COVID-19 and 293 deaths in Canada.