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Canadian COVID-19 Update | Monday, June 1

June 1, 2020

TIAC’s Advocacy Update

  • TIAC was pleased to see $70M dedicated to federal support programs funded through Regional Development Agencies as well as Destination Canada yesterday.  As TIAC has been advocating for DMO support for several weeks, we believe these announcements are a step in the right direction in addressing a significant gap as well as providing domestic marketing funds managed through Destination Canada. With more announcements yet to come, TIAC continues to advocate the need for additional support for the entire visitor economy, including much-needed recovery programs.
    • TIAC advocates for support for all sectors of the tourism eco-system, including Canada’s Indigenous Tourism businesses. We hope to see further announcements for funding programs supporting Indigenous tourism businesses now and into recovery.
  • Today, Parks Canada announced its participation in rent relief to align with the Canadian Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program. 
    • Parks Canada will be contacting all holders of commercial leases and licences of occupation in national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas to provide details on this additional relief being provided by the government. 
    • Information will also be made available soon on the Parks Canada website. Please visit pc.gc.ca regularly for updates.
  • TIAC will be launching its Industry Leaders Recovery Committee  recommendations for government support later this week, addressing immediate, short and long-term needs. Stay tuned for TIAC updates and social media for further details. 
  • For our Ontario readers, Ontario’s Finance Committee will be studying the impacts of COVID-19, starting with the tourism sector. Requests to appear are due today.

Government Announcements

  • In case you missed it, over the weekend, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, the Hon. Melanie Joly, announced $70 million in dedicated funds for tourism in Canada. 
    • $30 million of funding will flow through Destination Canada as funding originally earmarked for international tourism marketing being repurposed for domestic tourism marketing. 
    • The remainder of the funds will be allocated via other previously announced envelopes and will be administered via Regional Development Agencies in Ontario and Western Canada. Further funding announcements are forthcoming for Quebec and the Atlantic provinces.
  • Today, the Prime Minister reiterated that the federal government will be a partner for Provinces and Territories in their reopening process. 
    • He announced the first step in this support for municipalities: the federal government will be accelerating this year’s Gas Tax payments to municipalities, and will be making the entire $2.2 billion payment available to municipalities now instead of through bi-annual payments.
  • The Prime Minister also addressed the ongoing anti-racism demonstrations south of the border. He acknowledged Canada’s own peaceful protests that took place over the weekend in solidarity with Americans, and reaffirmed that racism and discrimination have no place in Canada and that we need to continue to build a better and more equal country for all.

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