With the Canadian election only a month away (Sept. 20), the Tourism Industry Association of Canada says it will continue its recent advocacy push amongst candidates and parties for greater support for the industry to recover from the pandemic.

“We’ve already witnessed a pledge by the Liberal government to implement a survival program for the hardest hit of the hardest hit businesses on Day 1 of their campaign. The Conservatives have also outlined plans to support the tourism businesses in their campaign platform,” says TIAC president and CEO Beth Potter. “This doesn’t mean that our work is over… far from it!”

She adds that TIAC’s ongoing efforts in 2021 have contributed to “major achievements” such as enhanced federal budget measures, an expanded Tourism Relief Fund, extension of CEWS and CERS, and opening the US/Canada land border to American tourists.

The association says it has also “maintained the media narrative on tourism pandemic concerns for 2021.”

In the coming month, TIAC says it will extend its efforts in the day leading up to the election through a proactive tourism advocacy and media campaign that will include direct TIAC activity, as well as co-leadership of the Hardest Hit Coalition (with the Hotel Association of Canada), which is “fighting for business survival support for the tourism suite of sectors,” as well as the Canadian Travel & Tourism Roundtable.

TIAC says its proactive steps to keep members informed and ready to engage with local candidates, will include the following:

• TourismVotes.ca microsite as one-stop shopping for information on the election
• Detailed Platform Analysis for impact on tourism
• Social media content to support TIAC issues
• Email updates to members on important developments
• Hardest Hit Coalition actions
• Regional meetings with candidates
• Working with election media
• Digital advocacy tool once candidates are named
• Talking points for members when meeting candidates

After all, Potter says, “Politicians never listen more than when they are counting on local votes… All political parties need to hear from their candidates that the tourism industry is still struggling and needs ongoing support to ensure we get to recovery.”