Citing massive ongoing challenges for travel agencies and counsellors as 2022 begins – including a blanket Level 3 federal travel advisory that is causing cancellations, staff shortages throughout the industry, and cancelled programs and flight schedule changes – ACTA says it has presented a relief proposal to the government on behalf of independent agents.

The association says it is also seeking further clarity on lockdown benefits that could benefit travel agents.

“ACTA’s top priority remains ensuring as much financial support as possible will be available for travel agencies, travel agents, and independent travel agents,” says ACTA president Wendy Paradis.

The latter, in particular, are critically in need since they were not included in Bill C-2 Financial Support legislation passed in December, and as such, ACTA has developed a new proposal for financial support for independent travel agents.

The proposal, the Independent Travel Agent Relief Program (ITARP), is a solution that aims to create equity between independent travel agents and other travel and tourism small businesses, says ACTA.

Endorsed by all major ACTA host agency presidents and the grassroots advocacy organizations ACITA and Canadian Travel Agents for Change, the ITARP proposal has been presented to the government and a meeting with senior officials at the Ministry of Tourism is scheduled for next week, says ACTA, adding that it will continue working on the key priority.

ACTA is also seeking clarity on Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit, whereby, in response to the rapid spread of Omicron, the Government of Canada declared all provinces and territories as an eligible region under the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit (CWLB).

The CWLB gives $300 per week ($270 after taxes withheld) for each one-week period applied for. Currently, benefits are eligible in most of Canada for Period 9 (Dec. 19 – 25) and Period 10 (Dec. 26 – Jan. 1), while additional eligibility periods are expected.

ACTA is advising all applicants, including furloughed travel agency employees and independent travel agents, to carefully review the eligibility checklist to determine whether they are eligible.

“Despite outreach by ACTA, the federal government has so far not confirmed whether independent travel agents, as a specific industry, are eligible,” says Paradis. “Therefore, at this time, ACTA is unable to provide further guidance or interpretation, however we are pressing for clarity on this.”

But she notes that there is no penalty for mistaken applications, only a return of funds paid; penalties apply for fraudulent applications.

Any further updates on the program will be communicated immediately, says ACTA.