The Canadian Association of Tour Operators (CATO) is continuing its campaign calling for the Ontario government to initiate a thorough review of the province’s Travel Industry Act, reiterating its belief that the ongoing TICO review is merely a “cosmetic change” that does not address that Act’s fundamental flaws, including providing adequate consumer protection.

In a statement, CATO executive director Jean Hébert said, “We ask the Ontario government to fix this 40-year-old legislation and its regulations, which does not reflect the environment of the Ontario travel industry today. The TIA was designed in the ‘70s in the era of a cash and cheque economy. Today, over 90% of transactions are using credit cards or other forms of e-commerce.

“Furthermore,” he continued, “we ask the Ontario government to act as an advocate for travel consumers, and to engage its federal counterparts in a discussion of solutions to protect Canadian travellers, especially travel on federally regulated end-suppliers (air and cruise bookings) and given its exclusive responsibility for legislating the airlines and cruise lines service providers under its jurisdiction.”

Ontario’s provincial regulator has been conducting a review of its structure for over a year and is continuing to solicit feedback from members on its policy conclusions, which do not include a consumer pay model to support the Compensation Fund – a provision demanded by both CATO and ACTA.

“CATO cannot support a proposal for change that fails to respond to the travel industry’s repeated demands,” said Hébert. “We can no longer be the only ones to bear the brunt of an inadequate, outdated, and costly system. In addition, how can we support a proposal that fails to provide a full report about the consumer survey, the actuary report, and especially the report from the Ontario Auditor General. Transparency is once again scorned!”