ACTA says it welcomes federal government extensions of CRB and EI support programs for Canadians but maintains that the retail travel industry still needs much more support if it is to survive the pandemic.
Association president Wendy Paradis says an additional 12 weeks of the Canada Recovery Benefit income support and 24 more weeks of Employment Insurance eligibility don’t go far enough to sustain travel agencies and agents hammered by global shutdown of travel, which have been exacerbated by “the many new restrictions and requirements introduced by the federal government (that) have further delayed the recovery for the industry.
“Our message to the government is plain and simple, our industry needs financial support now and well into the future,” she says.
Specifically, ACTA is calling for the government to extend the CRB and other support programs until at least Sept. 30, or 90 days after Canada’s travel restrictions have been lifted.
Paradis says that ACTA has lobbied extensively for the programs to be extended, adding, “We are aware that for many independent travel agents, this is their only source of income right now.”
And, in light of the extensions “falling short of what is needed for the sector,” Paradis says it will continue to advocate for further support, including urging that the government make as many financial support programs available to as many travel agencies and independent travel agents as possible.
“Too many travel agencies, travel agents and independent travel agents are coming up against a lot of red tape and roadblocks,” said Paradis. “The financial situation for our industry is dire and our industry should be eligible for all aid programs at the highest levels. We need extensions to all programs well into the fall of 2021 or beyond.”
Industry Recovery Plan
Meanwhile, ACTA has submitted its 2021 Tourism and Travel Industry Recovery Plan to several key federal ministries as part of the budget planning process.
In preparing the submission, Paradis says ACTA collaborated with the Hardest Hit Coalition to ensure that the travel industry is aligned with the other hardest hit industries in its submission, for maximum impact.
The seven-point plan, customized for the support and recovery of travel agencies, travel agents, and independent travel agents, was based on the following priorities:
• Extension of the Canada Recovery Benefits (CRB) and Employment Insurance (EI) Benefits Programs
• Aid to cover commission recall
• Increase and extension to Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
• Amendments to and extension of the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS)
• Ensure HASCAP and other support programs such as the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) and the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) loan programs, work for all “hardest hit” businesses including home-based, independent travel agent businesses
• Work with industry to develop clear criteria for re-opening borders and easing travel restrictions, through rapid testing and establish vaccine documentation options to reduce or eliminate the 14-day quarantine, and
• Incentivize travel through tax credits and promote travel agents.
The entire plan can be found HERE.