COLADIA议会通过的ACTA支持的账单C-2
byDaniel McCarthy/
Late last week, the Canadian parliament passed Bill C-2, the bill that was the subject of intense months of advocacy by the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA) and other industry groups.
The bill, which introduces the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program, passed at the last minute before the House left for the holidays. If it didn’t pass, the House would not have been able to pass it until it reconvened at the end of January.
The bill now has to be delivered by the Ministry of Finance and the Canada Revenue Agency in order to start impacting the industry.
Overall, according to ACTA president Wendy Paradis, the program “will provide critically needed wage and rent subsidies to hard-hit travel agencies through to May 2022.”
这一消息是在从Acta的强烈消息之后出现pushing for the bill’s passing and urging its members to make their voices heard to their representatives.
“Travel agencies have been without support since October and still have little to no revenue. The new restrictions and fear about the Omicron variant have jeopardized any hope of recovery this winter,” Paradis added.
However, the bill does not secure support for a growing population of independent travel agents who are not eligible for support under the program. ACTA continues its work for those members, pushing for more action to secure their future, too.
“These entrepreneurs have also been devastated by the pandemic and the government must take action,” said Paradis.
“We understand from our meetings with government that delivering sector specific financial support to independent workers is challenging, however the government must work with industry to find a way to navigate through these challenges,” she said. “ACTA will continue to advocate for a new program that supports travel agency furloughed employees, sole proprietors and independent contractors.”