Canada — TOTA News Centre

Residents in the United States are being advised not to travel to Canada due to COVID-19 hospitalizations.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Level 4 notice to avoid travel to Canada due to the emerging COVID-19 situation.

The CDC currently lists about 80 destinations worldwide at Level 4. It says that if people must travel, they should make sure they are fully vaccinated.

TIABC has contacted the Prime Minister's Office to enquire about what the Government of Canada is doing to see that the advisory is lifted given the ramifications the advisory has had on the tourism industry already.

View CDC advisory on U.S. travellers to Canada →

Commemorate Canada Re-opening Fund | Apply by January 10, 2022

The Reopening Fund is a one-year funding initiative through the Celebration and Commemoration Program to support initiatives that will:

increase opportunities for Canadians to participate in various commemorative activities and celebrations to mark Canada’s emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic; or
build a sense of pride and belonging to Canada by holding celebratory and commemorative activities that recognize people and achievements in the response to COVID-19 ; and / or
support the revival of local economies through in-person events.

Canadian not-for-profit organizations, for-profit organizations with non-commercial projects, educational institutions, and government institutions are eligible to apply.

The deadline to apply is January 10, 2022.

Learn More & Apply →

ResourceThompson Okanagan Tourism AssociationDecember 16, 2021Canada, Grant, COVID-19

International Travel Advisory Update

As of December 15, the federal government has reintroduced the advisory warning travellers, regardless of their vaccination status, to avoid non-essential travel internationally due to the rapidly circulating Omicron COVID-19 variant. The advisory will remain in place for at least four weeks and then be re-evaluated.

The government is also going to further expand its on-arrival testing and isolation rule which so far is only being randomly applied to air travellers. The government has said it will be made universal to all air travellers outside of the United States, but hasn’t said when that will happen.

Canada introduces additional measures to address COVID-19 Omicron variant of concern

Canada announced additional border measures to reduce the risk of the importation and transmission of COVID-19 and its variants in Canada related to international travel. Foreign nationals who have been in certain countries within the previous 14 days will not be permitted entry into Canada. In the coming days, all fully vaccinated travellers arriving by air from departure points other than the United States will be subject to arrival testing.

Thompson OkanaganThompson Okanagan Tourism AssociationDecember 2, 2021Canada, Air Travel, COVID-19

TIABC CEO, Walt Judas: Message on Announcement of Federal Ministry of Tourism

After the announcement of a new federal ministry dedicated to tourism, TIABC CEO Walt Judas wrote in a newsletter explaining how this change will benefit the tourism industry and a brief history of how federal and provincial governments have handled tourism in past years.

Thompson OkanaganThompson Okanagan Tourism AssociationOctober 31, 2021Canada, TIABC

Canada’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce Launches Rainbow Registered Accreditation Program

Canada’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC) has announced the new national Rainbow Registered accreditation program to help consumers and prospective employees to more easily identify LGBT+ friendly businesses across Canada. Business can complete the program in one week, at which point businesses will be able to promote themselves as a Rainbow Registered organization, access CGLCC member benefits, and be included in the Rainbow Registered business directory for consumers.

For a limited time, the first-year sign-up fee is waived for all applicants.

Resource, Thompson OkanaganThompson Okanagan Tourism AssociationSeptember 17, 2021MM 21-06-28, CGLCC, Canada, LBGTQ+

Canada Welcomes Back International Travellers

As of September 7, 2021, the federal government says foreign travellers who are fully vaccinated will be free to come to Canada as long as they are asymptomatic, have received either two doses of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine or a combination of accepted vaccines at least 14 days before entering the country and meet other pre-entry requirements.

Thompson OkanaganThompson Okanagan Tourism AssociationSeptember 9, 2021Canada, COVID-19

Reminder: Canada Recovery Hiring Program (CRHP) and Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)

Canadian employers who continues to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible to apply for one of the two subsidies to cover part of employee wages.

Resource, Thompson OkanaganThompson Okanagan Tourism AssociationSeptember 9, 2021Canada

Extended WorkShare Program

The government has extended the maximum duration of the Work-Sharing program from 38 weeks to 76 weeks for employers affected by COVID-19. The Work-Sharing program can help employers avoid layoffs when there is a temporary reduction in the normal level of business activity that is beyond the employer’s control. The program provides Employment Insurance (EI) benefits to eligible employees who agree to reduce their normal working hours and share the available work while their employer recovers.

TIAC Federal Election Advocacy Push

TIAC will be running a proactive tourism advocacy and media campaign. This will include direct TIAC activity, as well as TIAC’s leadership of the Hardest Hit Coalition fighting for business survival support for the tourism suite of sectors. For more information, check the TourismVotes.ca microsite, a one-stop shop for election information for tourism businesses, including detailed Platform Analysis for impact on tourism, messaging guidance, email updates, and more.

Thompson OkanaganThompson Okanagan Tourism AssociationAugust 18, 2021Canada, TIAC

Canada to Require Vaccination of Federally Regulated Transportation Sector

As soon as possible in the fall and no later than the end of October, the Government of Canada will require employees in the federally regulated air, rail, and marine transportation sectors to be vaccinated. The vaccination requirement will also extend to certain travellers. This includes all commercial air travellers, passengers on interprovincial trains, and passengers on large marine vessels with overnight accommodations, such as cruise ships.

Thompson OkanaganThompson Okanagan Tourism AssociationAugust 13, 2021Canada, MM 2021-08-16, COVID-19

Canada Moving Forward with Proof of Vaccination for International Travel

The Government of Canada is collaborating with the provinces and territories to develop a proof of vaccination that will facilitate cross-border travel, while reducing the risk of spread and importation of COVID-19.

Thompson OkanaganThompson Okanagan Tourism AssociationAugust 13, 2021Canada, MM 2021-08-16, COVID-19

Advocacy Efforts: Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses

The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) continues to work closely with the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses, working to establish a COVID Tourism and Events Business & Employee Survival Program, in order to provide qualified and limited financial support to tourism and events businesses with significant revenue losses from September 2021 to May 2022. Tourism businesses can get involved by sharing key messages with local MPs, and community and social networks.

PacifiCan: New Regional Development Agency for British Columbia

For the first time in more than three decades, the Government of Canada will create two regional development agencies for British Columbia and the Prairie provinces. Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan) will be the new federal regional economic development agency for British Columbia, building on Western Economic Diversification Canada’s (WD) 34 year legacy.

Thompson OkanaganThompson Okanagan Tourism AssociationAugust 5, 2021Canada

Canada Extends COVID-19 Benefits to October 2021 (CEWS, CERS, CRB)

The Government of Canada has announced the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) and the Canadian Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) will be extended by four weeks to October 23, 2021. This extension also includes an increase of the rate of support employers and organizations can receive during the period between August 29 and September 25, 2021 from a maximum of 20 per cent to 40 per cent.

Resource, Thompson OkanaganThompson Okanagan Tourism AssociationAugust 5, 2021Canada

Canada Easing Border Measures for Entering Travellers - Phase 1 Beginning July 5

Beginning July 5, 2021, fully vaccinated travellers who are permitted to enter Canada will not be subject to the federal requirement to quarantine or take a COVID-19 test on day-8. In addition, fully vaccinated travellers arriving by air will not be required to stay at a government-authorized hotel. For travellers who are not fully vaccinated, there are no changes to Canada’s current border measures.

Air Canada Reaches Funding Agreement with Federal Government

Air Canada and the Government of Canada have reached a series of debt and equity financing agreements that allow the airline to access up to $5.8 billion in liquidity through the Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility program. As part of the package, Air Canada has agreed to resume service or access to its network for nearly all regional communities where service was suspended due to COVID-19; refund customers whose flights were cancelled as a result of the global pandemic; and maintain current employment levels.

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