Share Your Feedback on the Need for Government Support With the Federal Government

The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) is reaching out for your help to build the tourism case for continued and ongoing support and relief through a 5 minute survey. Your input is extremely important to their advocacy work, and to the messaging that is relayed to government officials. As we move into a potential fall election, they want to hear from you, now more than ever, on the state of the industry, what you need to move forward, and what you believe should be TIAC’s priorities.

Complete TIAC Survey →

Canada USA Border Reopening Resources

Starting Monday, August 9, Canada plans to allow entry to American citizens and permanent residents who are currently residing in the US and have been fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to entering Canada for non-essential travel. This preliminary step allows for the Government of Canada to fully operationalize the adjusted border measures ahead of September 7.

Subject to limited exceptions, all travellers must use ArriveCAN (app or web portal) to submit their travel information. If they are eligible to enter Canada and meet specific criteria, fully vaccinated travellers will not have to quarantine upon arrival.

Helpful Canada USA Border Resources:

• COVID-19: Entering Canada requirements checklist

• Destination Canada COVID-19: Guidance for Travellers

• COVID-19: Travel, testing, quarantine and borders

• COVID-19: Travel Information for US Citizens

• COVID-19: Passports and Travel for US Citizens

• Destination BC Messaging Guide for BC's Tourism Industry and travellers from the United States.

This is an evolving situation which may require frequent updates.

Additional Measures for Central Okanagan Communities Amid COVID-19 Surge

On August 6, British Columbia announced additional measures for the Central Okanagan region, effective immediately. Restrictions on events and gatherings will begin on August 9.

The restrictions apply to the communities of:

• Kelowna

• West Kelowna

• Westbank First Nation

• Peachland

• Lake Country

The new measures have been introduced because 56% of active cases are in Interior Health Authority, with the vast majority in the Central Okanagan region. A significant majority of cases are among unvaccinated individuals and individuals who have only received a single dose.

Due to the continued rise of COVID-19 cases, and the introduction of the Delta variant, new measures include:

Travel and Accommodation

• Vacation rentals and accommodations (houses/houseboats included) will be limited to 5 people plus occupants

• Recommendation against non-essential travel to and from the Central Okanagan

Personal gatherings

• Outdoor personal gatherings limited to 50 people

• Indoor personal gatherings limited to groups of five people from one other households

Organized gatherings

• Indoor/outdoor gatherings limited to 50 people with COVID safety plan in place

• Restaurants, Bars, Nightclubs, Casinos

• Nightclubs and bars will be closed

• Restaurants will be limited to groups of up to 6 people (not restricted to own household)

• Liquor service limited until 10pm

• Casinos will remain operational under current guidelines but must comply with restaurant guidance

Exercise Facilities

• Indoor low intensity exercise will continue with capacity limits

• Indoor high intensity exercise will be suspended

Masks

• Mask mandate will continue to be in place for all indoor public places and is enforceable by by-law officers in the Central Okanagan

Events Taking Place This Weekend:

As mentioned restrictions on gatherings and events will take place on Monday, August 9. Should you have an event planned for this weekend, organizers should ensure they have safety plans in place and keep a list of individuals who attended these events. Unimmunized people are strongly encouraged not attend these events; other attendees should wear masks and stay seated.

Encouraging Vaccinations:

The single most important action we can all do to protect our industry, community, and ourselves is to receive both vaccine doses and encourage others to do the same. To encourage residents of British Columbia to become fully vaccinated, the government of BC has taken the following measures:

• Community events, vax vans and mobile clinics in dozens of communities in B.C. available by walk-in or pre-scheduling. Search by community to find a drop-in event near you. Events are organized by each health authority. Interior Health is the primary health authority for the Thompson Okanagan region.

• People who live in Kelowna, West Kelowna, Peachland, Lake Country and on Westbank First Nations lands (Central Okanagan Local Health Area) can get their second dose 28 days after dose 1, opposed to 48 days.

• Gradual refocus of vaccine efforts from mass clinics onto programs targeting the hard to reach people where the need is greatest. A full list of Vax for BC events happening throughout the province is available online: gov.bc.ca/vaxforbc

Additional Recommendations for Operators:

In addition to encouraging others to receive the vaccine, it is important that operators take the following steps to mitigate the spread of COVID-19:

• Ensure that cleaning and sanitization protocols are being held to the highest standards

• That you encourage staff to stay home from work and receive a COVID-19 test should they be feeling ill

• That you continue to ensure your communicable disease plan is being followed

• Consider also ensuring that heightened safety measures (such as masks) are being implemented

Tourism Industry Key Messaging

Health and safety continues to be the top priority. Public health leaders are putting additional recommendations in place to protect us all.

Residents and visitors are asked to follow the public health measures set by the province, communities, and individual businesses to protect people, businesses, and the economy from the continued spread of COVID-19.

Businesses are facing challenges like never before. Visitors are reminded to be kind, patient, and supportive of businesses and employees.

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Business Support

The TOTA team is here to help with the challenges your business is facing. As part of TOTA's Tourism Resiliency Program tourism companies can access the following free supports:

• 1:1 Business Support with a TOTA Resiliency Advisor

• Email Recovery@TOTABC.com for quick questions or to share challenges faced by your business

TOTA will continue to advocate to government. Through this time, let's support each other, stay safe, and continue on the #Journey2Immunity.

39 Forestry Projects Protect and Enhance B.C.’s Recreational Values

The Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) released a 2021 Summer Accomplishments Update featuring 39 forest enhancement projects which are protecting and enhancing important recreational values from campsites and hiking trails to ski resorts and heritage sites.

“Earlier this spring, our team was reviewing the 269 projects FESBC has funded since inception, and we noted a number of the projects throughout the province had a secondary benefit to them – protecting and enhancing recreational values,” said Steve Kozuki, RPF, executive director FESBC. “The primary purposes of FESBC projects range from mitigating wildfire risk and enhancing wildlife habitat to improving the recovery of wood fibre and replanting forests. At the same time, FESBC projects often deliver additional co-benefits such as climate change mitigation, job creation, Indigenous peoples’ participation in the forest economy, as well as protecting and enhancing forest recreation.”

Of FESBC’s 269 projects, 39 were identified to protect or enhance one or more recreational values. 12 projects were completed in the Thompson Okanagan region, including Sicamous, Silver Star Mountain, Kelowna, Westbank, Lake Country, Peachland, Summerland, Baldy Mountain Resort, Big White, Midway, and Greenwood.

“When you live in a community where there’s only one road in and out, you can see the devastation a fire can have on a community, it’s nerve racking,” said Michael J. Ballingall, senior vice president of Big White Ski Resort Ltd. “We are proud of the work that was done, the results, and the safety assurances it brings. This action speaks for itself. We feel protected.”

Since inception, FESBC has empowered local people who want to do local projects that contribute to the achievement of our climate change goals and enhance B.C.’s forests through wildfire risk mitigation, accelerated ecological recovery after wildfires, wildlife habitat enhancement, and increased utilization of forest fibre.

FESBC Board Chair Jim Snetsinger is proud of the efforts of the FESBC team and the many First Nations, community forest leaders, local governments, and industry partners who carried out this exceptional work.

“With support from the governments of B.C. and Canada, FESBC has enabled others to do this remarkable work to enhance our forests, generating immense social, economic, and environmental benefits,” said Snetsinger. “When British Columbians enhance our forests, we are bequeathing an inheritance to our children and grandchildren: cleaner air, fewer greenhouse gases, better timber supply, higher quality wildlife habitat, safer communities, and protecting important recreational assets we all value and enjoy.”

Have Your Say on B.C.’s Permanent Paid Sick Leave

British Columbians are invited to provide input into the development of made-in-B.C. permanent paid sick leave to support workers and protect workplaces.

In addition to outreach to key stakeholders and Indigenous partners, a public consultation process is now open and can be accessed through government’s engagement site.

There will be two phases of consultation:

• Phase 1 (Aug. 5 to Sept. 14) – surveys will gather information from employers and workers on the kinds of paid illness and injury leaves currently provided, and how they are meeting workers’ needs; and

• Phase 2 (Sept. 20 to Oct. 25) – informed by the surveys, options will be prepared for various paid sick leave models, including the numbers of paid days and other supports, and will be posted for public feedback and input.

In May 2021, amendments to the Employment Standards Act laid the groundwork for establishing minimum standards for a permanent paid sick leave entitlement. Following the public engagement process, paid sick leave will be established through a regulation, and come into effect on Jan. 1, 2022.

Quick Facts:

• The May 2021 amendments to the Employment Standards Act created a temporary COVID-19 paid sick leave program for up to three days of leave until Dec. 31, 2021. To support businesses struggling with the impacts of the pandemic, government is reimbursing employers up to $200 per day per worker, to help cover those wages.

• An estimated 50% of B.C. employees do not have access to paid sick leave. This means more than one million workers in B.C. will benefit from receiving these new paid sick leaves.

• Many vulnerable and low-wage workers – who are often women or migrant workers – lack benefits, so the ability to take paid leave will be especially beneficial to them.

go2HR’s B.C. Labour Market Survey

Help the Tourism & Hospitality Industry Return to a New Normal

Participate in the go2HR’s B.C. labour market survey and enter into a draw for prizes valued at $1,500.

go2HR has been hard at work undertaking a Labour Market Information research project to better understand the impact of COVID-19 on our workforce. Even before COVID-19, the industry faced some significant human resource challenges. These challenges may increase as we emerge from the pandemic.

go2HR is seeking feedback from a representative sample of employers across all sectors and regions of the province. It takes approximately 25 minutes to complete the survey to share the impact of COVID-19 on your tourism operators, human resource issues, and what can be done to help industry in dealing with these issues going forward. Any information provided will be held confidential, used only for the purpose of this study, and reported only in summary form with the responses of other respondents.