Tourism Industry Association of Canada / L’Association de l’industrie touristique du Canada
Registration:
12
of
45
(2011-03-15
to
2011-10-21)
Grant, Contribution or Other Financial Benefit
- Support the development and project initiation of the Pearson Airport - Union Station rail link to faciliate the seamless intermodal movement of passengers to Canada (Ontario). This advocacy effort will be geared to liaising with Infrastructure Canada and Transport Canada who are the responsible federal agencies for this initiative.
- TIAC will work to secure funding for the dissemination amongst industry of the Green Your Business; Toolkit for Sustainable Tourism. This will require contacting groups such as the Canadian Tourism Commission, Parks Canada and others to secure additional funding for the dissemination of the Toolkit to operators and businesses within the Canadian travel and tourism sectors. The objective is to help Canadian businesses in this sector to reduce their carbon and environmental footprint.
Grant, Contribution or Other Financial Benefit, Policies or Program
- Implementation of the funding announced in Budget 2009 for enhancements to Canadian Tourism product and supporting infrastructure. We will work with Parks Canada on the roll-out of funding for guest services and visitor animation in Canada's national parks. We will work with Industry Canada in the elaboration of funding criteria for a new Marquee Event and Festivals Program for the tourism sector. We will work with Infrastructure Canada and Canada Border Services Agency in connection with improvements to physical and technological assets that foster the efficient circulation of visitors to and from Canada.
- TIAC will advocate for improvements to the Foreign Convention and Tour Incentive Program as it pertains to volume or group leisure travel to Canada. This program provides GST relief to volume leisure tour groups and meetings and conventions being held in Canada. TIAC will work with Finance Canada, the Canada Revenue Agency and Industry Canada to refashion the tour operator rules to ensure that they function as the incentive scheme they are intended to be.
- TIAC will work with the Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism to develop and disseminate a multi-faceted Tourism Growth Strategy to aid in the development of the sector in Canada. This may have financial and policy implications when it is fully complete.
Policies or Program
- Augment the existing Communications effort by Canada Border Services Agency for the dissemination of the new documentation rules for land and sea modes pertaining to the June 1, 2009 implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. TIAC will advocate that the Federal Government, in conjunction with the U.S. government, increase its communication efforts vis-a-vis the Canadian and U.S. travelling publics about new U.S. entry & exit documentation requirements.
- Creating a new Tourism Work Permit and Visa Issuance Advisory Committee to work with the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration on matters pertaining to important in-bound traveler markets and temporary worker home countries.
- Develop Federal support for the creation of Enhanced Drivers Licenses at the provincial level. TIAC will work to ensure the necessary infrastructure and databases concerning authentication of citizenship and nationality are put at the disposal of the provinces in order to facilitate their issuance of Enhanced Drivers Licences.
- TIAC wil work to ensure that sufficient numbers of human resources are available to staff postions within the travel, accommodations and attractions sectors in Canada. This may necessitate advocating on behalf of changes to the Foreign Workers Program and other federal labour market initiatives. We will work closely with the Canadian Tourism Human Resouces Council to effect such changes.
Regulation
- TIAC will work to develop support for futher air liberalization initiaitives that will benefit the choice of flights, frequency of service, and affordability of air fares for travellers to and within Canada. We wil specifically advocate for the establishment of a Canada - Korea Opens Skies Agreement. In anticipation of an eventual Approved Destination Status Agreement with China, TIAC will work proactively to develop an Open Skies Agreement with that country. We will work with Transport Canada and the Office of the Chief Air Negotiator in Foreign Affairs.
- TIAC will work with Health Canada and Industry Canada to devise a set of rules that permit US medical organizations and societies to hold medical conventions & meetings in Canada which are in compliance with both applicable Canadian laws and the Code of Conduct established by the Canadian pharmaceutical industry. This will apply particularly to the sponsorship and educational activities of such meetings as they relate to both drugs and medical devices.