TORONTO — ACTA is encouraging all travel agents to join a new letter writing campaign as part of its latest bid for government aid for the travel agency sector.

Rolling out this week, the campaign asks the government for help beyond mid-June when it is expected that most other businesses will be reopened. ACTA is asking specifically for GST/HST relief rather than deferment, payroll tax relief, an extension of the 75% wage subsidy, specific loan facilities, as well as the extension of the CERB program from 16 to 39 weeks.

“The government has told us that it is their priority to get financial aid into the hands of as many Canadians as possible,” says Wendy Paradis, President of ACTA. “However, in addition to what is already in place, ACTA has made it clear to the government that urgent sector specific aid is required to support travel agents and agencies through the COVID-19 pandemic.”

According to Paradis, ACTA knows that the travel industry will lag behind other industries in recovery, in part due to travel advisories that will still be in place, closed borders, airline routes not operating, the suspension of cruise ship operations and more.

As such, in addition to joining the letter writing campaign, ACTA is also asking industry members to retweet ACTA’s social media posts. Twitter is the preferred form of social media within the government and the Parliamentary Press Gallery, says Paradis.

“We urge industry members to join Twitter and retweet our tweets,” she adds. Industry members can find ACTA on Twitter @ACTACanada.

To download a copy of the letter click here.