TORONTO — ACTA has sent out an update about recent wins in Ontario, Quebec and B.C. as it continues its advocacy and lobbying efforts for travel agents, travel agencies and independent contractors across Canada amid the pandemic.
Here’s the latest:
QUEBEC
On Dec. 9 the Quebec government announced new adjustments to the assistance measures put in place to support Small and Medium businesses (SMEs) in the province.
Travel agencies are among the new SMEs to become eligible – previously, only inbound travel agencies were eligible. Nearly 600 Quebec travel agencies will now be able to take advantage of the tourism component of the PACTE, says ACTA.
ACTA had called on the Quebec government to assist the industry with a one-time payment of $7,000 for each retail travel business, as it has been paying other Quebec businesses that amount as compensation.
ACTA says it will continue to advocate for this and other types of assistance in Quebec for travel agencies.
ACTA also is also continuing to lobby both the Office de la Protection de Consommateur (OPC), the Quebec Ministries of Justice and the Economy and the Premier’s office, asking for a waiver of all OPC fees for 2020 and 2021 and formally allowing the issuance of Future Travel Vouchers (FTV) and the coverage of FTV claims against the Quebec consumer compensation fund.
ACTA has also urged the OPC and the Quebec government to look at other options to including:
. Reducing the amount of the bond and the length of time to five years.
. Replacing costly review engagements with a verification statement for Travel agencies with gross sales under $2M which would align Quebec with TICO.
ONTARIO
ACTA says it welcomes the measures announced by TICO on Dec. 1 to reduce the burden on travel agencies by amending the General Regulation under the Travel Industry Act, 2002 (TIA).
The Ontario regulatory changes include:
. Two-year exemption on filing annual financial statements accompanied by a review engagement report or audit opinion.
. Extending the temporary provisions for registrants who acquire the rights to travel services for resale to choose to provide a voucher (March 31, 2022), and customers eligibility for reimbursement from the Fund for unredeemed vouchers or similar documents (March 31, 2024).
. Eliminating the requirement for a registrant to repay commissions and other remuneration received to the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO).
Full details can be found on the TICO website: www.ontario.ca/laws/
B.C.
ACTA reports that so far it has had no response to letters sent in August 2020 to B.C.’s Minister of Public Safety, the Solicitor General, the Premier, the President and CEO of Consumer Protection BC and the Manager, Industry Relations at Consumer Protection BC asking for:
- The waiver of all Consumer Protection BC fees for 2020 AND 2021
- Consider removing the minimum Working Capital requirement and instead allow travel businesses to only require positive Working Capital
- Reduce the security deposit by 75% on a temporary basis. This would free up capital for travel businesses who are still experiencing a 90-100% decline in revenue.
ACTA does note however that Consumer Protection BC has advised B.C. travel agencies that it is deferring a full review due this year and is also deferring the annual increases in fees.
This means that all 2021 licensing and other fees for the travel sector will stay at 2020 rates, says ACTA.
