TORONTO — ACTA is reminding travel agencies that the federal government’s Canada Recovery Hiring Program (CRHP) expires May 7.

CRHP may provide wage support for agencies, and agencies can apply to the program retroactively, but only until May 7.

The program supports businesses experiencing sufficient recovery to hire employees or increase hours of work of existing employees. It’s a wage subsidy that runs parallel to the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program (THRP) wage and rent subsidies.

Eligible employers can access either the CRHP or the THRP, but not both during the same period, notes ACTA. Eligible employers, including travel agencies and independent travel agents who had an active payroll account as of March 2020, could previously access wage subsidies, and now can access the CRHP.

The THRP wage and rent subsidies require a minimum period-over-period revenue loss of at least 40% and some employers no longer meet the 40% revenue loss requirement to qualify for the THRP.

ACTA advises employers in this scenario to take a look at the CRHP.

“However, like the THRP, this program expires May 7, 2022, but applications can be made retroactively up to 180 days after the end of a period,” says ACTA.

The CRHP provides up to 50% wage subsidies for new employees or existing employees who are working increased hours or earn a higher wage. Eligible employers must have a revenue loss of >10% to qualify.

Applications to the CRHP are made through the same system as the THRP. Check out this link for more information.