MISSISSAUGA — Andrew Dawson and Robert Townshend have been elected to the TICO board as Industry Directors.
Dawson has been voted in for a two-year term and Townshend for a three-year term.
Due to a technical error with the technology provider, some participants at TICO’s Sept. 26 AGM were unable to complete the Industry Director vote. As such, TICO relaunched a registration and voting process following the AGM.
The three new Public Directors, previously announced at the AGM, are Christopher Warren (three-year term); Heather Colquhoun (two-year term); and Archana Gupta-Harit (one-year term).
TICO’s Board of Directors is now comprised of three Ministerial appointees, three elected Industry Directors and three elected Public Directors, as per five orders from Ontario’s Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery, announced earlier this year.
“This commitment to a competency-based and diverse Board will not only strengthen TICO’s governance but will also empower us to make more informed and inclusive decisions in the interest of consumer protection and all stakeholders,” said Michael Levinson, Chair of TICO’s Board of Directors.
Pursuant to the Minister’s Orders issued on Aug. 11, 2023, an Industry Advisory Council will be implemented prior to Jan. 1, 2024. More information about the Industry Advisory Council will be shared later this fall.
The AGM was also an opportunity to recognize the contributions of six outgoing Directors, including: Nicole Bursey; Joanne Dhue; Mike Foster; Ted Goldenberg; Monica Johnstone; and Scott Stewart.
In addition, the AGM saw TICO’s membership confirm by-law amendments. Some of these were in relation to the Minister’s Orders to TICO on Aug. 11, 2023, while others were general governance changes. More information about TICO’s by-law amendments can be found here.
To read Travelweek’s coverage of TICO’s AGM, during which the organization also addressed Compensation Fund changes, membership and staff salaries, click here.
A recording of the AGM and questions that were not addressed live will be made available to all registrants next week.
TICO released its proposals for its future funding framework, fee structure and Compensation Fund on Oct. 5, with no mention of a consumer-pay model, which has long been advocated by retail groups, travel advisors and industry groups like ACTA and CATO. In a video, TICO CEO Richard Smart addressed the issues and risks involved with a consumer-pay model, which include the potential for fraud and “consumer double-dipping on claims.”
Smart hosted a media briefing on Oct. 5 to discuss TICO’s five new proposals. To read Travelweek’s coverage from the briefing, click here.
