ACTA is issuing a dire warning and a call to action as many of the COVID-related federal programs that have been a lifeline for agencies and independent advisors start being clawed back this month - and some may be unavailable altogether by SEP.
“We are extremely disappointed that the government has not heard our plea for the travel sector --- as part of the hardest hit industries – to receive extended support through the end of this year,” said Wendy Paradis, ACTA president.
The cuts have already begun, to the rent and wage subsidies many travel agencies have relied on, and also to the income support program that’s been a lifeline to independent advisors.
For the period 04JUL - 31JUL, CEWS and CERS drop to 60 per cent. Both programs drop again in AUG, going down to 40 percent for the period 01AUG to 28AUG, and plummet further to just 20 per cent in September.
CRB starts dropping in JUL too. Effective the 2-week period 18JUL to 31JUL, CRB goes from $900 to $540 (after taxes withheld). And ACTA notes that even eligible CRB recipients can only apply for a total of 25 periods (that’s 50 weeks) between September 27, 2020 and September 25, 2021. Many advisors will max out unless the program is not only extended in duration - with the amount provided topped back up - but also extended for further periods of eligibility.
“Many will not survive”
ACTA says it has warned the federal government that many travel agencies and independent travel agents could fail unless those support programs are meaningfully extended.
The industry remains almost entirely without revenue while border closures and travel restrictions continue - and there is still no clear path to re-opening travel and restoring the travel industry.
“We will continue our efforts to push for this because we know many will not survive without it,” Paradis says.
Despite the organization’s intense lobbying efforts, ACTA reports that there has been no agreement from the government to extend support to the travel sector, even though the federal budget made a provision for some support to be extended to NOV.
“Now is the time to call”
“Along with ACTA’s advocacy work, travel agents need to do everything they can, including sharing their stories in local papers and on social media in an effort to get government’s attention,” urges Paradis.
Throughout the pandemic, the organization has called several times for advisors and agency owners to write to local MP’s.
Now, ACTA notes, Parliament has shut down for the summer and Members are working from their constituency offices. Provinces are also easing restrictions allowing people to hold in-person meetings.
“Now is the time to call and request an in-person meeting if possible. Tell them the importance of extending CERS, CEWS, and the CRB in full,” said Paradis.
Open Jaw readers can find the contact information of their local Member of Parliament here: https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/constituencies.
