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It’s been another busy week at TIAO as we head into the Victoria Day long weekend. This past week:
Thank you for your continued support. And as always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to send me an email at jng@tiaontario.ca. |
Dr. Jessica Ng, PhD Director, Policy & Government Affairs |
As the industry gears up for the critical peak season ahead, TIAO has been laser-focused on two key areas crucial for a robust 2024 and ongoing economic rebound: workforce development and transportation infrastructure. Recently, the tourism sector faced significant setbacks with reductions in Skills Development Fund (SDF) projects, impacting training and recruitment efforts province-wide. We swiftly collaborated with Tourism SkillsNet Ontario (TSNO) partners to evaluate the immediate and long-term effects, given federal policy changes affecting international students and workers. Our joint letter to Hon. David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development, urges urgent action to support tourism workforce and business capacity. Read our letter here. In addition, we hosted an open meeting to gather Member feedback on critical transportation services. Key findings reveal substantial gaps hindering growth, including reduced air service, underutilized commuter services, labor shortages, and integration challenges among transportation modes. TIAO will leverage this input to drive targeted advocacy efforts for improved transportation connectivity across Ontario. Meanwhile, we continue to advocate for enhanced services, like the recently announced early Via Rail service to Kingston. And finally, we look forward to welcoming Members and partners to next week’s IMPACT conference (May 6&7, 2024). There is still time to register, and I promise you it will be worth your investment and time. Here are the Top-5 reasons why you need to be there:
Thank you to all TIAO Members and partners for your continued support, engagement and guidance.
Sincerely, |
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Finally, as a follow-up to our call with DMOs earlier this week, TIAO is conducting a survey to:
If you are a DMO or provide MAT services to destinations, please complete the survey here.
Thank you for your continued support. And as always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to send me an email at jng@tiaontario.ca.
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With May fast approaching, we are counting down the weeks until TIAO’s IMPACT Sustainability Travel & Tourism regional conference, taking place May 5-7 at Centennial College in Scarborough!
If you’re still wondering if or why you should attend, here is your reason: The future of travel and tourism is sustainable.
Sustainable practice is where our industry is headed or expanding into—whether it be reducing our carbon footprint, implementing climate change mitigation, advocating for mass transit infrastructure improvements, or providing attainable housing solutions that enable people to live where they work.
As for travellers and our future workforce, they’re already there. Consumers are shifting their spending toward sustainable products, with 76% of global travellers wanting to travel sustainably, and Gen Z and Millennials—who will soon have most of the purchasing power and dominate the labour market—favouring sustainable products and expecting sustainable workplace practices like work-life balance and flexibility.
Preparing your business or organization for the future of travel and tourism necessitates engaging more closely with sustainability, and where better to build or sharpen your toolkit than TIAO’s IMPACT Sustainability Travel & Tourism – ONTARIO: A Regional Event? Reserve your spot here before tickets sell out.
And in case you missed it:
Earlier this week, several members of the TIAO team attended the RTO6 Tourism Symposium, with Leni Brem (Project Manager, Tourism Workforce Sustainability Program) and Mark Capistrano (Workforce Development Coordinator) leading a panel on Rethinking Recruitment in a Competitive Labour Market.
TIAO and OTEC released a joint statement on the inclusion of hospitality as a priority program area for Ontario’s allocation of international study permit applications. Read our press release here.
Thank you for your continued support. And as always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to send me an email at jng@tiaontario.ca
Dr. Jessica Ng, PhD
Director, Policy & Government Affairs
Kudos to the Resorts of Ontario team for a successful Season Summit at Hockley Valley Resort this week! In today's collaborative landscape, industry conferences are key drivers of innovation, partnership, and economic growth. I'm grateful for the opportunity to connect with so many stakeholders and future tourism leaders and to receive valuable feedback on our advocacy work. Please see below for TIAO's analysis of the recent Ontario budget and insights from our members on changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker program.
Thank you for your continued support. And as always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to send me an email at asiegwart@tiaontario.ca. |
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Andrew Siegwart Tourism Industry Association of Ontario |
This week, the provincial government released its 2024 Budget, entitled Building a Better Ontario. In case you missed it, the highlights include an additional $100 million investment in the Skills Development Fund, new infrastructure investments, and a proposal to eliminate the 6.1% tax at on-site winery retail. For more top-level highlights, see our summary here, and be sure to look out for TIAO’s deep dive analysis next week.
Yesterday, in response to the federal government’s cap on international students, the Ministry of Colleges and Universities announced that hospitality will be one of the priority program areas for Ontario’s allocation of international study permit applications. This was a key TIAO ask, which we raised with Colleges and Universities Minister Jill Dunlop immediately after the international student cap was announced in January. We thank Minister Dunlop for her support of Ontario’s tourism and hospitality sectors, and we look forward to working toward further measures to support our postsecondary partners.
In other news, on the heels of last week’s announcement on changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, TIAO continues to seek member feedback to gauge the impact of these changes on tourism and hospitality sectors that rely on temporary foreign workers to meet employment demand. Preliminary results of our survey show concern around the change in Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) validity from 12 months to 6 months, and concern with capacity to fulfill the new requirement for businesses to explore every option before applying for an LMIA (including recruiting asylum seekers with valid work permits in Canada). If you haven’t already, you can complete our short survey here. The survey closes tomorrow, Friday March 29.
Finally, Premier Doug Ford announced changes today to his team of parliamentary assistants. We offer our best wishes to outgoing Tourism, Culture and Sport PAs Laura Smith and Dave Smith for their new roles in the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services and the Associate Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, respectively. And we offer a very warm welcome to incoming Tourism, Culture and Sport PA Sam Oosterhoff! TIAO has met PA Oosterhoff on many occasions in his former roles at the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Red Tape Reduction. A strong supporter of tourism, we look forward to working with him alongside Minister Lumsden.
Thank you for your continued support. And as always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to send me an email at jng@tiaontario.ca. |
Dr. Jessica Ng, PhD Director, Policy & Government Affairs Tourism Industry Association of Ontario |
Over the past few weeks, TIAO and our sector partners have met with several ministries to advance progress on a number of ongoing files, including: craft cider and craft beer tax reform; marketing and product development dollars for Northern destinations located on Crown land or beyond municipal boundaries; marketing support for Indigenous tourism; and local and regional transportation challenges.
On the transportation file, we’ve been hearing quite a bit from TIAO members about worsening conditions affecting local and regional connectivity. With air and passenger rail service reductions, infrastructure deficits, road safety concerns, and declining connectivity, transportation is fast-emerging as one of TIAO’s top-line critical issues this year. TIAO is planning a series of more targeted advocacy initiatives to highlight the urgency of the state of transportation in Ontario and the impact on visitor economies across the province, and to elevate our solutions-based asks.
To ensure that we have the full picture to work from, we are seeking feedback from members on:
To collect this feedback, we will be hosting a virtual meeting next Monday March 25 from 2:00 - 3:00 PM.
If you are interested in attending, please RSVP and register via the following Zoom link: |
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If you have feedback or questions that you would like to submit in advance of or in lieu of attending the meeting, please direct them to Alexander Miceli, Manager of Policy & Government Affairs at amiceli@tiaontario.ca.
Thank you for your continued support. And as always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to send me an email at jng@tiaontario.ca. |
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Dr. Jessica Ng, PhD Director, Policy & Government Affairs Tourism Industry Association of Ontario |
Exciting updates and important actions are underway at TIAO!
In response to the recent changes in visa requirements for Mexican citizens, TIAO and 14 member partners have swiftly mobilized. We've penned a letter to The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, urging for immediate action. Our goal: expedited visa processing for those with pre-booked departures to Canada. By uniting our voices, we amplify our impact, pushing for timely decisions that benefit our communities. Please take a moment to review the letter and share it within your networks. Your feedback on how this affects your business is invaluable; reach out to us via email to share your thoughts: jng@tiaontario.ca. |
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In other news, the spotlight shines on festivals and events across Ontario. Media coverage has soared this week, highlighting both the challenges and the remarkable impact of festivals and events. TIAO and our partners have been actively engaged in these discussions, emphasizing the vital role festivals and events play in our communities. We've also championed the investments made by the Province through the Experience Ontario program, eagerly awaiting updates—a key priority from our pre-budget submission. |
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Finally, today I had the privilege of delivering a deputation to Prince Edward County's Committee of the Whole. I shared insights and best practices on Municipal Accommodation Tax implementations, supporting our members in the County while providing valuable recommendations to local council members. This opportunity excites me, and I'm eager to extend this support to members across the Province. Don't hesitate to reach out—I'm here to help!
Let's continue driving positive change together.
Best, |
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Andrew Siegwart President & CEO Tourism Industry Association of Ontario |