C-19 BULLETIN - March 25, 2020  View as Webpage 

On behalf of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, please see the following information regarding a relief proposal for the tourism, hospitality & foodservice industries: Restaurants Canada, the Hotel Association of Canada, and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada have joined forces in their lobbying effort to secure tax relief and a credit facility for the sector as a whole. Collectively the foodservice, tourism and hospitality sectors represent $139 billion in direct economic activity and support 1.8 million employees in Canada - nearly 1 in 10 Canadians in the workforce. Without immediate access to liquidity, our industry is at risk of permanent damage. Many businesses that are shuttered will not reopen, and the duration of unemployment for hundreds of thousands of Canadian workers will last much longer than necessary. The speed and strength of our recovery will depend on the Government’s decision to support us. Our joint proposal is under consideration by Finance as we speak, but we need your support to get it across the finish line. Can you please: 1) Put your signature on our joint proposal by clicking  here . 2) Send a letter to your Member of Parliament urging him/her to support this proposal. The letter is already pre-written for you, you just need to input your name and address. Click  here to send a letter. Together we are stronger, and we need the full strength of our industries behind us.

TIAC sent an update this afternoon : just 2 hours post-launch, they have collectively obtained 862 signatures on the petition to Minister Morneau and 300 letters sent to MPs! _____________________________

BC Ferries Advising Customers to Avoid Non-Essential Travel In line with directions provided by the Public Health Agency of Canada and other leading health authorities, BC Ferries is advising customers to avoid non-essential travel at this time. Many communities served by BC Ferries have issued advisories to travellers notifying them of limited supplies, healthcare equipment and resources. Travellers should inform themselves of local situations before travelling. www.bcferries.com/current_conditions/travel-advisory _____________________________

Important Survey for the Aviation Sector Governments are aware of the dire situation that the aviation and aerospace industry is in. However, they need hard facts to assist them in developing the support programs we so desperately need. The BC Aviation Council has developed a BC focussed   SURVEY. This survey is not just for BCAC 340 members. The Council is also reaching out to their 2000+ supporters, all licensed operators, the aerospace sector and flight schools. The BCAC asks for us all to please pass this survey on to anyone who might have been missed - especially your suppliers. _____________________________

Managing COVID-19 Stress, Anxiety and Depression News and information about the spread of COVID-19 around the world is coming at us quickly. It can be hard to keep up and if you are keeping up on the latest, it can be even harder to remain calm given all that is going on. Stress, anxiety, and depression are not unusual for people of all ages. But there are things we can do as individuals and collectively to deal with stress and support one another during these challenging times.  The ministry of Mental Health and Addictions has created a resource that addresses the following: Know the facts Reach out Have calm conversations Practice self-care Seek help The resource lives on the MMHA website: www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/organizational-structure/ministries-organizations/ministries/mental-health-addictions and is also directly accessible here: www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health-safety/covid19_stressmanagement_5_accessible.pdf _____________________________

Free Online Webinar: How to cope with the impacts of COVID-19 on your business The spread of COVID-19 poses important challenges to Canadian businesses. With the situation constantly evolving, you need to be prepared for any disruptions. Join BDC experts as they share short-term economic perspectives and advice on how to manage through the crisis. www.bdc.ca/en/articles-tools/entrepreneur-toolkit/webinars/pages/how-cope-impacts-covid-19-on-your-business.aspx _____________________________

Business Support Resources Access to Capital The Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) allows the  Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)  and  Export Development Canada  (EDC) to provide more than $10 billion of additional support.  Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) has  resources available   including:  Small Business Loan: Up to $100,000 can be obtained online in as little 48 hours from time of approval. Working capital loan: Get extra funds to bridge cash flow gaps and support everyday operations. Purchase Order Financing: Increase your cash flow to fulfill domestic or international orders with very flexible terms.  BDC’s Advisory Services experts are offering tools and support to review your financial management and operations.

Regional Development Agencies – Western Economic Diversification Canada   If you're a tourism operator impacted by the sudden shifts in the economy and need pressing assistance, the RDAs could assist you with:  Access to federal funding to help you stay in business.  Advice and pathfinding services to other federal programs and services available.  If you're a tourism operator and have received RDA funding and COVID-19 is affecting your operations:  You may be eligible to receive additional funding and/or flexible arrangements.  Further support will be determined on a case-by-case basis as the situation evolves.  The best way to contact the Western Economic Diversification Canada for support is to call them at: 1-888-338-WEST (9378) _____________________________

Go2HR Job Board A solution for your displaced employees: Healthcare Jobs on go2HR Job Board. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, many tourism and hospitality employers have to reduce opening hours, lay off employees, or even shut down the operation completely. While some employers have come up with ways to assist their displaced employees, many are still impacted by the shortage of work. go2HR is pleased to offer a solution to help your staff find temporary employment during this trying time.  As you know, the healthcare sector, including private care homes and senior residences, has an urgent staffing need. They have job openings that are suitable for displaced tourism and hospitality employees, such as front desk, servers, kitchen staff and housekeepers. These positions are a perfect transition for your staff while we are riding out the storm. Starting today, go2HR is going to allow healthcare employers to post their job openings on the  go2HR Job Board  for free. Their goal is to provide a tool for displaced tourism and hospitality employees to find temporary work, to ensure their livelihood is not disrupted. Tell your team about the go2HR Job Board. Let them know that these job opportunities will be posted and can help them in the short term.  At the same time, we encourage you to stay in touch with your team. Keep them posted on the status of your operation, and make sure to invite them back to work when your organization returns to normal operation. _____________________________

Looking for Ways to Engage with Guests, Virtually? Here's a good idea from a TIABC member. Fairmont Hot Springs is creating videos by their staff to help parents at home with kids with fun activities. "We miss you here at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. We had to close the resort and our big pools for just a little while to make sure everyone stays healthy. That doesn’t mean we can’t be friends anymore until you come and visit! We will post some fun videos ranging from craft making, cooking lessons and even a sneak peak into the Resort! #FHSRvirtualmemories   www.fairmonthotsprings.com/your-wellbeing-above-all-our-covid-19-coronavirus-message/immerse-yourself-virtually _____________________________

Feel free to send us your ideas on what information would be valuable for TIABC to share through our COVID-19 Bulletin going forward. Drop us a line at [email protected].

Visit our TIABC website for more COVID-19 information