Request From Federal MP Blake Richards
In addition to working with federal cabinet ministers, TIABC also speaks with opposition members including Blake Richards, MP, Banff-Airdrie who is both the Opposition Whip and Co-Chair of the Conservative Tourism Recovery Caucus Advisory Committee. Here is Blake's latest note to tourism industry colleagues.
Dear Tourism Partners,
It seems that nary a day goes by that another blow isn’t dealt to the tourism and hospitality industry from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; news of new lockdowns, reduced flight service across Canada and paused vaccines trials are just a few of the things that have occurred recently.
This is why it is imperative that policy makers and the federal government consistently keep an open dialogue with the industry to ensure that any future programs or legislation can create a realistic and successful path forward in a COVID-19 context.
Conservative Tourism Recovery Caucus Advisory Committee
Recently, I had the opportunity to host a virtual meeting with my colleague, Member of Parliament for Niagara Falls, Tony Baldinelli. Together, we Co-chair the Conservative Tourism Recovery Caucus Advisory Committee which regularly meets to discuss solutions and ideas for the tourism and hospitality industry in the COVID-19 context. We had several guests join us and present, including the Hotel Association of Canada, Restaurants Canada, and the National Airlines Council of Canada.
As this committee regularly meets, we are always looking for industry partners to come present and join the discussion on a successful recovery for the industry. If you are interested, please reach out to my office.
The Path Forward and Important Questions
“We’re all in this together,” is the phrase we often hear from the government as of late. If we are truly “all in this together” the government, without a doubt, should be looking at international best practices and the successes of our allies especially when we are looking at the path forward for the tourism and hospitality industry in a COVID-19 context.
Any solutions during this pandemic are going to be multi-faceted. Unfortunately, the federal government has been lagging behind our allies on one such solution. When it comes to approving and procuring rapid COVID-19 testing devices that are essential to keeping Canadians safe and re-starting the economy, our federal government has been precious months behind.
Other countries have outpaced us on this. The United Kingdom has been offering free at-home tests. The US Food and Drug Administration had given the go ahead on a home test kit back in April. Germany also has commercial tests available online. If other countries can do it, what is delaying Canada? What reason is there for Canada to block these tests that other highly developed economies have not?
As the pandemic stretches into the long-term future, the government also needs to be transparent with Canadians and the tourism industry about the framework and timeline to procure and distribute a future COVID-19 vaccine. As well, the government needs to answer and provide clarity and set clear and realistic criteria about when and how they plan to re-open borders. Transparency on both of these subjects will allow tourism operators to have clarity and the ability to successfully plan for the path forward post COVID-19.
The Official Opposition will continue to ask these important questions, like the ones above, and will always advocate for a successful path forward for the industry. Together, we will ensure that the industry thrives once again.
As always, I want to hear from you. I welcome your thoughts and suggestions and believe that maintaining an open dialogue will be crucial in the path forward with COVID-19 and the recovery of the tourism industry.
Blake Richards, MP-Banff-Airdrie
Official Opposition Whip
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