NWT Tourism Coronavirus Update #10 - Latest Advocacy Work and updates on official announcements
Dear valued members,
The COVID-19 pandemic, and measures taken to contain the pandemic, continue to have a devastating effect on the tourism industry across the world. While so much is changing around us, one thing we want to keep constant is our connection to you so we are providing key information that you need to navigate this uncertainty.
TIAC Advocacy News
The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) is the advocacy voice working for our industry at a national level. As most of you know, NWT Tourism is both the tourism industry association (TIA) for the Northwest Territories and the official destination marketing organization (DMO). Wearing both of these hats is unique to the Northwest Territories and Quebec. Within our tourism industry association role, I am working with TIAC along with my counterparts across Canada's provinces and territories so that our challenges and perspectives inform the collective voice which is advocating for our industry at the national level. I want to assure you that NWT perspectives are being shared with TIAC. TIAC is providing information directly to Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages as she is responsible for the tourism industry at the
federal level.
In order to assist TIAC to advocate for our industry here in the NWT and to equip TIAC with real-time specific feedback for the Government, TIAC and NWTT are asking you to take part in a quick survey that will help TIAC understand how the crisis is impacting the tourism sector in the NWT. I know many of you have already participated in the survey that GNWT implemented last month, but we need your help to ensure the NWT is strongly reflected in this national TIAC Survey so that our territory's industry is strongly reflected in this national industry summary of impacts anticipated. The survey links are provided below.
If you prefer to talk with someone at TIAC instead of filling out the survey, you can contact:
As I try to gather information to take to TIAC to assist advocacy efforts, I have reached out to a number of you but I have not been able to reach out to all of you. Thank you to everyone who has been willing to share the effect of COVID-19 on your business, and the projected effects on your future business depending on how long it takes to get the pandemic under control. If you would like to talk with me about the impact of COVID-19 on your business, I would welcome a phone call or email from you.
Please do keep up to date on webinars being offered by Destination Canada. These webinars give members of industry an opportunity to hear not only from Destination Canada, but also to hear directly from Minister Joly and others. Here is the web page for you to keep up with scheduled webinars, and also to access previous webinars which have been recorded: https://www.destinationcanada.com/en/coronavirus-updates/covid-19-webinar
Federal Government Announcements
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The Prime Minister has announced that Parliament will be recalled once again for an emergency sitting to pass additional measures, including the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy.
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The government also announced that Canadians can register for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit online as of April 6 at: www.canada.ca/coronavirus-cerb. The government is asking Canadians to apply for the benefit based on birthdate. Those born in the first three months of the year (January, February, March) should apply on April 6, those born in the next three months (April, May, June) should apply on April 7th, and so on. While this measure will not impact when Canadians receive the benefits, it will significantly help the system manage the number of claims coming in concurrently.
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Finally, the government announced further details of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS). At this time, TIAC has shared that the CEWS will subsidize 75% on the first $58,700 of salaries for qualifying businesses from March to May.
• To qualify, businesses will have to show a 30% decline in revenues compared to the previous year in 2019 on a monthly basis. In other words, applicants will need to apply for March, April and May separately.
• The CEWS will be applicable to businesses, including non-profits and charities. This includes cafés, restaurants and bars.
• Businesses will be able to apply via an online portal on the Canada Revenue Agency’s website in approximately 3 weeks’ time. As this new measure has just been announced, TIAC will continue to work with government officials to work through logistics and ensure members have accurate and timely information and NWT Tourism will share all information about this program as it becomes available to us.
We are hearing from members who are having difficulty accessing assistance from federal programs. We are working with TIAC and I have spoken to our Member of Parliament about the need for easier and faster access to these benefits.
Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) - Announcements
ITAC has announced a COVID-19 Development Stimulus Fund, dedicated to addressing the impact of COVID-19 on Indigenous tourism businesses.
The overall goal of this program is to assist in providing relief for Canadian Indigenous tourism businesses that are being affected by the impacts of travel restrictions and physical distancing recommendations.
The deadline to apply is April 30, 2020
You can apply by using this link. https://indigenoustourism.ca/corporate/tourism-development-funding-support-program/
Territorial Government Announcements
On Tuesday, the Territorial Government announced Wave 2 of Economic Relief Measures. Measures announced include:
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Income Assistance supports
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Airport Fees
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other measures applicable to those in the territory
For the full information on territorial announcements, please see this link: https://www.gov.nt.ca/sites/flagship/files/documents/backgrounder.pdf
Thank you to everyone who is working together to advocate for support of our industry. We are here for you. Stay well, stay strong and take care of yourself and each other. We will get through this together.
Cathie Bolstad
Chief Executive Officer
Northwest Territories Tourism
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