The Canadian Travel Agency & Travel Agent
      •   A $30 Billion dollar industry in Canada
      •   Over 14,000 Travel Agency Businesses
            o 2019 = 4,354 Storefront locations and 10,000 Self-Employed Independent Travel 
               Agents (Home-Based Businesses)
            o March 2020 – February 2021 loss of 424 Storefront locations (approx. 10%) 
      •   24,000 Travel Agents and Independent Travel Agents 
            o Over 75% of the workforce are Women
            o Tourism HR Canada cites a decrease of (19%) of the workforce through 2020
                  
      Restrictions and Impact 
       •   Extension of cruise ban in Canadian waters to Feb 2022
       •   Shut down of Caribbean and Mexico routes to April 30, 2021
       •   Pre-flight PCR test and test upon arrival
       •   Mandatory hotel quarantine (3 days) while wait for results
       •   Overall mandatory 14-day quarantine even with a negative result
       •   Prime Minister’s messages “its not the time to travel either internationally or 
           even across the country”
      Restrictions and Impact 
       •   Understand the importance of protecting the health of Canadians
       •   However, new advisories and measures have shut down travel agencies and 
           travel agents businesses and will delay any meaningful recovery
       •   Any bookings we had, have all cancelled and consumers are demanding 
           refunds, which result in recalled commissions
       •   The travel industry is doing our part in the fight against COVID-19, however 
           the travel industry is collapsing and is in need of urgent, emergency aid NOW 
           or widespread bankruptcies will occur, along with long-term damage to the 
           infrastructure 
      My ask, our Need
       •   Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)
             o 50% of travel agents are self-employed, I am self-employed. Extend the 
                CRB program to the end of 2021, or 90 days after travel restrictions are 
                eased. 
       •   Government Aid for Commission Recall
             o Additional funds must be included in any airline or tour operator aid 
                package to protect travel agent commissions, and
             o A Fund to cover past bookings that have been refunded and with this our 
                commissions recalled.  
      My ask, our Need
       •   Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS)
             o Travel businesses need access to the maximum 90% subsidy. 
             o Both Federal and Provincial governments are declaring that Canadians should not 
                travel, this is akin to jurisdiction mandated closures.  Travel businesses must be 
                made eligible for  the  additional 25% top-up program
             o Extend to the end of 2021, or 90 days after travel restrictions are eased  
       •   Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
             o CEWS increased to 85% for hardest hit businesses that include travel agencies until 
                the end of 2021, or 90 days after travel restrictions are eased, and with limited 
                conditions
             o This program has been a lifeline to travel agencies, heightened travel restrictions 
                make this vital.