TIABC Policies, Advocacy, Positions & Correspondence
For a full list of TIABC’s recent COVID-19 activities, please visit www.tiabc.ca/advocacy-policy-development/covid-19-updates
July 21, 2020 – TIABC releases Tourism & Hospitality sector proposal for $680 million recovery stimulus package from B.C. Government – Read proposal here
July 21, 2020 – TIABC publishes media release and backgrounder on tourism industry sector stimulus package proposal – Click here
July 20, 2020 – TIABC sends letter to all 87 MLAs in BC re: $680 million recovery stimulus proposal –View Sample letter here
July 20, 2020 – Industry Response to Minister of Labour re: concern with Bill 23, Workers Compensation Amendment Act, 2020 – Click here
June 26, 2020 – TIABC’s 2021 Budget Submission to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services – Click here
June 8, 2020 – TIABC and Major Industry Partners Ask for Provincial and Federal Cooperation to Restart Tourism & Travel Sector – Click here
March 23, 2020 – TIABC news release re: Tourism Industry Responds to COVID-19 Action Plan – Click here
March 16, 2020 – TIABC news release re: Tourism Industry Calling for Emergency Fund – Click here
March 16, 2020: TIABC letter to Premier Horgan re: Tourism Emergency Contingency Fund to Address Impact of COVID-19. – Click here
RECENT TIABC MEETINGS WITH GOVERNMENT AND STAKEHOLDERS
Winter/Spring 2020
Tourism Emergency Management Committee re: Covid-19
Tourism Ministry re: emergency preparedness legislation review and other various issues
Minister Shane Simpson re: accessibility review and legislation
Craft Brewers of BC re: regulatory and policy issues
Tourism businesses re: Covid-19 impacts and other business issues
Tourism Vancouver re: destination development issues
Destination BC re: industry input on various issues
Sport Fishing Institute re: regulations
BC Hotel Association re: various issues
BC Chamber of Commerce re: policy issues
Citizen & Immigration Canada re: immigration and labour issues
Northern BC Tourism Association board re: TIABC priorities
Vancouver Community Sport Hosting review
Thriving Orcas, Thriving Communities re: federal regulations
Indigenous Tourism BC re: Labour Market Impact Assessments
Capilano University Tourism Program Advisory Committee
Fall 2019 – TIABC attended and presented at various upcoming events this past fall/winter
** Walt Judas (TIABC CEO) presented at event
Fall/Winter 2019
Tourism New Westminster re: MRDT
Rec, Sites and Trails re: Trans Canada trail development
Minster Beare and MTAC re: UNDRIP legislation
Emergency preparedness
Tourism Wells Gray re: forestry issues
Coalition of BC Businesses re: provincial issues and strategy
Fall legislative agenda
Greater Victoria Harbour Authority re: council’s cruise motion
Helicat Canada re: UNDRIP legisalation
Ministry of Education re: K-12 curriculum and credentials
Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations re: wildlife management and habitat conservation
Capilano University Tourism Program Advisory Committee
PNWER pre-clearance committee
Better Transit & Transportation Coalition board meeting
Tourism Kelowna re: BC stats
POSITIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE
TIABC letter to Premier Horgan re: tourism emergency contingency fund to address impact of COVID-19. Available to TIABC members only – click here
The Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) is intended for tourism marketing, programs and projects. In February 2020 a letter authored by TIABC and co-signed by the BC Hotel Association and the BC Destination Marketing Organization Association was sent to the Finance Minster regarding concerns about proposed further uses of the Municipal Regional & District Tax (MRDT). Available to TIABC members only – click here
TIABC made a submission to the Private Managed Forest Land Program re: lack of rigour in several key areas including: public consultation, species and habitat protection, environmental management, and loss of public recreation access. Available to TIABC members only – click here
TIABC letter to Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations & Rural Development re:impacts of fishing closures on B.C.’s tourism economy. Available to TIABC members only – click here
TIABC made a submission to the Forest, Range and Practices Act to answer their discussion paper questions regarding forest practices and its impact on tourism. Available to TIABC members only – click here
TIABC letter to the City of Burnaby Council encouraging them to find solutions to building the Burnaby Mountain Gondola. Available to TIABC members only – click here
TIABC Submission on Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Amendments. Available to TIABC members only – click here
TIABC presentation to Standing Committee on Finance (BC Budget 2020 consultations). Available to TIABC members only – click here
April 2019 letter to Minister of Transport re: Air Passenger Protection Regulations. Available to TIABC members only – click here
March 2019 letter to Victoria City Council re: proposed class-action lawsuit against oil and gas companies . Available to TIABC members only – click here
March 2019 – TIABC response to all-committee report on ride-hailing services. Available to TIABC members only – click here
January 2019 letter to Minister of Indigenous Relations & Reconciliation re: road construction upgrade request for Port Renfrew to Anacia/Bamfield – click here
October 2018 submission on Taxi Modernization and Ride-hailing – click here
July 2018 letter to Attorney General re: support for go2HR’s administration of Serving it Right – click here
July 2018 letter to Finance Minister re: Impending changes to Provincial Sales Tax Act and use of MRDT funds – click here
February 2018 letter to Finance Minister re: Proposed changes to Provincial Sales Tax Act and use of MRDT funds – click here
TIABC POLICIES (abbreviated versions)
TIABC’s Policy Positions can be viewed in full in the Members-only section of this website.
| Issue | Description | Status | Communications |
| Sport Fishery |
Sudden closures of the Skeena River to sport fishing (Chinook), as well as rivers on Vancouver Island have wreaked havoc and caused significant economic and reputational damage to angling guides, resorts and communities in the North and on Vancouver Island. TIABC maintains that the Province should demand that DFO ensure in-river recreational fisheries get equal and fair treatment to those taking place in the marine environment. This means that exploitation allotments should be assigned equitably to all stakeholders and that any conservation measures be spread evenly amongst user groups (including commercial). The Province should also demand that DFO pursue an abundance based management regime that would utilize catch & release methods in non-tidal waters to ensure that angler access is preserved during periods of low abundance. TIABC’s full Fishing Policy is available to TIABC members only – click here Joint Response from Tourism Vancouver Island, BC Chamber of Commerce and TIABC re: Prosed Chinook Management Actions – click here Fishing BC Backgrounder – Fishing BC Guides Industry on Messaging to Visitors – Click here |
In-progress | |
| Species at Risk |
In an effort to protect threatened caribou in several BC regions, the federal government is considering imposing Section 80 of Species at Risk legislation that would close enormous tracts of crown land for decades. Such a move would shut down more than half of BC’s adventure tourism companies, putting hundreds of people in rural communities out of work, and costing the economy tens of millions of dollars. TIABC and members of the Adventure Tourism Coalition recommends that the Province must work with the federal government to ensure that the socio-economic needs of adventure tourism operators are taken into account before decisions affecting the land base and species at risk are taken. TIABC’s full Mountain Caribou Policy is available to TIABC members only – click here |
In-progress | |
| Ride-hailing |
For Transportation Network Companies to operate in BC, they must comply with the same system and regulations as taxi companies to ensure the safety of passengers, drivers and the public. These regulations would include, but are not limited to, a Class 4 license, dynamic pricing during slow periods of the day, and limits on fleet size. TIABC has called on government to affirm the Passenger Transportation Board as the body to maintain oversight of passenger transportation services for both commercial operators and new TNCs. |
In-progress | March 27, 2019 – TIABC Response to all-committee report on ride-hailing services – Click here
October 2018 submission on Taxi Modernization and Ride-hailing – click here April 2016 support letter to Minister of Community, Sport & Cultural Development and Minister Responsible for Translink is available to TIABC members only – click here September 2015 support letter to Minister of Transportation & Infrastructure is available to TIABC members only – click here The full February 2016 support letter (on behalf of BC Taxi Association) sent to Minister of Transportation & Infrastructure regarding TIABC’s concerns over ride-sharing services is available to TIABC members only – click here |
| Short Term Rentals |
TIABC has urged civic politicians across BC, as well as the provincial government to develop and enforce regulations to deal with the proliferation of short-term vacation rental (STRs) accommodation in dozens of communities across the province. STRs are contributing to lack of available and affordable housing for tourism (& other sectors) workers. TIABC continues to urge local governments to develop and/or enforce their own community regulations on STRs, to not only compel property owners to legally offer rooms for rent, but to level the playing field for traditional accommodation providers (hotels, B&Bs, resorts) who pay significant provincial and business taxes. |
In-progress | December 2017 letter to Minister of Municipal Affairs & Housing is available to TIABC members only – click here
To view the November 2017 TIABC response to Vancouver Sun Op-Ed piece on short-term rentals, click here To view the October 2017 letter to Vancouver Mayor & Council, click here To view the September 2016 TIABC press release, click here |
| Labour Shortages and TFWP |
The tourism industry is desperately short of seasonal and full-time workers, and has sacrificed significant industry revenues due to a shortage of labour across the province. The federal government has made significant changes to the Temporary Foreign Workers Program that is contributing to labour shortages. TIABC is urging the federal government to consider a Seasonal Tourism Workers Program similar to the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program that allows for exemptions to the Temporary Foreign Workers Program (TFWP) under certain terms and conditions.
(July 2019) TIABC sent a submission to Employment and Social Development Canada and the Department of Citizenship and Immigration re: Proposal to Amend Immigration & Refugees Protection Regulations for Temporary Foreign Workers – available to members only – click here |
In-progress | February 2016 letter to (and response from) federal Minister of Employment, Workforce Development & Labour is available to TIABC members only – click here go2HR and TIABC jointly produced two 2016 publications: Immigration and Seasonal Tourism Worker Policy Recommendations and Business Case: Seasonal Worker program. These documents are available to TIABC members only – click here.13 associations jointly contributed to a BC Labour Relation Code Review submission in March 2018 – click hereBC Tourism Labour Shortage Economic Impact Study (Summary Report May 2016) www.go2hr.ca/research |
| Funding Formula for Destination BC |
In order for Destination BC to continue to drive record results, TIABC has urged government to implement legislated formula-funding for the organization so it is not vulnerable to annual disbursements at the discretion of government’s budgeting process. Dedicated, secured and performance-based formula funding for marketing needs to be implemented to ensure the long-term viability of DBC and the success of BC’s visitor economy. |
In-progress | July 2016 letter to Minister of Jobs, Tourism & Skills Training is available to TIABC members only – click here November 2016 letter to Premier Christy Clark is available to TIABC members only – click here November 2014 letter to Premier Christy Clark is available to TIABC members only – click hereTo view the provincial government’s announcement of Destination BC and the explanation of how for the first year of operations the Crown corporation will receive the full funding that government has used for tourism marketing, and after that, funding will be set based on a percentage of annual sales tax activity and enshrined in legislation, click here. |
| Emergency Preparedness |
Of the 108 recommendations in the 2017 BC Wildfire & Flooding Report (Abbott), only six referenced tourism and its role in looking after affected visitors and residents. Industry and government must continue to work together to develop a crisis response plan, mitigation strategies, training for tourism operators, reputation management, and a recovery framework that allows businesses affected by a crisis to resume normal business operations. TIABC also urges government to integrate the tourism industry into its emergency management framework (e.g. legislation) given that it has a leading role to play when it comes to recovery, as well as communication and reputation. |
In-progress | TIABC partnered on the production of two industry resource guides designed to assist tourism operators prepare themselves and their businesses for an emergency. |
Archived Advocacy Issues
BC FAMILY DAY
TIABC urged the provincial government to have British Columbia Family Day remain on the second Monday of February. However, on February 9, 2018, Premier Horgan announced that BC Family Day would shift to the third week of February. This was unnecessary and will seriously impact tourism operators throughout BC; restore FD to its original weekend, offsetting the holiday that some other provinces enjoy. TIABC sent a letter to Premier Horgan in January 2018 with support from many tourism stakeholders – Click here
Letters were written by other tourism stakeholders. For example, Tourism Golden letter – Click here and Tourism Kamloops letter – Click here
B.C. government shifts Family Day, beginning in 2019
NEW TOURISM VISION FOR CENTRAL COAST & NORTH ISLAND REGION OF BC
A coalition of First Nations bands, tourism operators, associations including TIABC, communities and destination marketing organizations, called the Mid-Coast BC Ferry Working Group, presented the report: Tourism Development and Ferry Services: A Vision for First Nations and Rural Communities on BC’s Central Coast and North Island to Jobs, Tourism and Skills Minister Shirley Bond, Transportation Minister Todd Stone and MLA Donna Barnett (Cariboo-Chilcotin) in Victoria. To view the report, click here or visit the Aboriginal Tourism Association of Canada.
TIABC September 6, 2016 press release – Unique Partnership Key to New Agreement with Province of B.C. on Mid-Coast Ferry Service
TOURISM GOLDEN AND CP RAIL
TIABC member Tourism Golden requested a letter of support after Canadian Pacific rail company decided to close off an access point to the Kicking Horse River that is vital for the area’s river rafting companies. The letter sent March 2016 letter is available to TIABC members only – click here. Read Tourism Golden’s April 5, 2016 media release here. Read April 22 2016 update on resolution here.
LETTERS TO NEW FEDERAL MPS OUTLINING KEY BC TOURISM ISSUES
After the federal election, welcome letters were sent to all BC MPs outlining TIABC’s mandate and our four primary federal tourism issues: 1) labour shortages, immigration policy and the Temporary Foreign Workers Program; 2) pre-clearance and visas for low-risk travelers; 3) air access and capacity; and 4) increased and dedicated funding for Destination Canada. The entire November 2015 welcome letter sent to the Minister of Small Business and Tourism, Hon. Bardish Chagger available to TIABC members only – click here.
TOURISM VICTORIA TRADEMARK VIOLATION
TIABC provided a support letter for Tourism Victoria (TIABC member) who was seeking government intervention for a trademark violation by the Croatia Ministry of Tourism. The entire June 2015 letter sent to Minister of State (Small Business, Tourism and Agriculture) is available to TIABC members only – click here.
TOURISM VICTORIA VISITOR CENTRE RENOVATIONS
TIABC provided a support letter for Tourism Victoria (TIABC member) who was seeking Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program grant funding. The entire July 2015 letter sent to Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification is available to TIABC members only – click here.
VANCOUVER’S NORTH SHORE TOURISM HOTEL EXPANSION
TIABC provided a support letter for Vancouver’s North Shore Tourism (TIABC member) who was seeking endorsement of a proposal for a new and expanded hotel in their destination. The entire July 2015 letter sent to review committee is available to TIABC members only – click here.
BYLAW GUIDE FOR AGRI-TOURISM ON ALR PROPERTIES
TIABC submitted comments and recommendations regarding the proposed Minister’s Bylaw Standard Criteria (Bylaw Guide) for agri-tourism activities on properties within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). We consulted with a number of members and stakeholders to provide an informed summary of our questions and feedback. In TIABC’s view, the proposed Bylaw Guide appears to provide a clear and coherent framework for supporting agri-tourism activities in select circumstances. The entire January 2016 letter sent to the Minister of Agriculture is available to TIABC members only – click here. In early August 2016, the Ministry of Agriculture has announced a regulation that establishes that ALR land owners will not need a permit from the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) to host specific activities like commercial weddings, concerts or non-agriculture related festivals, providing that:
- The farm is classified as having farm status under the Assessment Act;
- No new, permanent structures are being built;
- All parking must be on the farm (no road parking) but the parking area must not be permanent nor interfere with the farm’s agricultural productivity;
- The number of guests at any event is 150 or less; and
- The number of events is 10 or less in a calendar year.
An application to the ALC is required if any of the above conditions are not met.
To view the Ministry of Agriculture announcement of the eligible agri-tourism activities, click here.
DISCOVERY COAST FERRY ROUTE
Discovery Coast Ferry Route – TIABC took a lead role and immediately commissioned a report to determine the economic impact the cancellation of this ferry service will have on the communities that rely on the Discovery Coast Circle Route. The entire January 2014 report is available to TIABC members only – click here.
CONNECTING AMERICA
Connecting America was a TIAC/CTC initiative to seek additional investment from the federal government. TIABC advocated at the provincial level to support TIAC at the federal level to secure government support for this initiative. Full May 2014 support letter sent to Maxime Bernier, then Minister of State for Tourism and Small Business available to TIABC members only – click here.
TOURISM ACCOMMODATION ASSESSMENT RELIEF ACT
TAARA (Tourism Accommodation (Assessment Relief) Act) – TIABC worked closely with the BC Lodging and Campground Association to support this initiative by being another voice advocating for modernization of the act which was finally approved as part of the 2016 BC budget. Full March 2014 letter sent to Finance Minister, Mike de Jong available to TIABC members only – click here.
DESTINATION BC TASKFORCE
Destination BC Taskforce – TIABC played a key role in working with government to fashion a proposal that led to the creation of Destination BC. A key part of the proposal was to imbed within legislation an investment model to ensure long-term and sustainable funding for DBC. TIABC thanks the many members who were a part of this taskforce and devoted many hours to develop a sustainable model.
