On Thursday evening, December 16th, MPs and Senators passed Bill C -2 which includes the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program (THRP). The fact the trade show industry is specifically mentioned as being eligible for this funding program is a direct result of CAEM's advocacy over the course of the last year – including nearly 70 meetings with MPs of all political stripes as well as high-ranking staff in key Ministries. Thank you to the CAEM members and stakeholders who joined us in the meetings with MPs to help drive home the message that our industry desperately needed sector-specific funding. Your action made a difference.
The strategic alliances CAEM has made with like-minded organizations such as TIAC, TIAO, MMBC and the Conference Centres of Canada, have also played an important role in amplifying our message and getting our voice heard. We would be remiss if we did not once again thank TIAC President & CEO, Beth Potter for reinforcing the key role our sector plays in tourism and for working with us to make sure our industry was included in the eligibility criteria for the THRP.
As a member of the Steering Committee of the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses, CAEM was able to offer significant input as this legislation was proposed and then included in the Liberal election platform. We have actively participated every step of the way as this legislation was introduced in the House in November and want to thank you for participating in the most recent letter writing campaign to encourage MPs to pass Bill C-2 – over 11,000 letters were sent to MPs by Hardest Hit Coalition member organizations and no doubt CAEM members sent a large number of those letters!
On Friday afternoon the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses met with the
Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism, to thank him for his support and celebrate the passing of this legislation (see the photo below).
This is a big win for CAEM and the industry as a whole. The advocacy work we have undertaken on your behalf led to this point and as a result our industry is named in the eligibility criteria for the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program and we have not been left behind.