Government of Canada announces support measures for Canadian businesses

Last week, the Government of Canada introduced new measures to help businesses and workers navigate the impact of recently imposed tariffs. The following programs and supports are being put in place:

• Trade Impact Program – $5 billion through Export Development Canada to help exporters manage economic challenges caused by the tariffs.
• BDC Support – $500 million in low-interest loans through Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) for businesses directly affected by the tariffs and those in their supply chains.
• Investment Protection – Strengthened regulations under the Investment Canada Act to prevent harmful foreign takeovers during this economic uncertainty.
• Work-Sharing Program Flexibility – Temporary changes to the EI Work-Sharing Program to help businesses retain workers and reduce layoffs.

For more details, visit: Fighting for Canadian Workers and Businesses – Canada.ca.

Attraction and Retention in the Tourism Industry: Myths Busted?

Tourism HR Canada recently released an article tackling two of the most common myths around tourism employment: that the industry typically employs young workers, offering low-paid and unreliable labour. A look at the data examines some of the reasons for these perceptions and suggests a more nuanced picture. 

Young Workers in Tourism – While it is true that young workers (aged 15-24) are the largest age cohort in the tourism sector, they do not comprise the bulk of workers. Public perception of tourism employment tends to be skewed by the fact that younger workers often occupy frontline positions and are consequently more visible.  

Earnings Comparison Data – According to research, the Canadian public believes that the tourism industry offers low wages. A comparison of similar sectors reveals that the median income in tourism, while not high, is comparable to the food services sector and actually higher than agriculture. 

Gender Earnings Gap – In the aggregate, women in tourism have a median income of around 69 per cent that of men, considerably lower than their relative income across all sectors (84 per cent). 

Value Proposition – While tourism jobs may be not offer competitive wages in comparison to other sectors (oil and gas, for example), a tourism career has other advantages. Among them are:

• Unique working environments – Some tourism businesses are surrounded by unparalleled landscapes and wildlife; others are in the heart of thriving and exciting cities. Tourism businesses operate where people want to visit, and the attraction of these places can also appeal to people looking to live someplace they love.
• Flexible lifestyle – While some people criticize tourism for its "unsocial hours," the fact is that tourism jobs offer a degree of flexibility that accommodates people's unique needs.
• Working conditions – No job is entirely without risk, but many jobs in tourism are inherently safer than some of the higher-paying jobs in heavy industry, resource extraction, or agriculture. Tourism also caters to a range of work preferences: there are jobs working indoors or outdoors, working with people or alone, drawing on technical skills or social skills, at a fast-paced clip or in a more relaxed setting.
• Job growth opportunities – Some tourism businesses have a more clear-cut promotions track—large hotels and restaurants, for instance, tend to be vast and complex organizations, and may have a centralized office that oversees multiple properties or locations.
• Sustainability – Tourism is poised to become an integral part of the regenerative economy, with many businesses already investing in ecological and social solutions to protect the environment and the communities where they are based.

To read the full article, visit the Tourism HR Canada website.

Recipients Announced Under the Indigenous Tourism Fund

Earlier this week, the Government of Canada announced the names of 10 funding recipients under the Indigenous Tourism Fund (ITF) Signature Indigenous Tourism Experiences Stream (SITES) in collaboration with the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) and the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA). In Saskatchewan, Whitecap Dakota First Nation received $1 million under SITES for the development of the Dakota Dunes Thermal Spa. The attraction will be Canada's first Indigenous-owned spa. 

In addition to SITES, the federal government made the final announcements for the Indigenous Tourism Fund’s Micro and Small Business Stream (MSBS). In total, the Indigenous Tourism Fund will have successfully distributed approximately $8.1 million in funding to support close to 330 small Indigenous tourism businesses and $9.5 million to 11 signature Indigenous tourism experiences across the country. About half of MSBS funding has been allocated to businesses that are majority owned by Indigenous women. 

The SITES projects are expected to attract a total of 187,000 additional tourists to Indigenous tourism businesses, boosting revenue streams and creating approximately 200 new jobs for Indigenous Peoples. Visit the Government of Canada site for a complete list of SITES recipients.

Check out these upcoming webinars and workshops hosted by Tourism Saskatchewan

Register now for virtual and in-person training sessions, hosted by Tourism Saskatchewan. Get insights and discover actionable skills and strategies for bolstering your tourism business.

• Panel Discussion–How to Welcome and Attract Newcomers to Your Tourism Business, free webinar, Thursday, March 13, 12–1 p.m.
• Selling Your Business Today: The Succession Planning Advantage, free webinar, Monday, March 17, 12–1 p.m.
• Is Your Website Working for You: Turn Visitors into Customers with a Better User Experience, workshop, $30, Tuesday, March 18, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. ​Your website should serve as your hardest-working team member, but is it creating the right experience for your visitors? Join this workshop to gain a better understanding of how to get your website to work for you.
• Strategies for Recruiting and Retaining Great Volunteers, free webinar, Thursday, March 20, 12–1 p.m.
• Engaging Gen Z in the Workplace: A Panel Discussion, free webinar, Tuesday, March 25, 12–1 p.m.
• Service Best Leader, workshop, $99, Tuesday, March 24–Wednesday, March 25, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. ​This comprehensive course on effective customer service leadership is designed to empower individuals with the skills and strategies needed to lead and inspire high-performing customer service teams. In an era where exceptional customer experiences are paramount, leaders play a pivotal role in shaping organizational culture, fostering employee engagement, and ensuring customer satisfaction. This course is ideal for current and aspiring leaders in customer service, including supervisors, managers, and team leaders.