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.ASSOCIATION NEWS
The OMCA Team is Officially Working Virtually
OMCA
As most businesses did, the Ontario Motor Coach Association began working remotely at the start of the pandemic. Recently, OMCA has made the decision to give up the physical office space and continue to work remotely indefinitely. Our team has worked harder than ever during the pandemic to support our members and ensure that our industry not only survives the pandemic, but thrives stronger than it did before. These efforts will not suffer from our remote work environment, and our team communicates with each other daily, and regularly with members. We have a new mailing address, to be used only for postal services, outlined below. If you have any questions, please to not hesitate to contact info@omca.com.
Mailing Address Only:
c/o 290 North Queen St., Suite 112
Toronto, ON M9C 5L2
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Message From the OMCA President
OMCA
This week, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, introduced Bill C-2 in Parliament. This bill would:
• Extend the Canada Recovery Hiring Program until May 7, 2022, for eligible employers with current revenue losses above 10% and increase the subsidy rate to 50%. The extension would help businesses continue to hire back workers, increase hours, and create the additional jobs Canada needs for a robust recovery.
• Deliver targeted support to businesses still facing significant pandemic-related challenges. Support would be available through three streams:
- Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program, which would provide support through wage and rent subsidies to, for example, hotels, tour operators, travel agencies, and restaurants, with a subsidy rate of up to 75%. The types of business that would be eligible are detailed in the proposed legislation and in the backgrounder associated with today’s announcement.
- Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program, which would provide support through wage and rent subsidies to other businesses that have faced deep losses, with a subsidy rate of up to 50%.
- Local Lockdown Program, which would provide businesses that face temporary new local lockdowns up to the maximum amount available through the wage and rent subsidy programs.
The association is pleased to see the charter bus industry included as an eligible business type in the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program. At first read, the legislation will provide members with much needed and on going supports either through the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program or the Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program. Businesses that are not listed in the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program but are still experiencing significant losses, will be able to apply to the Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program.
Although not law yet, the association will continue to work with the government on the programs cut off criteria, issues related to seasonality and issues related to new businesses.
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.INDUSTRY NEWS
Liberals introduce new targeted pandemic aid bill for businesses, workers
CTV News
The Liberal government introduced a new pandemic aid bill Wednesday afternoon that would maintain some financial supports for businesses and workers until at least the spring of 2022.
Bill C-2, if passed, would deliver several new targeted programs, re-created from pre-existing benefits introduced at the start of the pandemic.
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Ontario extends emergency orders for at least 3 more months
blogTO
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario has voted once again to extend Premier Doug Ford's special powers to keep all pandemic-related emergency orders in place — this time, until March of 2022.
This effectively means that the current PC government can "amend and extend" any emergency orders in effect under the Reopening Ontario Act (ROA), without vote or debate, for at least three months longer than planned.
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Plan an unforgettable trip to Brantford. Book Tourism Brantford’s complimentary Bus Welcome Program and receive a personalized step-on welcome and a gift bag that includes pre-packaged local treats for everyone on your bus, including the tour escort and driver.
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Saskatchewan is one big, beautiful place. You will find something that most people could use a bit more of – peace and quiet. Wherever you travel in Saskatchewan, nature is never far away. Even at the centre of Saskatchewan’s major cities, Regina and Saskatoon, you are only minutes away from impressive landscapes and wide-open spaces.
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Vaccinations start this week for Ontario kids age five to 11
iPolitics
COVID vaccination appointments for children aged five to 11 can be booked starting Tuesday, and the first shots for this age group are expected to be administered on Thursday.
The government shared details about the start of its vaccination campaign for children below the age of 12 on Monday morning.
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Staycation tax credit welcome
Ontario OUT of DOORS
Outdoors tourism operators welcome the province’s planned staycation tax credit announced in the 2021 Fall Economic Statement earlier this month.
Ontarians would get a 20% personal income tax credit on eligible accommodation expenses between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2022, up to a maximum of $1,000 for an individual and $2,000 for a family, for a maximum credit of $200 or $400, respectively.
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