Government of Canada Regional Relief and Recovery Fund Saving Tourism Jobs in British Columbia

Over $8.3 million in funding to support one of the sectors most impacted by COVID-19 health and safety restrictions

May 27, 2021 – Vancouver, British Columbia – Western Economic Diversification Canada

Tourism in British Columbia has been among the sectors hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic due to the unique challenges presented by shutdowns and travel restrictions. Prior to the pandemic, tourism was a significant contributor to BC’s economy with 161,500 jobs at 19,300 businesses, which generated $20.5 billion in revenue and directly contributed $8.3 billion to provincial GDP in 2018. BC has the greatest number of tourism-dependent communities of any province in Canada. From the outset, the Government of Canada has recognized the importance of tourism to British Columbia and has taken action to help the sector survive the pandemic and position it for success when safety restrictions are lifted and tourism operators are able to once again welcome visitors from home and abroad.

The Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF), delivered in the West by Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD), is one means to mitigate the financial pressures caused by the pandemic. RRRF provides assistance to eligible small- and medium-sized enterprises such as tourism operators that have not been able to access other federal relief measures. RRRF also aids business organizations, including those supporting a broad range of tourism sector activities, such as industry associations and groups like destination marketing organizations.

Support for the tourism business ecosystem in British Columbia

Today, Terry Beech, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (B.C.), on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada, announced today $8.3 million for five tourism business support organizations in British Columbia. Federal support towards Destination BC, Greater Victoria Visitors & Convention Bureau, Metro Vancouver Convention and Visitors Bureau, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, and Tourism Industry Association of British Columbia has allowed these organizations to continue to help clients through the pandemic, comply with health measures, and be ready to welcome back visitors when it is safe to do so.

This funding is part of more than $108.5 million provided to nearly 990 western Canadian tourism businesses and organizations struggling with pandemic-related challenges. Nearly two-thirds of businesses that have received support through RRRF are in rural communities that are less capable of absorbing the loss of local tourism business.

On February 5, WD announced an additional $250 million in RRRF funding in the West. Applications are still being accepted from small businesses until June 30, 2021, to offset losses during the first 12 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, Community Futures organizations have already approved more than 4,000 applications in smaller communities across Western Canada, and are ready to accept more, especially from tourism-focused businesses.

These investments are complementary to the measures within Canada’s Economic Response Plan, such as CEBA, CEWS, and HASCAP to which the tourism sector have access to address the burdens caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.