Search Travel Market Report

mainlogo
www.travelmarketreport.com/canada
U.S.A.
English
Canada
English
Canada Quebec
Français
Menu
  • News
  • Packaged Travel
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Air
  • Training & Resources
  • Luxury Travel Report

An Under-Par Day: ACTA’s Golf Tournament Plus Lobbying Ontario Government

by Lynn Elmhirst  August 02, 2019
An Under-Par Day: ACTA’s Golf Tournament Plus Lobbying Ontario Government

Association says province's travel advisors face 'dramatic increase' in fees from under-funded consumer protection program, unless government delivers on requested changes.

July 11 was a busy day for Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA) President Wendy Paradis and Heather Craig-Peddie, ACTA’s vice president of advocacy.

It was the date of the organization’s 31st annual Golf Tournament at the Royal Ontario Golf Club in Milton, bringing 200 travel advisors and industry members together to showcase the power of the travel industry in Canada.

But this year, the two ACTA executives also had to hang up their clubs mid-tournament to head to Queen’s Park to meet with provincial government officials to address the outdated and under-performing Ontario Travel Industry Act. They joined the Canadian Association of Tour Operators (CATO) in lobbying the Ontario government to complete its review of the Act, as well as follow through on its promises to ease regulatory burdens on business, including Ontario travel businesses.

ACTA President Wendy Paradis expressed the organization’s frustration at the slow progress the two organizations have made. “We’ve been working on this file since 2016, and with intense focus over the last seven months,” she said, a process made more difficult by the fact that the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services has changed Ministers three times in less than a year.

“The Government has pledged to make life easier for businesses by reducing regulatory burden,” she said. “However, so far, there has been no lessening of burden on Ontario travel businesses. In fact, we are concerned that some of the government recommendations will add more administrative and financial burden on Ontario travel businesses.”

Central to ACTA’s and CATO’s concerns is the province’s Travel Compensation Fund, which the organizations say is outdated, as it fails to address the current travel business environment that includes credit cards, the internet, and e-commerce. In addition, ACTA members have told the association that their primary concern is the unfairness of the Compensation Fund model and the financial and administrative hardship it causes their travel businesses. 

Unlike other Canadian provinces, Ontario’s travel regulator TICO and its Travel Compensation Fund, designed in the 1970s to protect and compensate consumers when an end travel supplier or Ontario tour operator goes out of business, are 100% financed by the Ontario travel industry.

According to ACTA, “The Fund currently sits at more than $23 million, and the government has been informed through an actuarial study commissioned by TICO itself that the Fund should be closer to $50 million.

“If the funding model does not change, this could mean a dramatic increase in travel agency fees.”  

ACTA notes that other jurisdictions, including other Canadian provinces like Quebec, have already altered their models to ensure long-term viability of consumer protection funds in the modern era of e-commerce, internet, credit cards, and comprehensive travel insurance.

The Association’s position is that Ontario must make a number of changes to the model to make it sustainable and fair to its travel agency members. 

Two of ACTA’s and CATO’s top recommendations are that the province must follow other jurisdictions and move to a model where the consumer pays, as well as base the Fund on risk assessment (here, they use the analogy of life insurance, where a 19-year-old and a 90-year-old are assessed differently and pay different fees).

ACTA President Paradis, following her Golf Tournament day meetings with government officials vowed: “ACTA and CATO will continue to meet with government officials throughout the summer to actively lobby for changes to the Travel Compensation Fund and the reduction of other regulations that inhibit travel business success and growth.”

  0
  0
Related Articles
ACTA: Impact of U.S. Tariffs on Canada’s Travel Industry Will Be Worse Than Pandemic
Tauck Unveils New North American Land Tours
Ces femmes de l’industrie qu’on aime: Wendy Paradis de l’ACTA
The Luxury Collection Adds a Nova Scotia Hotel to Its Growing Portfolio
New Brazil Visa Requirements for U.S. & Canada Now in Effect
ACTA President Wendy Paradis to Retire
Canada’s First Hard Rock Hotel Opens Bookings
U.S. and Canada Issue Travel Warnings for Brazil Ahead of Carnival Season
Ocean Cruise Remains Dependable—But Change Is Coming
Hong Kong Welcomes Year of the Snake, Emphasizes Trade Support

MOST VIEWED

  1. Air Passenger Rights Group Says ‘Unconstitutional’ Rules Muzzle Travellers
  2. Los Cabos is Finally Attracting Eastern Canadians & the Outlook is Strong
  3. Travel Women We Love: TTAND’s Rhonda Stanley
  4. VIDEO: TLN’s New President Pearlman Proud to Bring A Canadian Perspective
  5. ACTA: Impact of U.S. Tariffs on Canada’s Travel Industry Will Be Worse Than Pandemic
  6. Lindsay Pearlman to Lead TLN as John Lovell Departs for Virgin Voyages


  1. The Summer of Staying Close to Home: A TRAVELSAVERS Canada Survey
  2. VIDEO: Air Canada Celebrates Pride, Gets Some Pushback with 1st All-2SLGBTQIA+ Flight
  3. Where the Wild Things Are: Advisors Reflect on G Adventures Galapagos Fam
  4. Air Canada Joins Other Airlines in Suspending Dubai Flights
  5. Porter Airlines Heading to the Sun with 5 Destinations, 13 Routes
  6. Reviving U.S. Travel: Brand USA Unveils America the Beautiful Campaign
Top Stories
Celebrating 50 Years in Travel: Frank Ventresca’s Journey
Celebrating 50 Years in Travel: Frank Ventresca’s Journey

Frank Ventresca, owner of Ventresca Travel Agency Limited in Woodbridge, ON is celebrating 50 years in the travel industry and got into the business on a fluke.

How Charlene Calwell Became Barrie’s Top Travel Advisor
How Charlene Calwell Became Barrie’s Top Travel Advisor

Charlene Calwell is beaming with gratitude. The Travel Agent Next Door advisor has just been selected Best Travel Agent in the 2024 Barrie Advance Readers’ Choice Awards.

Travel Market Report Makes Major Canadian Commitment With Dedicated Team
Travel Market Report Makes Major Canadian Commitment With Dedicated Team

The voice of the Canadian travel advisor is getting louder and stronger thanks to a major investment by North American travel trade publication leader Travel Market Report (TMR).

Despite Sales Layoffs, Karisma Remains Committed to Canada
Despite Sales Layoffs, Karisma Remains Committed to Canada

A Karisma executive says Canada is a strategic area of focus for the brand, thanks to the strong year-over-year growth that it expects will continue.

TMR Subscription

Don’t miss out! Sign up for our free daily newsletter and get the latest Canadian travel industry news and event coverage delivered straight to your inbox. No spam — just what matters.

Subscribe to TMR

TMR OUTLOOKS & WHITE PAPERS
View All
Advertiser's Voice
The Collette Premium Experience
About Travel Market Report Mission Meet the Team Advisory Board Advertise Syndication Guidelines
TMR Resources Calendar of Events Outlook/Whitepapers Previous Sponsored Articles Previous This Week Articles
Subscribe to TMR
Select Language
Do You Have an Idea Email
Editor@travelmarketreport.ca
Give Us a Call
647 255 8990
Drop Us a Note
Travel Market Report Canada Inc.
3080 Yonge St. Suite 6060 Toronto, ON M4N 3N1
© 2005 - 2025 Travel Market Report, an American Marketing Group Inc. Company All Rights Reserved | Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Manage cookie preferences