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This past week, I was honored to speak at the 1000 Islands Binational Tourism Summit alongside Mark Dorr, President of the New York State Hospitality and Tourism Association, and Krista Leclair, Executive Director of Kingston Accommodation Partners.

Hosted by the 1000 Islands International Tourism Council, this essential binational event fostered discussions around innovative, collaborative opportunities to advance destination development across borders. A highlight for me was a data-driven session that compared visitor profiles and sales performance on both sides of the border. By sharing insights, partners can identify new markets, enhance awareness, and elevate the entire destination as a cohesive, attractive option for travelers.

As we move forward following last week’s U.S. election, TIAO remains steadfast in its commitment to bolstering these alliances and advocating for trade policies that drive tourism growth. We are committed to strengthening our economic relationships with the United States, ensuring that Ontario’s tourism industry remains competitive, resilient, and well-supported across borders.

Sincerely,

ONTARIO TOURISM STRATEGY SURVEY

We had greater than expected participation from across the province to our Ontario Tourism Strategy Survey. THANK YOU to each and every one of you who took the time to give us your thoughts. Your insights are crucial for shaping the future of Ontario tourism. We are now looking to announce our focus groups and online panel plans as the next step in the process. Please stay tuned for more details...

MEMBER ENGAGEMENT  

TIAO’s President and CEO Andrew Siegwart spoke with the Ontario Motor Coach Association’s (OMCA) Board of Directors in advance of their 2024 Marketplace in Windsor, earlier this week. OMCA is a valued member – motor coach travel plays a vital role in the Ontario tourism industry.

This week, Andrew had a chance to speak at the RTO12 2024 Regional Tourism Summit held in Muskoka this week. This was an opportunity to delve further into the importance of the tourism strategy work that TIAO is undertaking, and the significance of participation from all regions across the province.

I had a chance to visit the official opening of the pop-up of Ontario Science Centre at Sherway Gardens – featuring some extraordinary exhibitions. The Centre is holding pop-ups and events at different locations – the newest being Harbourfront Centre starting December 2024.

TASTE OF ONTARIO RECEPTION – DECEMBER 10

A favoured reception has returned. Tourism Day at Queen’s Park ends with a special Taste of Ontario Reception. Please join us and meet tourism delegates from across the province. Register here.

Thank you for your continued support. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to send me an email at msimmons@tiaontario.ca.

Sincerely,

It was a pleasure to meet and reconnect with many of you at last week’s Ontario Tourism Summit. I am so looking forward to working with and for you again on our critical advocacy objectives.  

FALL ECONOMIC STATEMENT

On October 30, 2024, the Province released its Fall Economic Statement entitled, ‘Building Ontario for You: 2024 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review.’

Read the key highlights here.

ONTARIO TOURISM STRATEGY SURVEY

Your insights are crucial for shaping the future of Ontario tourism.  Please take a moment to complete the survey and share it within your communities as soon as possible, as the survey deadline is fast approaching, end of day tomorrow, November 1, 2024. Let’s make sure every voice is heard! Together, we can create a vibrant and inclusive tourism strategy for Ontario. Thank you for your continued support and participation!

Take the Survey Now.

POST GRADUATION WORK PERMIT CHANGES

Earlier this month, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a number of details for new rules around Canada’s post graduation work permit (PGWP) eligibility. Graduates from a college program not listed as an eligible field of study will not be eligible for a post graduation work permit. The eligible academic programs are based on five broad areas including agriculture and agri-food, healthcare, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), skilled trade and transportation. Notably, tourism and hospitality, nor business programs, are PGWP eligible for students applying for a study permit on or after November 1, 2024. 

This change is concerning to the industry, especially amidst the suite of announcements on immigration policy recently. There is apprehension about the long-term impacts to the tourism workforce and labour gaps, and the sustainability of tourism and hospitality postsecondary programs. TIAO is working with partners both provincially and federally to assess the impacts of this change, as well as outline a plan to advocate for programs that promote recruitment and retention of unemployed and underemployed people through job readiness training and career planning, and to look at solutions to ensure we can retain Ontario trained international talent.

Thank you for your continued support. If you have any questions or comments, or would just like to chat, feel free to send me an email at msimmons@tiaontario.ca. 

Happy Halloween! 

Sincerely, 

This week, I had the privilege of representing Ontario alongside our tourism colleagues from across the country at Tourism Industry Association of Canada’s (TIAC) Hill Days in Ottawa.  It was an inspiring experience, as our delegation engaged in more than 40 crucial meetings with Senators, MPs from all parties, Ministries, department leaders, and key industry stakeholders. Our mission was clear: to raise awareness and advocate for 8 critical priorities in the upcoming federal budget.  These priorities include rebuilding our workforce, investing in tourism infrastructure, supporting business events, expanding national marketing efforts, enhancing transportation and connectivity (including the cruise ship sector), expediting international visitor entry, and enabling sustainable transportation solutions.

I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the incredible TIAC team for their exceptional work in organizing such an important event, and for their close collaboration with TIAO and our members. Together, we are making real strides toward the growth and future success of our industry, and I couldn't be more proud of the progress we’re driving forward.

And speaking of driving forward, we are very excited to launch our Ontario Tourism Industry Strategy Survey in today’s newsletter!  This is the first of several industry consultation steps we are taking to chart a bold new course forward for Ontario’s tourism industry!  Please take the survey now and forward to your contacts, the industry’s voice matters!  Responders who complete the survey by Oct X will be entered into a draw for 1 of 10 free passes to either this year’s Ontario Tourism Summit or next year’s Impact Sustainability  Conference.  

Preliminary survey insights will be shared at our upcoming Ontario Tourism Summit.  If you have not registered yet, please do so right away.  Time is running out.

Sincerely,

Andrew Siegwart

President & CEO

Tourism Industry Association of Ontario

This week, TIAO provided a deputation to the City of Toronto’s Executive Committee in support of necessary infrastructure upgrades and operating agreement extensions required for the sustainability and growth of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (BBTCA).  The objective of the deputation was to support the airport’s key operating stakeholders as well as passengers and tourism industry operators who rely on the critical air service that BBTCA provides.

Please see here for a transcript of the deputation for more details about the issues and recommendations.  Thank you to the hundreds of TIAO Members who responded to TIAO’s call-to-action on this issue in last week’s newsletter.  Together, we are making our voice stronger!    

TIAO has been increasingly called upon to support our members and their destination communities at the local level to advocate for tourism infrastructure and investment and to help educate municipalities about the impact and needs of Ontario’s tourism industry.  It is a privilege for us to do so and this deeper level of collaboration is making a big difference.  Further, these engagements help us to sharpen our provincial and federal policy and advocacy work.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly at asiegwart@tiaontario.ca if/when we can be of assistance to speak on your behalf or to provide local-level support.  We look forward to continuing to support you and your communities.

Sincerely,

Andrew Siegwart

President & CEO

Tourism Industry Association of Ontario

Here are some of the key takeaways from the forum:

• Investing in Skills Development: To remain competitive on a global scale and boost productivity, investing in skills training at every level of the workforce is crucial.

• Engaging Indigenous Canadians: As Canada’s fastest-growing labour pool, Indigenous Canadians present a significant opportunity for the tourism sector. More work is needed to foster meaningful engagement and open up opportunities in tourism. For more information visit: Indigenous Tourism Ontario

• Addressing Barriers to Employment: Many Canadians face barriers to employment or are not yet engaged in the workforce. Connecting these individuals with employers through focused programs can make a big impact, and tourism has a key role to play here.

• Strengthening Post-Secondary Partnerships: Declining enrollments in tourism programs, particularly due to reductions in international students, underscore the need for closer collaboration with post-secondary institutions. By offering co-op placements and internships, we can work together to attract and retain future talent.

• Improving Career Pathway Awareness: Raising awareness of tourism careers at the secondary school level is crucial. There’s a clear opportunity to support educators and parents in highlighting the vast opportunities our industry offers.

• Enhancing the Employment Experience: Improving working conditions and creating a positive employment experience will help make tourism a more attractive option for job seekers, strengthening the industry’s reputation and economic competitiveness.

• Leveraging New Technologies: Technologies like Artificial Intelligence offer the potential to streamline tasks, enabling us to focus more on the guest experience and personal connections that make tourism unique.

• Overcoming Transportation and Housing Gaps: Addressing transportation and housing challenges remains vital for attracting and retaining talent, both in urban and rural areas.

TIAO remains committed to working with our partners across Canada to prioritize and advance these challenges. This work will continue to be a key pillar of our federal and provincial advocacy efforts and the development of Ontario’s new tourism strategy.

While this list of priorities might seem extensive, we encourage members to see the opportunity. Take a moment to reflect on what actions could make a difference in your own business or community. Whether it’s reaching out to a local school to offer an internship, connecting with an employment agency supporting newcomers, or introducing a new training program, each step matters. A “test and learn” approach can help create meaningful progress.

As always, TIAO and our network of partners are here to support you.  Don’t hesitate to reach out for guidance or resources.

A special thanks to Phil, Isabelle, and Evan at Tourism HR Canada for your leadership in hosting this forum.

Sincerely,

Andrew Siegwart

President & CEO

Tourism Industry Association of Ontario

The federal government recently announced the implementation of a Digital Services Tax (DST) of 3% to be charged on revenue generated from digital services that are provided to Canadian users by large multi-national companies with at least $20 million in Canadian digital services revenue.

This will include digital advertising, online marketplaces such as OTAs, social media, data services, and more.  The current tax scenario includes a retroactive start date of January 1, 2022.  The government’s rational for the DST is to raise revenues on digital services delivered in Canada by organizations without a Canadian presence/operation.

TIAO has been notified by members that a few digital platforms have started to communicate plans to add surcharges to digital services in response to this tax to recover costs.  TIAO is concerned that the tax and surcharge practices, if widely adopted, may increase digital marketing costs for destination marketers and operators at a time when we need every available dollar working hard to stimulate visitor and spending growth.  While the United States government is challenging the DST under the “Canada Unites States Mexico (trade) Agreement” (CUSMA), outcomes cannot be predicted at this time.

TIAO is sharing this update today to put the issue on your radar, particularly organizations that spend on digital platforms.  We are working closely with our national association partners on advocacy work and will keep you posted.  In the meantime, please do not hesitate to be in touch with questions.

In other news, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has communicated further restrictions with respect to international students and workers for 2025.  TIAO will assess these new developments and share implications and next steps with members soon. Link to the News Release.

Sincerely,

Andrew Siegwart

President & CEO

Tourism Industry Association of Ontario

This morning I joined the Canadian Business Council, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Conseil du patronat du Québec, and CFIB in Ottawa to participate in an important press conference calling on the federal government to prevent air travel disruption.

Read the press release here: Canadian Business and Tourism Leaders Urge Federal Government to Protect the Economy and Avert Air Travel Disruption

In addition to championing this message, we have felt that it is important to educate the public and government about the importance of air service to Ontario’s tourism economy and the critical fall season ahead.  We are reminding all that accommodations, restaurants and culinary, attractions, cultural experiences, transportation, travel trade, and more rely on this essential service.

We will keep working closely with our national and provincial partners to passionately advocate for our members and partners, and will keep members updated as the situation unfolds.

Watch yesterday’s CTV interview about the potential labour disruption here.

Sincerely,

Andrew Siegwart

President & CEO

Tourism Industry Association of Ontario

Back to School, Back to Business!

Congrats to all TIAO members for delivering exceptional visitor experiences across Ontario this summer.  As we move into the fall season, the TIAO team will continue to support you by hosting the Ontario Tourism Summit, facilitating the development of Ontario’s new Tourism Strategy, and driving ongoing media and government relations, including preparations for Tourism Day at Queen’s Park.  In the meantime, here are some key issues to watch:

Tourism Education: TIAO recently surveyed post-secondary institutions offering tourism, culinary, and hospitality programs to assess the impact of federal changes to international student numbers.  Early insights show a decline in Canada's reputation for higher education, a shift towards recruiting more domestic students, and potential program cuts in 2024.  Key recommendations include aligning permanent residency pathways with labor market needs, launching a tourism career awareness campaign, and boosting employer engagement with schools.  We’ll dive deeper into this at the Ontario Tourism Summit.

Temporary Foreign Worker Program Changes: effective September 26, 2024, changes include a 10% workforce limit, a one-year maximum employment period, and no Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) will be processed in areas with unemployment rates of 6% or higher.  Check here to see if your area is affected.  Please email me at asiegwart@tiaontario.ca with feedback on how these changes may impact your business.  TIAO is collaborating with industry groups to advocate for more workforce development, career campaigns for youth, and expanded pathways to permanent residency.

Airline Labour Disruption: TIAC is urging the federal government to take action to prevent a potential airline labour disruption from affecting the crucial fall tourism season.  Learn more here.

Sincerely,

Andrew Siegwart

President & CEO

Tourism Industry Association of Ontario

This week, the Government of Canada announced further adjustments and policy reversals to the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program. Starting September 26, 2024, the following changes will take effect:

• Labour Market Impact Assessments will no longer be processed in areas with unemployment rates of 6% or higher, except for jobs in food security, construction, and healthcare sectors.

• Employers can hire no more than 10% of their workforce through the TFW Program in the Low-Wage stream, with certain sectoral exceptions.

• The maximum duration of employment for Low-Wage stream workers will be reduced to one year.

   

TIAO is convening this week with its national and sectoral partners to assess impacts and required actions. We will advise members as soon as possible. In the meantime, TIAO continues to press the Ontario and Federal Governments for action on strengthening the tourism workforce in Ontario through skills development investments and immigration enhancements via permanent residence pathways for international graduates of Ontario tourism, hospitality, and culinary postsecondary programs.

Sincerely,

Andrew Siegwart

President & CEO

Tourism Industry Association of Ontario

I could not be more proud of Tourism’s "Team Ontario" - including the operators, suppliers, destination marketing organizations, sector organizations, regional tourism organizations, & government leaders who came together from across the Province this week during the Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference to have important conversations and to chart a course for our industry’s future prosperity - communication and collaboration are key!

Thank you Minister Stan Cho and your team for great conversations & connections made. A special thank you to Visit Mississauga and Nieuport Aviation for sponsoring our industry delegation and reception in Ottawa! And thank you to our amazing Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) Member delegates who helped us to communicate tourism operators' challenges and to propose meaningful solutions: Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association, Destination Northern Ontario, Nature & Outdoor Tourism Ontario, Indigenous Tourism Ontario, Smart Serve Ontario, Camping In Ontario, Resorts of Ontario, Ottawa Tourism, Kingston Accommodation Partners, Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO), Boating Ontario Association, Better Way Alliance, Ottawa Embassy Hotel & Suites - By working together, demonstrating alignment, and sharing the stories of operators across Ontario, we will drive continued growth and prosperity for Ontario's tourism industry.

TIAO Members: click here to register your interest to participate in our annual Tourism Day at Queen's Park on December 10th, 2024.

On behalf of all TIAO Members, please join me in thanking Dr. Jessica Ng and Carol Greenwood for all their hard work in organizing such a successful event.

Sincerely,

Andrew Siegwart

President & CEO

Tourism Industry Association of Ontario

The TIAO Team, alongside our dedicated TIAO Members, is proud to champion Ontario’s tourism industry at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) annual conference in Ottawa next week.

At AMO, our Ontario tourism delegation will engage in sixteen impactful meetings with key Provincial Ministries and teams, including Agriculture; Energy; Finance; Infrastructure; Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development; Municipal Affairs and Housing; Natural Resources; Rural Affairs; Tourism, Culture, and Gaming; Transportation, and more. Additionally, while in Ottawa, we will connect with vital Federal departments, agencies, and teams such as FedDev Ontario; Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada; Economic Development/Tourism, and others.

We are proud to present policy recommendations and innovative solutions that will fuel market growth, strengthen our workforce, and enhance infrastructure investment across the province. Highlights of our agenda include: advocating for enhancements to the Municipal Accommodation Tax to boost local marketing, product development, and tourism management; cutting through the red tape that holds back agri-tourism; forming a multi-modal transportation working group to bridge transportation gaps and restore service levels to smaller communities; expanding opportunities for international students to remain in Ontario’s vibrant tourism industry; and spearheading TIAO’s Ontario Tourism Strategy Project to build a stronger visitor economy across Ontario.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all TIAO members who are driving this initiative forward with us: Better Way Alliance; Boating Ontario; Camping in Ontario; Destination Northern Ontario; Economic Developers Council of Ontario; Indigenous Tourism Ontario; Kingston Accommodation Partners; Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario; Nieuport Aviation; Ontario Restaurant, Hotel, and Motel Association; Resorts of Ontario; Smart Serve; and Visit Mississauga.

Check out TIAO’s social media feeds and Newsletter next week for full coverage.

Sincerely,

Andrew Siegwart

President & CEO

Tourism Industry Association of Ontario

Last week, TIAO was pleased to prepare a submission for the Federal Budget 2025.  Our aim was to support recommendations made by Tourism Industry Association of Canada to show national alignment as well as to include Ontario-specific recommendations from our membership.  TIAO placed a focus on market development, workforce sustainability, and infrastructure investment priorities.

TIAO also called for increased consultation and collaboration with provincial/territorial governments and tourism support organizations to increase programming impact and effectiveness.

Please review the entire pre-budget submission 

here

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Andrew Siegwart

President & CEO

Tourism Industry Association of Ontario

This week’s highlights:  

• TIAO is currently finalizing its federal pre-budget submission to share Ontario’s tourism industry priorities ahead of the 2025 federal budget. TIAO members can also submit their own comments for the pre-budget consultation here. The deadline is tomorrow, Friday August 2nd before 11:59pm (EDT).  

• Round 5 of the Skills Development Fund (SDF) is now open for applications for innovative projects that address challenges to hiring, training, or retaining workers. See here for more information on eligibility and project requirements and to apply. Applications close on October 4, 2024. TIAO is pleased to offer letters of support for TIAO members submitting an SDF application – to obtain your letter, please contact me at jng@tiaontario.ca

Thank you for your continued support. And as always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to send me an email at jng@tiaontario.ca.

Dr. Jessica Ng, PhD  

Director, Policy & Government Affairs

Tourism Industry Association of Ontario

I am very excited to announce that the Ontario Tourism Industry Strategic Plan project has begun!  We are working with Clinton Belcher, President and CEO of CB Powers Enterprises/Canadian Ecotourism Services, on ‘phase one’ of the project which includes formalizing the project plan, conducting preliminary research, and creating a consultation framework to engage industry across Ontario.  The project will include the following key steps and timelines:

1. Project roadmap – August 2024

2. Preliminary research – August 2024

3. Communication and industry consultation – September-October 2024 - Including activations at Ontario Tourism Summit

4. Strategic plan development – December 2024

5. Implementation plans and tools – Q1 2025

We will keep members updated on the project's progress and opportunities for participation and input through all TIAO communication channels.  In the meantime, please forward any existing strategic plans or special initiatives that you have developed within your business, sector, region, or community to be included in our preliminary research.  Please send information as well as any project inquiries directly to OTStrategy@tiaontario.ca.

Please join me in sending our best thoughts and support to our tourism colleagues and community members in Jasper, Alberta at this difficult and critical time.  Thank you to all the first responders for bravely supporting the community.  As we await further status updates, including response needs and aid efforts, please visit the Canadian Red Cross to learn how you can help now.

Andrew Siegwart

President & CEO

Tourism Industry Association of Ontario

Thank you to TIAO’s small business and tourism operator Members who completed hundreds of surveys last week. Your participation has been invaluable in educating the public, media, and government about the impacts of the LCBO strike on Ontario's tourism businesses. We also appreciate the support of sector associations, regional, and destination marketing partners who helped spread the word about this important survey.

The survey results are clear: food and beverage, northern/rural, and culinary tourism operators are facing critical impacts. Challenges include product availability, slow delivery, restocking issues, customer experience, and lost sales. Although craft producers have seen an increase in sales at their locations, this does not compensate for lost sales through the LCBO retail network.

Our collective efforts make us stronger. Thanks go out to ORHMA and Restaurants Canada for their engagement with the LCBO to address operator concerns, and for their early advocacy which we have amplified. This week’s TIAO press release, shared by numerous media outlets nationwide, resulted in TIAO giving 14 radio and television interviews in the past 24 hours - generating 104 million media impressions in news and broadcast coverage.

Negotiations have resumed yesterday.  We will continue to monitor progress, quantify impact, and advocate on behalf of our Members.

Sincerely,

Andrew Siegwart

President & CEO

Tourism Industry Association of Ontario

With the ongoing LCBO strike, TIAO is currently conducting a short survey to gauge the impacts of the strike on TIAO members. If you haven’t completed the survey yet, now is your last chance – click here to access it. The survey closes tomorrow, Friday July 12 at 11:59pm. 

Early data from our survey shows that: 

• The LCBO strike is impacting the operations of one-third of respondents. Half of respondents in food and beverage and festival and events sectors have reported impacts to their operations. 

• Common challenges reported include: product availability, restocking capacity (for larger operators and also for small operators unable to order large wholesale quantities), impacts to visitor experience, and issues using the LCBO’s wholesale portal. 

• While breweries, wineries, cideries, and distilleries are experiencing an uptick in direct retail sales, they are also losing sales through their LCBO channels. 

Supply chain disruptions resulting from the LCBO strike are already impacting operators, particularly small tourism and hospitality businesses already facing rising operational costs and labour shortages. With the summer season being a peak month of visitation for our industry, we are concerned about worsening impacts.  

TIAO urges the LCBO, the provincial government, and striking workers to continue negotiating to reach a swift resolution.  

Jessica Ng

Director, Policy & Government Affairs

Tourism Industry Association of Ontario

Hello!

TIAO’s AGM took place virtually yesterday – it was a great opportunity for the TIAO team and our board to connect with many of our members, reflect on a very busy past year in tourism advocacy, and look ahead to TIAO’s 2024 priorities. 

In other tourism news, the issue of visa approvals for Canada has once again made headlines, with Calgary missing out on hosting a major international health conference due to visa processing delays.

Meetings Mean Business Canada (MMBC) and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) are seeking input from stakeholders to address the issue of delayed visa approvals. Please respond to Minto Schneider (Board Chair, MMBC) at minto@interoceaninc.ca and cc jng@tiaontario.ca with any feedback to the following:  

1. Are you aware of any conference/convention bids that were lost due to the length of time it takes for visas to be approved? 

1. Are you aware of any conference/conventions that were definite that were cancelled due to the time it takes for visas to be approved? 

1. Do you have any numbers related to attrition because of the visa approval process (either not approved or approved too late for the delegate to make travel arrangements)? 

Thank you in advance for taking the time to respond – any information would be appreciated and will be used to determine next steps with TIAC and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).  

Thank you for your continued support. And as always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to send me an email at jng@tiaontario.ca.

Jessica Ng

Director, Policy & Government Affairs
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario

TIAO's leadership team met this week with Tourism Windsor Essex Peele Island and its regional municipal administrators and community leaders to discuss strategic municipal and industry collaboration as well as opportunities that lie ahead for Ontario's tourism industry.

(Photo: Gordon Orr, CEO, Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island; Town of LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche, ,Chair of Board of Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island; Carol Greenwood, TIAO; Dr. Jessica Ng, TIAO, Essex County Warden and Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald; Andrew Siegwart, TIAO)

TIAO's Team frequently works with our Regional Tourism or Destination Marketing Members to provide presentations and consultation with local municipalities.  Please reach out to us if we can assist in your community!

We're inviting TIAO Members to register for TIAO's upcoming Annual General Meeting. Register to join us virtually on June 26th, 2024 for TIAO's Annual General Meeting here. Links and relevant documents will follow by email after registration.

Andrew Siegwart

President & CEO
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario

Late last week, the Province announced a substantial cabinet shuffle, along with the creation of some new positions. In the wake of the cabinet shuffle, TIAO welcomes the Honourable Stan Cho to the tourism portfolio as Ontario’s new Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming! We will be meeting with Minister Cho in the coming weeks and look forward to working with him and his team to advance the growth potential and sustainability of the tourism industry.  

We thank Minister Lumsden and his team for their leadership and collaboration over the past two years, and we congratulate him on his new portfolio as Minister of Sport. We also congratulate the Honourable Sam Oosterhoff, who has moved from the tourism portfolio and has been appointed Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries as part of the Ministry of Energy and Electrification.  

Other notable changes to the Cabinet include:  

• Rob Flack becomes Minister of Farming, Agriculture and Agribusiness 

• Stephen Lecce becomes Minister of Energy and Electrification 

• Todd Smith becomes Minister of Education 

• Vijay Thanigasalam becomes Associate Minister of Housing as part of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing 

• Greg Rickford becomes Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation and remains Minister of Northern Development 

We are in the process of reaching out to Ministers as they settle into their new portfolios and have requested to meet at their earliest convenience. Stay tuned for updates.  

Jessica Ng

Director of Policy and Government Affairs
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario