ACTA in ACTION

(August – December, 2016)

Advocate:

FEDERAL

• Canadian Transportation Agency:
  
  ACTA has been monitoring the progress of the implementation of ACTA’s recommendations in response to the Review of the Canadian Transportation Act. In November 2016, The Minister of Transport announced the introduction of an air travelers’ passenger rights regime, as well as the federal government’s plans to raise the cap on foreign ownership of Canadian airlines. Both of these recommendations were included in ACTA’s submission to the Federal Government. (A copy of ACTA’s submission is available in the Member section of ACTA’s website)

• International Air Transport Association (IATA):
  
  ACTA and five members will be participating in a meeting of the Canadian Travel Retailers/Airlines Committee in early December 2016. ACTA is seeking two additional retail members to participate on this Committee. ACTA along with five members will also be participating in the Canadian Agency/Airline Financial Advisory Group meeting.
  
  ACTA is also evaluating concerns related to credit capping under IATA’s new generation of their settlement systems which facilitates the distribution and settlement of funds between travel agents and airlines.
  
  IATA has also finalized an analysis on their global pricing policy and in so doing, Canada, as one of the last countries to do so, now has to pay for HOT files effective January 1, 2017, should an agency require these more robust reports. There is also the option to purchase transactional reports at a lower fee. IATA is implementing a trial phase of these transactional reports for users to review and determine if there are sufficient for their reporting needs. (HOT files contain PAX details where the transactional files do not.) This change has a greater impact on large corporate agencies/groups that do require the HOT files.
  
  
• Insurance:
  
  ACTA contributed to the Canadian Council of Insurance Regulators (CCIR) recent review of any existing misalignment between consumer’s expectations and industry practices. All ACTA provincial council members were solicited for feedback and our submission is available in the Member’s Only section of the ACTA website. It is anticipated that CCIR will decide at their Spring meeting to draft a Position Paper and that the Paper will supports the need for harmonization of regulatory licensing across Canada, an objective shared with the Travel Health Insurance Association (THiA). ACTA will follow-up with CCIR to inquire of their Progress
  
  Life Insurance Council of the Alberta Insurance Council (AIC) in September, the Chair has advised that a meeting for the New Year was suggested as the AIC will have updated its strategic plan and would be in a position to share this information at that time. ACTA’s primary objective for these meetings would be to engage with the regulator of insurance (the AIC) on an ongoing basis and establish ACTA as the association representing travel agencies in Alberta on travel insurance matters. Three current issues of relevance are:
  
  1. The ability of travel agents in Alberta to sell travel insurance to their customers based in other provinces and, linked to that, the harmonization of provincial regulations across Canada;
  
  2. The provision of the Insurance Act that prescribes that only “employees” of licensed agencies are entitled to sell travel insurance in Alberta.
  
  3. The absence of representation for the travel industry and other restricted licence holders on the Councils.

PROVINCIAL

• Ontario:
  
  The Ontario government has opened the Travel Industry Act for a full review and ACTA is closely involved in this process on behalf of our members. ACTA provided feedback to the Ontario government as Phase I of the Review comes to a close.
  
  The Ontario government also has a Review underway of the Ontario’s Employment Standards Act. ACTA’s submission is available in the Member’s Only section of the website. The main concern within this review is that the government is considering moving “dependent contractors” into the definition of employee. The government believes and there is a mis-classification of employees and they are reviewing options to correct. For next steps, ACTA will follow up with the Ontario Ministry of Labour in December to understand their process and deadlines of the proposed changes. Based on this information, ACTA will consider forming a sub-committee to look at the possible outcome of this proposed change should it come into effect.
  
  
• Québec:
  
  ACTA worked with the regional council on a provincial member advocacy survey. Next steps: The survey was sent November 22nd with a deadline to complete of December 9. The data will then be compiled and reviewed with the Quebec Council to determine action.

Educate:

• ACTA Learning Campus:
  All Air Canada Global Sales University modules are available in English and now in French.
  
  
• ACTA Student Conference:
  
  ACTA organized and facilitated a conference for Travel and Tourism Students November 9 at the Woodbine Conference Centre in Toronto. The event included participation from eight colleges across Ontario and was host to 150 Travel and Tourism Students. Agenda items included: Air Canada Global University, Corporate Travel, travel insurance presented by Manulife, and Career Opportunities with a Tour Operator.
  
  The afternoon delivered a travel industry panel who shared careers highlights and spoke about current positions and career opportunities. Panelists included NCL, CCL, Transat Distribution, G Adventures and Wynford. The conference was sponsored by Air Canada and Norwegian Cruise Line (Platinum), the Israel Government Tourist Organization (Lunch), Sandals and Beaches (Gold), Porter Airlines, Travelweek and Baxter Travel Media (Silver).
  
  
• Insurance Education Project with THIA:
  
  ACTA participated in a committee headed by THiA to create the first Travel Insurance specific educational curriculum; a 300-page comprehensive travel insurance study guide. Course content includes chapters on The Insurance Contract, Product Suite, Pricing and Underwriting, Sales and Distribution, Claims and Assistance, Compliance, Ethics and Fraud. The study guide is expected to be available in the Fall 2017. An exam will follow. The launch of the text with exam to follow are considered stepping stones to THiA’s goal of buy-in from the CCIR and the provincial regulators in creating a national standard and harmonization across the jurisdictions.

Promote:

• The Value of Travel Agencies and ACTA’s Members To Consumers
  
  ACTA contributes as an expert resource for consumer facing media on topics allowing us to promote the value of a Travel Agent to consumers. Over Q2-Q3, ACTA promoted the value of using a travel agency and our members at consumer shows in cities including Halifax, Montreal, Kingston, Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton.
  
  
• The Value of ACTA to Members and Non-Members
  
  ACTA team members participated in member conferences in Halifax, Montreal, St. Sauveur, Mont Tremblant, Toronto, Vancouver and Reno, Nevada, promoting the ACTA Campus, fraud tools, marketing toolkit, membership card benefits and the value of CTC/CTM Certifications.

Connect:

• Networking
  
  ACTA Manitoba and ACTA Saskatchewan held Industry Mixers earlier in November 2016
  ACTA British Columbia held a member appreciation event in Vancouver on November 23, 2016