The Podium: A new year brings new beginnings
Happy New Year and and welcome back to the "routine". From all of us at ACTA we wish you the best of health, wealth and happiness all year round and look forward to your continued support.
To kick off the new year we are pleased to share some of what you can expect from YOUR Association in 2016:
- Lobbying and Advocating On Your Behalf Provincially and Nationally:
British Columbia:
Work with the Ministry of Finance in regards to comments submitted on the broad review of the Financial Institutions Act (FIA) and the related Credit Union Incorporation Act (CUIA). We will also continue to liaison with Consumer Protection BC on behalf of members and specific related matters.
Alberta:
Work with the Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future that if currently reviewing the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). We will also work with the Alberta Insurance Council on matters related to selling travel insurance under the Restricted Insurance Agents’ Certificate of Authority. The former is a recent invitation with the latter being a topic raised and discussed last year.
Saskatchewan:
Work with the Minister of Justice to continue to pursue regulation and consumer protection.
Manitoba:
Work with the Minister of Tourism, Culture, Heritage, Sport and Consumer Protection to continue to pursue regulation and consumer protection.
Ontario:
Work with the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services following the December 18, 2015 submission on the proposed amendments to the Ontario Travel Industry Act (TIA). We highlighted in our submission the fact that the TIA is very outdated and requires a complete overhaul. Government officials seemed receptive so we will pursue this recommendation. We will also work with the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) and appoint three representatives to the TICO Board of Directors.
Quebec:
Work with the OPC having the benefit of our appointed representative to their consultative committee. We are aware that the Minister of Justice in Quebec is considering proposed amendments to the regulations and ACTA will be at the table should this be announced.
Nationally:
- Work with the Canadian Transportation Agency following our 2014 end of year submission and subsequent meetings in 2015. We await the report from government due at the end of 2015.
- Work with IATA through our standing position at the APJC (local country meetings between airlines and agencies) and the PAPGJC (connected with our position within the WTAAA). New Financial Criteria is on the agenda at the APJC with meetings planned for 2016.
- Work with the Small Business Matters Coalition. ACTA will be sending out a survey in the coming weeks to ask questions on the metrics to support our case to government on the exorbitant credit card fees charged to merchants. The survey will be anonymous and the information collected is strictly for the purpose of presenting overall small business numbers to the government. We appreciate your cooperation in this initiative.
- In all areas of provincial and federal government, ACTA works with the elected regional councils and the National Board for discussion and eventual formulation of positions. This role highlights the importance of getting involved with your regional councils even if only by way of voting for your representatives. Regional elections for the 2016 year have wrapped up and we will be announcing the results shortly. - New ACTA President:
The search committee has received a number of excellent CV’s of highly skilled, greatly qualified individuals and we are certain that we will have a new leader moving ACTA forward in a very positive position before the end of the first quarter of 2016. - New membership Card program
2016 is the year the ACTA card program shifts from an “ID Card” (Industry Identification Card that was purchased by non ACTA members as well) to a Membership Card(Only available to ACTA members and their employees who qualify). The new ACTA membership card program will increase card usage by qualified Travel Agents which we are able to leverage for greater supplier buy-in. The benefits associated with the new Membership Card Program will be exclusive to ACTA membership card holders! The ACTA membership card design has also been modernized. The design has received a whole new makeover and we have put a Canadian spin on it in order to make it the card of choice in Canada/for Canadian professionals. - March is Fraud awareness month
The ACTA fraud committee is working closely with Airlines, Tour operators, RCMP and our Competition Bureau to offer events, resources and educational opportunities for our members.. During the month of March ACTA will be providing an avenue of communication among Agents and the ACTA Fraud Prevention Committee to explore existing and emerging fraud trends and identify fraud prevention best practices. Identify education areas that may assist agents in identifying and preventing fraud losses, as well as to work to effect changes. - The ACTA Campus
2015 saw the launch of the ACTA Campus which offers comprehensive training programs such as the CTC/CTM prep courses and Air Canada Global Sales University. Throughout the year we will continue to invest in enabling professionalism through education within the Travel Agency community. Travel Agents who enroll in the ACTA Campus can work toward their professional designation CTC/CTM, become an Air Canada Expert or learn more about exciting topics through our CTC/CTM endorsed sepcialist programs and webinars. By the end of winter we expect to be offering the BC and SK travel health insurance liscensing exams, the CTC exam, and new Air Canada modules. - Travel MarketPlace Conference and Travel Agent Week
ACTA will continue to be a primary sponsor of the Travel marketPlace conference in 2016 as it returns to Toronto for its third year! year! 2015 brought approximately 400 attendees and 70 exhibitors and 2016 promises to be bigger and better than ever! Join us during Travel Agent Week as we educate, honor and recognize travel agents!.