President's Message : ACTA’s First Parliamentary Hill Day

This week, ACTA held its very first Parliamentary Hill Day in Ottawa, bringing members of our Board of Directors, the Travel Agency Leaders Advisory Committee (TALA), and regional advisory representatives to Parliament Hill to meet directly with Senators, Members of Parliament, and federal officials.

This marked an important new step in ACTA’s national advocacy work and an opportunity to ensure that the voice of Canada’s travel agency and travel advisor community is heard directly where federal decisions are made.

Our sector is navigating significant change — from shifting consumer demand and evolving travel patterns to border pressures and broader global uncertainty — and it is essential that government understands both the challenges and opportunities facing travel businesses across Canada.

Our overarching message — reflected in ACTA’s five key asks presented throughout the day — was simple: travel is trade. Travel is an economic driver and a job creator. This message resonated strongly with federal officials, particularly the recognition that travel businesses support communities in nearly every riding across the country, that many of these businesses are small and medium-sized enterprises, often women-led, and that our sector is a critical part of Canada’s broader economy and competitiveness.

Travel is also a force for good. It functions as both an export and an import sector: international visitors bring spending into Canada, while outbound travel supports Canadian and global travel networks and destination economies around the world. Beyond its economic contribution, travel helps sustain livelihoods, local businesses, and communities. Recent shifts in travel demand in certain destinations are a reminder of how quickly regions can feel the impact when tourism slows and tourism-supported jobs are affected.

Travel agencies and travel advisors play an essential role in that success. They help connect Canadians to the world, support international travel spending, and encourage travel within Canada, including growing interest in Indigenous tourism experiences across the country. At the same time, travellers increasingly rely on professional advice and trusted support as travel decisions become more complex in the current and evolving geopolitical environment.

Our meetings focused on practical issues that matter to members — reducing unnecessary regulatory barriers, improving border and airport efficiency, supporting businesses adapting to changing travel patterns, and ensuring federal policies help keep Canada competitive in a rapidly evolving travel environment.

Based on the feedback received so far, this first Hill Day was a resounding success. The conversations were constructive, engagement was strong, and there was clear recognition of ACTA and of the strategic role our sector plays in Canada’s economy.

I want to sincerely thank all ACTA members and industry partners who participated in Hill Day and the evening reception. Your presence and willingness to share your experience directly with federal leaders made a meaningful impact and demonstrated the professionalism and strength of our sector.

Travel businesses are present in communities across nearly every federal riding in Canada. Many are small and medium-sized enterprises, and many are women-led — a defining strength of our sector and an important part of the entrepreneurial contribution our industry makes to communities across the country. Together through ACTA, that broad national presence becomes a strong and credible voice.

This initiative also reflected ACTA’s four core pillars — advocate, educate, promote, and connect — and brought them together in a meaningful way.

For members who attended, thank you again for representing our industry so well.

For all members, I encourage you to support this advocacy work by engaging with social media posts shared by ACTA and those who participated. Please take a moment to like, comment, and share posts from fellow members, partners, and colleagues. Every interaction helps amplify our message and strengthens awareness of the contribution our sector makes to communities, businesses, and travellers across Canada.

This work also builds on ACTA’s broader advocacy efforts taking place across provinces and with industry partners, ensuring member priorities continue to be advanced at every level.

This was an important first step, and I look forward to building on this momentum together.

From left to right : Peter Keyter, MP Ernie Klassen, Parliamentary Secretary and member of the parliamentary tourism caucus, Suzanne Acton-Gervais, President ACTA, MP Tony Baldinelli, Shadow Minister for Tourism and member of the parliamentary tourism caucus, Michael Johnson

From left to right : Brian Robertson, Senator Karen Sorensen, Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Tourism Caucus, Suzanne Acton-Gervais, President ACTA, and Peter Keyter.

From left to right : Joelle Dorismond, Marco Pozzobon, Norm Payne, Yasir Naqvi, MP for Ottawa Centre, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade and to the Secretary of State (International Development) , Salma Siddiqui, Sonia McKeon, Ron Lonsdale

From left to right : Lisa Connell, Christine James, Brian Robertson, Michael Johnson, Suzanne Acton-Gervais, President ACTA, Jennifer Pilon, Director General, Tourism at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)

From left to right : Lisa Connell, Tanya Rabe, Brian Robertson, Christine James, Jennifer Little (Director General, Air Policy, Transport Canada), Suzanne Acton-Gervais, President ACTA, Serge Bijimine (Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy, Transport Canada), John Voortman (Assistant Director General, Air Policy, Transport Canada), Michael Johnson 

From left to right: Joelle Dorismond, Norm Payne, Michael Ma (MP for Markham-Unionville), Marco Pozzobon, Ron Lonsdale, Salma Siddiqui and Sonia McKeon

From left to right: Allan Brooks, Shahla Lalani, John Brassard, MP (Barrie South–Innisfil), Laurie Keith Whiting, Elena Cortesi

From left to right: Allan Brooks, Elena Cortesi, MP Ali Ehsassi, Willowdale, Ontario, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy (Canada-U.S. Trade) Shahla Lalani, Laurie Keith Whiting

From left to right - Back Row: MP Vince Gasparro, Eglinton—Lawrence, Ontario, Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretary of State (Combatting Crime) (Parliamentary Secretary). Front Row: Elena Cortesi, Allan Brooks, Shahla Lalani, Laurie Keith Whiting, Allan Brooks

From left to right: Peter Keyter, Laurie Keith Whiting, Kristina Boyce, Suzanne Acton-Gervais, Michael Johnson, Sonia McKeon, Shahla Lalani

2026-03-26 10:47:48

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