‘The industry has been crushed:’ Tourism advocates launch campaign to reopen Canada-U.S. border
The doors are shut at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, but the exhibits, water quality and marine life still need tending.
“It costs us a lot of money to maintain the building with zero revenue coming in,” said Peter Doyle, Ripley’s general manager.
The aquarium still employs one-fifth of its staff — about 50 people — despite being closed to the public. But along with many other tourist attractions, Ripley’s has been shutdown for 288 days since the pandemic began.
“The catastrophic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have hit every tourism business in every corner of our province,” said Chris Bloore, president and CEO of the Tourism Industry of Ontario.
“We’ve lost over 140,000 jobs. Revenues are down close to 7 per cent. Some businesses have lost up to 90 per cent,” he said.
Advocates say many of the losses to Ontario’s $36 billion tourism industry are due to the closure of the Canada-U.S. border, which has now been shutdown for 15 months.
“The industry has been crushed and we cannot afford to lose another summer tourist season,” said Beth Potter, president and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada.
Tourism advocates speak about how hard the industry has been hit amidst the pandemic in Toronto on June 8, 2021.
On Monday, the prime minister hinted that the borders might soon be reopening to vaccinated travellers.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he would work with the premiers “to make sure that opening doesn’t put anyone at risk, but also gives Canadians and Canadian tourism operators the best possible summer after a long, hard year.”
But the prime minister did not say when this could happen, which led the tourism industry to launch a campaign — calling on the federal, provincial and territorial governments to work together on a plan to reopen the border — and commit to a date.
“He keeps using the word soon. We’d like to know what the definition of soon is,” said Potter.
Doyle says he’s hopeful that the Aquarium will be able to resume operations in the not-too-distant future.
“We can reopen anyway the government dictates — we just want that ability to reopen when it is safe to do so,” he said.
But Doyle — along with other attraction operators — say they need some notice, to prepare for what’s to come.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels will take the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
BREAKING Toronto Maple Leafs fire head coach Sheldon Keefe
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Bank of Canada says financial system is stable, but risks remain
The Bank of Canada says the Canadian financial system is stable, but risks remain due to debt servicing costs among households and businesses and stretched valuations of financial assets.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Torchbearers in Marseille kick off the Olympic flame's journey across France
Torchbearers carried the Olympic flame through the streets of France's southern port city of Marseille on Thursday, a day after it arrived on a majestic three-mast ship for a welcoming ceremony.
Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Court to hear about search for remains as Winnipeg murder trial enters second day
A courtroom in Winnipeg is expected to hear testimony today about the search for the remains of the four victims of Jeremy Skibicki.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.