Businesses accessing the government’s pandemic wage and rent subsidy will see their support decline by half over the weekend, prompting calls within the tourism sector for Ottawa to step in.
The Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program (THRP) and the Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program’s (HHBRP) subsidy rate will decrease from 75 per cent to 37.5 per cent and 50 per cent to 25 per cent respectively, starting March 13.
The Coalition of the Hardest Hit Businesses (CHHB), which launched in 2020 and represents hundreds of businesses in tourism, travel, events, and arts and culture, is calling on the government to maintain and extend the current level of support offered through the THRP.
The program targets hotels, restaurants, bars, festivals, travel agencies, tour operators, and others who have seen a 12-month average revenue decline of 40 per cent and a current-month revenue loss of the same amount.
Organizations that don’t qualify for the THRP can apply to the HHBRP by showing a 12-month average revenue drop of 50 per cent and a current-month revenue loss of the same amount.
The CHHB is also asking for an end to border barriers and a national labour strategy to get the sector back on its feet.
“The COVID-19 crisis has created an unpredictable environment for travelers and hospitality businesses,” said Beth Potter, president and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada and co-chair of the coalition, in a statement.
“International arrivals are still down 87 per cent.”
“Omicron has set our businesses back with significant cancellations over the winter and spring, and we are quickly losing our booking window for the summer,” said Susie Grynol, president and CEO of the Hotel Association of Canada and co-chair of the CHHB.
“The government has helped the sector survive this far; it just needs a little more help.”
The revised wage and rent subsidy is still available for eligible businesses until May 7.
LOCKDOWN AID
Also on March 13, the Local Lockdown Program and the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit will be stripped back to their original parameters – applying only to those businesses, charities, non-profits and workers impacted by a public health lockdown.
In December, the government used regulatory powers provided in Bill C-2 to expand access to both supports amid criticism the eligibility guidelines were too severe given no regions at the time were under a lockdown.
As such, the Local Lockdown Program shifted to include employers subject to capacity-limiting restrictions of 50 per cent of more. Ottawa also lowered the current-month revenue decline threshold to 25 per cent. Applicants may receive wage and rent subsidies from 25 per cent up to a maximum of 75 per cent depending on revenue loss.
Likewise, the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit changed to include workers in regions where the government had imposed capacity-limiting restrictions of 50 per cent or more. The benefit provides $300 per week in income support to those who’ve lost 50 per cent or more of their income as a result of a restriction or a lockdown.
Businesses and workers can still access both programs under their original classification until May 7.
MONTREAL – One expert says entry-level pay under the tentative deal between Air Canada and its pilots could be a stumbling block ahead of a union vote on the agreement.
Under their current contract, pilots earn far less in their first four years at the company before enjoying a big wage increase starting in year five.
The Air Line Pilots Association had been pushing to scrap the so-called “fixed rate” provision entirely.
But according to a copy of the contract summary obtained by The Canadian Press, the proposed deal announced Sunday would merely cut the four-year period of lower pay to two years.
John Gradek, who teaches aviation management at McGill University, says as many as 2,000 of Air Canada’s roughly 5,200 active pilots may earn entry-level wages following a recent hiring surge.
After the airline averted a strike this week, Gradek says the failure to ditch the pay grade restrictions could prompt pushback from rank-and-file flight crew and jeopardize the deal, which is up for a vote next month.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 18, 2024.
ROME (AP) — Salvatore “Totò” Schillaci, the Italy striker who was top scorer at its home World Cup in 1990, has died. He was 59.
Schillaci had been hospitalized in Palermo following treatment for colon cancer.
The Palermo Civico hospital said in a statement that Schillacci died on Wednesday morning after being admitted 11 days ago.
Schillaci scored six goals for Italy during the 1990 World Cup. He came on as a substitute during Italy’s opener against Austria, scored in a 1-0 victory, and went on to earn the Golden Boot awarded to the tournament’s top scorer. He only scored one other goal for Italy in his career.
Italian soccer federation president Gabriele Gravina announced that a minute of silence would be held in memory of Schillaci before all games in the country for the rest of the week.
“The uncontrollable celebrations, in which his face was the symbol of shared joy, will remain forever part of Italian soccer (history),” Gravina said. “Totò was a great player, a symbol of tenacious desire and redemption. … His soccer was full of passion. And that fearless spirit made everyone appreciate him and will make him immortal.”
Schillaci also won the Golden Ball award at the 1990 World Cup as the tournament’s top player ahead of Lothar Matthaus and Diego Maradona.
Schillaci played for Messina, Juventus, Inter Milan and Japanese team Jubilo Iwata during his club career.
“You made an entire nation dream during the Magical Nights of Italia ’90,” Inter said on its social media channels.
West Germany won the 1990 World Cup, beating Argentina in the final, while Italy beat England for third place with a winning penalty kick from Schillaci.
Roberto Baggio, who scored Italy’s opening goal in the third-place match, wrote on Instagram, “Ciao my dear friend.”
Having been born and raised in Palermo, the Palermo soccer team announced that it would hold a public viewing of Schillaci at its Renzo Barbera stadium ahead of the funeral, the Gazzetta dello Sport reported.
French soccer player Wissam Ben Yedder will stay free ahead of his trial on charges of sexual assault while intoxicated, one of his lawyers told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Marie Roumiantseva said Ben Yedder will remain under strict judicial supervision after a woman filed a lawsuit for sexual assault earlier this month.
The 34-year-old Ben Yedder, a prolific striker in the French league, was briefly detained then released after the alleged incident in his car on the French Riviera. Ben Yedder had been stopped by police after he first refused to do so. He was then put in a jail cell.
After he was summoned to appear in court on Oct. 15 and placed under judicial supervision, the Nice prosecutor’s office appealed the decision not to remand the player in custody. The investigative chamber of the Court of Appeal of Aix-en-Provence did not grant this request and kept Ben Yedder under judicial supervision.
Ben Yedder attended a hearing Tuesday during which he offered to go to rehab. He has admitted he drove while under the influence of alcohol but has denied any sexual assault.
In a separate legal case last year, Ben Yedder was charged with “rape, attempted rape and sexual assault” over another alleged incident in the south of France.
Ben Yedder has been without a club since his contract with Monaco expired at the end of last season.
