Question Period Note: Support in tourism from Canada Economic Development for the regions of Quebec

Support in tourism from Canada Economic Development for the regions of Quebec

• Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions sees the tourism sector as a lever for diversification and economic vitality.
• Supporting the tourism sector helps position Quebec as a destination of choice with tourists from outside Quebec and around the world, helping to generate economic spinoffs across the province.
• Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions is implementing the new Tourism Growth Program (TGP) with a 21 million dollars in budget.
• Since November 5, 2015, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions has supported more than 1000 tourism projects, with authorized assistance of over 540 million dollars.

CED's support for the tourism sector complements that of other federal players, including Destination Canada and Canadian Heritage, and contributes to the Federal Strategy for Tourism Growth announced in July 2023. CED also complements the Québec government's interventions in this sector.

CED's support for the tourism sector also fosters inclusive growth in the regions, including rural and small communities.

• The importance of the tourism sector was recognized in Budget 2023, identifying it as a driver of good jobs and vibrant communities across Canada.
• Moreover, the 2023 Budget has planned $108 million in support of the tourism sector which will be implemented across Canada by regional development agencies from 2023-2024, in support of the Federal Strategy for Tourism Growth.
o On February 29, 2024, CED launched the new Tourism Growth Program (TGP), with a budget of $21.1 million to be invested until March 31, 2026. The objective of this national program is to support local businesses and organizations in the tourism sector to enhance their offering of tourism products and experiences in order to attract more visitors to the regions.
o To support the implementation of the TGP, CED is collaborating with two organizations already well established within the tourism industry to ensure that applicants benefit from tailored support for the development of their project and when submitting their application.
* The Société des attractions touristiques du Québec (SATQ) delivers the TGP for projects requiring a contribution of $60,000 or less, and;
* Indigenous Tourism Quebec (ITQ) delivers the TGP for all Aboriginal tourism initiatives. 15% of the total TGP envelope is dedicated to this purpose.
• As of September 6, 2024, nearly 1,000 projects have been approved for authorized aid of over $540 million, generating investments of more than $2.9 billion.
• DEC supports the tourism sector for the development of the tourism offer and for marketing activities, with a long-term economic development perspective.
o Assistance is generally granted directly to NPOs and SMEs in the sector, mainly festivals and sporting events, and tourist attractions and accommodations.
o Indirect assistance is also granted to organizations that provide services to tourism businesses and NPOs, mainly regional and sectoral tourism associations (ATR-ATS).
* The agreements between CED and the ATR-ATS have been renewed and enhanced in 2023 for a 4-year period, for a total amount of $11.9 million per year.
o Temporary initiatives (ending March 31, 2024) linked to the post-pandemic recovery have made it possible to target certain priorities and support the sector in a way that complements regular CED programs.
In this way, CED has:
* Supported tourism entities, including tourist attractions and accommodations, for a total of $111.2 million in approved assistance under the Tourism Relief Fund (TRF).
* Supported eight major festivals and events, for a total of $67.8 million in approved assistance, under the Major Festivals and Events Support Initiative (MFESI).

Examples of projects supported by CED:
As part of the Quebec Economic Development Program (QEDP):
* CED supported Panora Loges Fluviales, a company specializing in the design, production and installation of high-quality, original ready-to-camp products. The assistance authorized in November 2023, a repayable contribution of $190,000, helped fill the gap in the four-season, high-end tourism offering in the Sainte-Anne-des-Monts region by adding three new lodging units. (Announced by the Minister during a visit to GIM on August 8, 2024).
* CED has authorized a non-repayable contribution of $520,000 to Tourisme Laval to enable this ATR to support Laval businesses over a 4-year period in developing and structuring the region's tourism offering and marketing it outside Quebec (Announced by the Minister on August 29, 2024).
* As part of the Tourism Growth Program (TGP), CED is supporting Héritage Saint-Bernard inc. the organization in charge of the wildlife and plant habitats of Île Saint-Bernard, Ruisseau Saint-Jean, Parc de la Commune and the Centre écologique Fernand-Seguin (CEFS) located in Châteauguay, on the shores of the St. Lawrence River. The $100,000 in non-repayable funding authorized in May 2024 will be used to enhance tourism products and experiences through accessibility work and the redevelopment of outdoor infrastructures (Announced August 2, 2024).

Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions’ (CED) funding of the tourism sector acts as a strategic lever for the long-term economic development of our regions. Tourism projects generate significant economic spinoffs for our regions, notably by attracting tourists from outside Quebec and abroad. CED is implementing a new one-time national tourism program.