Privilege  We heard from the Tourism Industry Association of Canada at committee, and other tourism industry organizations such as the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, that said they needed those programs to go to the spring. While I am mentioning it, the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada has seen a cut of 83% to its core budget.

Indigenous Affairs  Why are indigenous business not a real priority for the Liberals, and when will specific investments for pandemic recovery be made for indigenous tourism operators?

The Budget  It was given $2.4 million in the budget, 3% of what it requested. It was cited in a release today that the Indigenous Tourism Association was confused, troubled and disappointed with the federal budget announcement. In fact, it said, “this is yet another blow to preserving Indigenous languages, cultures and way of life.”

Finance committee  For my last question, then, you talked about Destination Canada. I think about how important it is, and then also ITAC, the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, where they just learned they're getting an 83% cut on their core funding. They've been told to wait and to look at the budget. I got a note from Keith Henry.

Committees of the House  We need the Liberals to ensure that they are providing some relief to Nav Canada and the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority to get those services going and make sure they are funding them. Again, I talked about the Indigenous Tourism Association. I had a frantic call from the CEO who was told that his budget had been trimmed from $3 million a year. The ITA has been absolutely essential to growing the indigenous tourism sector, which is the fastest growing sector in Canada.

Business of Supply  We hear now that it is not going to table a budget until possibly April or later. I am thinking about the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, which was just informed that it is going to get 83% less than it was expecting to operate on. This is an organization that delivered supports to over 800 businesses.

Business of Supply  We understand that small businesses are under distress, that they need access to financing. We fought really hard to support the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada and get important economic supports and loans early on in the pandemic. We would like to see the government roll out a recovery plan to support those most vulnerable businesses, whether it be in the tourism sector or the whole economy.

Income Tax Act  I want to give a huge shout-out to Charlotte Bell, of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, and Keith Henry, from the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, for their advocacy in calling on the government to extend that wage subsidy. However, these businesses need certainty, not just on the wage subsidy, but also around financing programs such as the BCAP program, which only 14% of tourism businesses have actually been successful in receiving financing from and 43% have been flat out denied.

Income Tax Act  We fought tooth and nail so they could get included in the wage subsidy program. The Indigenous Tourism Association represents many indigenous-led tourism operators across the country, and they are the most vulnerable tourism businesses. It took months to get the support needed to save many businesses.

Business of Supply  Indigenous-led businesses and organizations, many of which were disqualified until we went to bat for them on the wage subsidy, or the indigenous tourism organizations have not had full participation to have an indigenous lens on the important programs that the government is rolling out. We need the government to roll out the programs.

Government Business No. 10  Also, does she agree that there is systemic racism that exists in this country that we can see right now at a time when organizations need support to deliver much-needed support to the people in our country, like indigenous tourism business operators who need help right now?