The Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) just updated the status report on Phase 2 of the Community Tourism Program. Please click here to see full report.
Vancouver International Airport remains the most efficient and cost-competitive airport in Canada and the ninth best in North America, despite a rising Canadian dollar that gives a competitive advantage to U.S. airports.
Please click here to read more.
YOUR CHANCE TO PARTICPATE IN JOB FAIRS IN S. KOREA AND EUROPE
Are you experiencing difficulties recruiting locally/in Canada?
Are you seeking employees eligible for the Working Holiday Program?
Do you currently have, or are in the process of obtaining, an approved LMO or E-LMO?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, here is an opportunity to participate in/recurit at job fairs in South Korea and Europe coming up this year.
Please click here to find out more.
For Immediate Release
July 23, 2008
VANCOUVER – At a press conference in Vancouver on July 22, 2008 representatives from the business community and government in the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) called on the Governments of Canada and the United States to take immediate action to improve the management of the Canada-US border.
The PNWER members recommended more than a dozen areas in which both federal governments need to work in order to address mounting issues of border lineups and delays, as well as increasing confusion around documentation requirements and general border policies and procedures.
COTA was one of ten signatories of the “PNWER Border Charter,” which will see the creation of a “Border Solutions Coordination Council” – a group tasked with gauging progress made on the various recommendations. The Council will also release an annual Border Report Card to assess this progress.
The PNWER recommendations mirror those made by the Canadian and US Chambers of Commerce in their joint February 2008 report, entitled “Finding the Balance: Reducing Border Costs While Strengthening Security.”
The new PNWER Border Charter places particular emphasis on the need for the two federal governments to ensure a convenient and welcoming border crossing experience for travellers prior to, and during the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
To review the Border Charter, click here.
"The border is often the first experience travellers have of a country, and the more we can do to make this experience positive for them, the more likely we are as a region to encourage travel and see long-term benefits from major events like the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games," said Stephen Regan, President and CEO of COTA.
Some of the specific recommendations adopted by PNWER include:
- Ensure a secure, convenient and welcoming border crossing experience for 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, including an integrated and tested plan for handling peak flow traffic at border crossings and a pre-clearance program, designated special lanes and information for Olympics border crossers;
- Reduce congestion and streamline flows of legitimate trade and travel, including increased staffing levels and traffic capacity, more use of technology for pre-clearance and processing prior to physical arrival at the border and improved signage directing traffic towards less congested border crossings and lanes, and improved procedures for frequent business travellers;
- Increase outreach and expansion of frequent border crossing programs to improve security by focusing resources on higher-risk traffic through increased use of Nexus cards, designated flexible lanes, and improved public communication on document requirements in partnership with the tourism industry, border communities and regional organizations.
"The 2009 World Police and Fire Games and the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games are just two of the region's next major tourism opportunities. But congestion and delay at the border could sour their benefits if we don't act now to streamline and improve day-to-day travel and trade in advance of these events," said John van Dongen, BC’s Solicitor General.
The 18th PNWER Annual Summit is in Vancouver, B.C., and continues through July 24, 2008.
The Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER), with its network of private and government officials, is a best practice in organized regional cross-border cooperation. Members come from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
For more information about the Border Charter or COTA’s other activities relating to border issues, contact Peter Larose, COTA’s Director of Policy and Planning at 604.685.5996.
Victoria - To help celebrate Parks Day this weekend, Environment Minister Barry Penner announced the B.C. government is investing close to $11 million this year on upgrades to BC Parks infrastructure to improve the camping and day-use experience for park visitors. Read more...
An industry-government framework for action (click here to read) was presented by COTA Board Member David Butler at the Green Tourism Forum (GTF II) held April 22nd and again to COTA Council members during Tourism Day at the Legislature on May 5th, 2008.
A Letter of Understanding (click here to read) was signed between the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts, COTA and Tourism British Columbia to establish and guide a stand-alone agency that will have a specific mandate to achieve results that enhance B.C.’s reputation as a world leader in sustainable tourism practices.
It is expected that the new agency will be established by early Fall 2008.
For more information, contact Steve Regan at 604-685-5910.
The Resources North Association received on Wednesday, July 9 a total of $1.475 million in funding from Natural Resources Canada through the
Forest Communities Program. The funding will be matched from other sources such as industry and the Province in the delivery of programs that help expand and diversify forest-based communities in northern B.C.
COTA is a founding member of the Resources North Association, and is presently represented on its Board of Directors.
The association will develop programs and projects that will ensure land and resources in northern communities are managed collaboratively by all resource industries, in order to maximize benefits to local communities and minimize impacts on the environment.
For more information on Resources North,
click here.
From October 27-29, 2008, over 500 industry leaders and individuals interested in sustainable tourism from across Canada, the United States and beyond will meet in Vancouver to attend The International Ecotourism Society (TIES)’s third annual conference, the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference 2008 (ESTC 2008).
Hosted by the British Columbia Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, the BC Sustainable Tourism Collective and the Council of Tourism Associations of British Columbia, the conference will provide opportunities for business leaders, travel and tourism professionals and community members to gain knowledge of the latest trends in ecotourism and sustainable tourism, learn practical skills, and participate in invaluable networking and knowledge sharing opportunities.
The ESTC 2008 will be held at the legendary Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, and will also include pre and post-conference trips to Whistler and Victoria. Registration is now open. To learn more about this conference, please visit www.ecotourismconference.org.
The Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) just released a status report on Phase 2 of its Community Tourism Program. Please click here to see full report.
