Wage subsidy extension into 2021 critical for tourism sector to survive: industry

A coalition of organizations representing the tourism sector says the federal government must keep its wage-subsidy program in place well into next year for businesses with dire prospects for recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

A coalition of organizations representing the tourism sector says the phasing out of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy program could result in the loss of millions of jobs.

The Coalition of Hardest Hit businesses says without the federal program covering as much as 75 per cent of wages, many tourism-related businesses simply won't survive.

The president of the Hotel Association of Canada points out that the tourism sector can't pivot to online shopping or curbside pickup to try to make ends meet.