OTTAWA (April 27, 2020)

The Honourable Patty Hajdu
Minister of Health
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6 

Dear Minister, 

Each one of us is doing what we can to adapt to the realities of this pandemic, our members are no different. From closures to using government programs and the implementation of necessary health protocols all are an effort to make the best of what really are unchartered waters. 

We accept that solutions, measures, and policy decisions made are done so with ever-changing daily data. It has been acknowledged by many the travel and tourism sector has been the hardest hit and will likely take the longest period to recover. Thus, every measure, no matter how small it might be, can make a difference. 

Given expected domestic vaccine supply and subsequent vaccination roll-out efforts and that of our international partners, i.e., the United States of America, it is not out of the realm of thinking to look forward to a day in 2021 when Canada can welcome international tourism passengers. International visitors are significant economic drivers during a normal summer and fall tourist season. They can be in 2021 as well. 

As countries around the world succeed in their respective vaccination programs, our international welcoming strategy should adjust. As more people around the world are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, we hope Canadian policy will adjust finding a way to welcome persons in 2021 who have been fully vaccinated. 

The importance of international visitors cannot be overstated, 30% of the visitors to Zoo Sauvage de St. Félicien are international tourists, a remote zoo in northern Quebec. 

Although our domestic situation changes daily, it is prudent to look ahead to how Canada might welcome fully vaccinated international tourists. 

We welcome the opportunity to meet and discuss this concept in greater detail. 

Sincerely, 

Jim Facette
Executive Director
jfacette@caza.ca 

cc: Cabinet Committee on the federal response to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) 

The Hon. Dominic LeBlanc,
Chair The Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos,
Vice-Chair The Hon. Maryam Monsef,
Vice-Chair The Hon. Omar Alghabra
The Hon. Anita Anand
The Hon. William Sterling Blair
The Hon. Marc Garneau
The Hon. Karina Gould
The Hon. Patricia Hajdu
The Hon. Mélanie Joly
The Hon. David Lametti
The Hon. Marc Miller
The Hon. Mary Ng
The Hon. Carla Qualtrough
The Hon. Harjit Singh Sajjan
The Hon. Deborah Schulte
The Hon. Kirsty Duncan