ORFORD, Que. — The Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ) and Réseau des SADC et CAE have received a total of $40 million in financial assistance from the Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED). This support will help small tourism businesses adapt or develop their products and services by seizing opportunities arising out of the recovery.
The FCCQ is receiving a non-repayable contribution of $20 million to grant funding to chambers of commerce in urban areas based on the needs of tourism businesses within their territories. The FCCQ includes 123 chambers of commerce and 1,100 corporate members, and represents more than 45,000 businesses operating across all sectors of Quebec’s economy.
The Réseau is also receiving a non-repayable contribution of $20 million, re-distributed to the SADCs (Sociétés d’aide au développement des collectivités) and CAEs (Centres d’aide aux entreprises) to help rural tourism businesses in their communities. Each year, the SADCs and CAEs help and fund more than 10,000 businesses and more than 1,500 local projects.
“Canadian tourism continues to be one of the sectors most affected by the COVID–19 pandemic. We will work with businesses and organizations in these difficult times so they can receive the assistance they need to offer innovative products and services, gain momentum, and prosper, while making safety an absolute priority,” says the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance. “The Tourism Relief Fund enables businesses to adapt to welcome back guests in complete safety. It also feeds into a broader strategy to help the sector recover from the pandemic and build an economy that will benefit all. The Canadian economy will not fully recover until our tourism sector recovers.”
