Nov 7, 2025
TIABC Respond to Federal Budget 2025
Following this week’s federal budget presentation, the Tourism Industry Association of British Columbia (TIABC) recognizes the importance of the Federal government’s commitment to strengthening Canada’s infrastructure, productivity, and global competitiveness. These are essential foundations for communities and industries across our province.
We also understand the fiscal realities that require restraint across many sectors. At the same time, it is critical to distinguish between spending and investing, particularly in sectors like tourism that deliver sustained returns in employment, exports, and community well-being.
The budget’s focus on infrastructure, transportation, and workforce mobility will help address long-standing challenges faced by tourism operators across British Columbia. Investments in housing, skilled trades, and regional transportation are welcome steps toward improving the conditions under which our visitor economy can thrive.
However, TIABC joins our national tourism counterpart and other sector partners in expressing concern that tourism, one of Canada’s top-performing export sectors, was largely overlooked as a driver of economic growth and diversification. The reductions to Destination Canada’s core funding, uncertainty of the International Convention Attraction Fund, the exclusion of tourism infrastructure and accommodation investment from the new capital cost allowance, represent missed opportunities to accelerate growth in one of Canada’s most trade-ready, job-intensive sectors.
Tourism builds British Columbia. It connects over 400 communities, sustains over 170,000 jobs, and generates more than $22 billion in annual revenue, largely through export earnings that remain in Canada. In mountain resorts, coastal towns, Indigenous territories, and urban gateways alike, tourism drives local prosperity and national pride.
When government speaks of building a more productive and connected Canada, tourism is already part of that foundation. Every air route that brings visitors to British Columbia also carries goods and investment. Every wilderness experience, cultural festival, and conference creates jobs that cannot be outsourced. Every new connection strengthens trade, understanding, and national identity.
To sustain this momentum, we urge government to:
- Reaffirm tourism’s inclusion in Canada’s productivity and capital-investment agenda;
- Restore and enhance Destination Canada’s marketing and convention-attraction funding; and
- Ensure tourism infrastructure, from airports and trail networks to workforce housing, is eligible under new federal capital programs.
Tourism is not a discretionary expense, it is a strategic investment in Canada’s prosperity, resilience, and global reputation. British Columbia’s operators stand ready to help deliver on that vision, in partnership with your government and our national counterparts.