“Incredibly Meaningful:” Reaction to ACTA’s Day on Parliament Hill

Tuesday’s Inaugural Day on Parliament Hill by ACTA was an important step in not only national advisory advocacy but for the accessible travel community, says ACTA’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) member Tanya Rabe.

“I had the privilege of being part of ACTA’s inaugural Day on Parliament Hill,” Rabe, Accessibility Specialist, Right Foot Adventures told Travel Market Report Canada. “As a person with a disability and an accessible travel advisor, being part of these advocacy conversations was incredibly meaningful. These discussions are not just important—they are necessary to ensure the voices of Canadian travellers with accessibility requirements are heard.”

ACTA’s leadership meet with federal officials on Parliament Hill to advocate for policies that support travel agencies and advisors amid evolving demand, border pressures, and global market shifts, with a focus on strengthening a unified Canadian travel economy.

Key priorities include harmonizing licensing and consumer protection rules nationwide, providing temporary support and training for advisors affected by U.S. market changes, introducing digital access grants to help small and Indigenous suppliers connect to global distribution systems, developing a made-in-Canada Trusted Traveller program to streamline domestic travel, and avoiding additional cost pressures that could increase airfares and disrupt the travel distribution sector.

“Canada’s travel agencies contribute directly to business connectivity, trade and economic growth,” said Brian Robertson, President of Direct Travel. “Federal policy should recognize the strategic contribution our sector makes to competitiveness and market access.”

Just last month, ACTA officially launched its Accessible Travel Advisor Directory, a first-of-its-kind Canadian resource designed to connect travellers with travel advisors who specialize in accessible travel for individuals with both visible and non-visible disabilities.

The initiative represents a key pillar of ACTA’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) commitments, reinforcing the association’s ongoing efforts to advance accessibility and inclusivity across Canada’s travel industry.

“Parliamentary Hill Day is an important opportunity to demonstrate how our sector contributes to growth across the travel economy and what businesses need to succeed,” said Michael Johnson, President of Ensemble.

“With federal support, we can help ensure travel sector workers, local economies, and the families and businesses we serve continue to thrive.”

“There is still work to be done, but this is how change begins—by having the conversations and keeping them going so we can improve across the board,” says Rabe.

“It was a full, busy, and genuinely fun day—and I’m already looking forward to next year.”