N.B. summer travel incentive program deadline approaches
Eligibility for New Brunswick's summer travel incentive program will end Oct. 31, although the provincial government says it has already issued over $1 million in rebates this year.
The Department of Tourism, Parks and Heritage says 21,855 rebate applications have been received as of last week. While all travel must be carried out before the end of October, people have until Nov. 30 to file a rebate application with the province.
The provincial government says travel expenses within New Brunswick could qualify for a 20 per cent rebate of up to $1,000 for an overnight stay between May 27 and Oct. 31. The province is considering rebates in the categories of accommodations, transportation, activities, and food.
The travel incentive program began last year as a pandemic lifeline to a beleaguered tourism industry.
Initially, only New Brunswick residents were eligible for the program, but it expanded this year to include residents of all four Atlantic provinces. The program's budget also increased year-to-year, from $3 million to 4.5 million.
A total of 25,258 rebate applications were received during last summer's program, with 1,217 for the fall and winter. With additional border restrictions being lifted, the program's future is uncertain.
"I actually think we should continue providing this incentive especially for the fall and winter months," says Carol Alderdice, president of the New Brunswick Tourism Industry Association. "It does a couple things. It gets people within New Brunswick visiting the province. That was a big plus last year. But it also provides them a bit of an incentive to stay in the province or bring in people from the Atlantic provinces."
Minister of Tourism, Heritage and Parks Tammy Scott-Wallace says the program's success will be considered going forward.
"I could see where a program like this could continue to be used in the future," she says. "Maybe it would be a better program than this. I can't commit for sure that this is the answer outside of the pandemic.
Scott-Wallace says reported delays in refunds being issued from last year's program have been addressed, adding that approved rebates should be received by residents in a matter of weeks.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.