Tourism HR Canada’s annual Labour Market Forum is a working event that gathers leaders and changemakers from tourism and beyond to converse and collaborate on solutions to some of the sector’s most pressing workforce challenges.
This year’s Forum welcomed both The Honourable Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Minister of Tourism, and The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages.
Minister Martinez Ferrada addressed and engaged in a question-and-answer session with Labour Market Forum delegates.
Having just returned from a G20 meeting in Brazil, Minister Martinez Ferrada noted a key development: the unanimous declaration adopted by all G20 countries that human capital development is essential to the sector. We collectively need to emphasize the importance of inclusive training opportunities, especially with regards to youth, women, and individuals from vulnerable communities. Continued investment in human capital will contribute to sustainable tourism growth, foster innovation, and support the reactivation of high-quality tourism services.
She applauded this recognition that there is no growth if we don’t have the people or investments in skills training to support it, highlighting that tourism is all about human connections and noting that Canada remains a top global destination because of our talented, welcoming workforce who create incredible experiences for visitors.
She emphasized that to maintain this reputation, we need to ensure we continue to support career awareness, skills development, and other attraction and retention efforts, and commended the important work being undertaken by Tourism HR Canada to address these needs.
After noting investments on the Youth Employment Skills Program, the Student Work Placement Program, and to Tourism HR Canada’s research and workforce development activities, she looked more broadly at issues such as affordable housing and what action the federal government has undertaken to address concerns.
Minister Boissonnault wrapped up this year’s event, emphasizing the action and sustainable change underway to position the tourism sector in a way never before seen in Canada.
Highlighting the contributions of the over two million individuals who provide the experiences and the infrastructure to welcome visitors, he addressed the need to broadly showcase the wide range of career possibilities in tourism and applauded the work being done by organizations across the country to encourage individuals to discover tourism.
He also spoke to investments in issues such as housing and social programs, but pointed out that the way we train workers is in need of a rethink, one which is currently underway through the Building a Modern 21st Century Workforce consultation.
Tourism HR Canada extends its sincere thanks to Ministers Martinez Ferrada and Boissonnault and their teams for their time and their ongoing support and communication.
Watch for more on these topics in November, when the Minister Martinez Ferrada takes part in a G7 meeting focused entirely on tourism.