The Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program (THRP) provides support through wage and rent subsidies to businesses who received revenues from tourism, hospitality and recreation activities prior to the pandemic.

In November 2021, the fitness industry was included in Bill C-2, an Act to provide support to hard-hit industries in response to COVID-19. However, it has been noted that in the recent federal budget, there is no indication that this Program (THRP) will be extended past May. If this program is not extended, it will be detrimental to the fitness industry and cause many fitness facilities across the country to permanently close. This is unfortunate for several reasons, some of which include:

• The dedication that the fitness industry has for the wellness of Canadians, which should be even more important post-pandemic.
• The fact that our industry hires many young adults and supports employment and economy building.

The pandemic has not only caused fitness businesses to suffer but it has negatively impacted the health of Canadians by limiting access to physical activity, as well as caused a major surge of unemployment within the industry. This is the time for fitness businesses to rebound and rebuild; however, more support from the government is needed.

Previously, the Fitness Industry Council of Canada (FIC) requested that the 40% threshold presented by the THRP be lowered to 10% to allow for more businesses to benefit from the program. Nevertheless, for the sustainability of the industry, FIC has requested that the THRP be extended and available to fitness businesses beyond May 2022. If this program is not extended, many fitness businesses across the country will not survive.

FIC’s goal is to be a part of Canada’s economic and healthcare recovery. The purpose with this petition is to have the THRP program extended past May 2022.