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Biography of the hon dan tehan mp.

The Hon Dan Tehan MP is the Member for Wannon in Victoria. He is Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment and was sworn in on 22 December 2020.

Mr Tehan served as Minister for Education from 28 August 2018. Prior to this, he was the Minister for Social Services, and preceding this, the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Minister for Defence Personnel, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Cyber Security and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of Anzac.

Mr Tehan was elected to Federal Parliament in 2010 and has held positions including as the Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security; Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Youth Mental Health, and; Chair of the Coalition Friends of Tourism.

Prior to entering Parliament, Mr Tehan worked in agriculture in Australia and overseas. He worked in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade where he held various roles, including as a diplomat at the Australian Embassy in Mexico. Mr Tehan also worked at senior levels of the Howard Government, and as the Director of Trade Policy and International Affairs at the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Mr Tehan has Masters Degrees in International Relations and Foreign Affairs and Trade.

He is married and lives in Hamilton. He is a passionate supporter of the Richmond Football Club and enjoys spending time outdoors with his family.

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Visitor Economy Recovery and Reform Plan released

Wednesday 21, apr 2021.

CEO of VTIC, Felicia Mariani, has welcomed today’s launch of the Visitor Economy Recovery and Reform Plan , saying it’s vital the industry has a clear roadmap to its revival and recovery.

The Plan was launched today by the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Martin Pakula MP, at the 2021 Victorian Tourism Conference.

The conference at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, co-hosted by Visit Victoria and the Victoria Tourism Industry Council, was attended by nearly 900 delegates, marking the largest gathering of representatives from across the industry in more than 12 months.

“The events of the past year have reduced the value of Victoria’s visitor economy by 60 per cent – wiping $19.5 billion from our total visitor spend. We have not seen spend performance this low in Victoria for 15 years,” Ms Mariani said.

“This blueprint for recovery is desperately needed right now, along with a strong commitment to fund initiatives that will set a course for growth over the next three to five years, to ensure Victoria’s visitor economy returns to previous levels as quickly as possible.

“The Visitor Economy Recovery and Reform Plan achieves this, along with the Victorian Government’s commitment of $633 million over four years to support the implementation of the Plan.”

The Recovery and Reform Plan responds directly to input presented by VTIC on behalf of industry.

In August 2019, VTIC made a comprehensive submission to the Government’s Review into Regional Tourism. VTIC also developed a Visitor Economy Recovery Plan that was presented to Government in June 2020, and a revised Plan in March 2021 that reflected the significant damage caused by Lockdown 2.0, and a slower than expected return of domestic travel across the country.

Key elements of VTIC’s plans are included in the Government’s strategies, including driving demand for the destination through marketing and events, strengthening the industry’s capability, investment in tourism products and infrastructure, and improved data and insights to inform planning and experience delivery.

“Importantly, of the $633 million allocated over four years, $305 million has already been committed to a variety of infrastructure projects and tourism experience development across Melbourne and regional Victoria,” Ms Mariani said. “$58 million has also been allocated to Visit Victoria to implement aggressive campaigns to drive conversion, and $3 million to improved visitor servicing initiatives, as well as a commitment to deliver a state-wide strategy to leverage our amazing natural assets.”

“It’s great to see our collaborations have resulted in a Plan that responds directly to industry need.

“VTIC welcomes the launch of this critical strategy, and looks forward to working with Government to ensure we return Victoria’s vibrant visitor economy to its rightful place as a powerhouse to drive the state’s economic recovery.”

Click here to view the plan.

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Honourable Lana Popham

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, Government of BC

Lana Popham was elected MLA for Saanich South in 2009, and re-elected in 2013, 2017, and 2020. She is the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Sport. 

Lana served as the Official Opposition critic for agriculture and food, and small business and as the Official Opposition critic for tourism, arts and culture. 

Lana was raised on Quadra Island in a do-it-yourself community, where growing food, raising animals and harvesting from the sea was a way of life. Her interest in urban planning led her to UBC where she graduated with a degree in geography. 

In 1996, Lana made her home in Saanich South. She co-founded and operated Barking Dog Vineyard, the first certified organic vineyard on Vancouver Island and has been a strong advocate for food producers in Saanich for many years.

Lana served on Saanich Planning, Transportation and Economic Development Committee and on the Peninsula Agricultural Commission. She was also president of the Vancouver Island Grape Growers Association, chair of the Certification Committee for the Islands Organic Producers Association, and a member of the Investment Agriculture Board. 

She has championed numerous agricultural initiatives, including the Buy BC programme, improvements to the meat regulations and increased institutional procurement of local food. As the MLA for Saanich South, Lana actively supports her constituents and has organized many community meetings, gatherings, rallies and marches. She has also spearheaded successful initiatives such as safety improvements to the intersection of Pat Bay Highway and Sayward Road. Lana entered politics to improve the quality of life in Saanich, promote sustainable agriculture and strengthen the provincial response to climate change.

Visitor Economy Ministerial Advisory Committee Will Help Keep Victoria Number One

A new Visitor Economy Ministerial Advisory Committee will help steer Victoria’s bold new approach to tourism and major events.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren today announced the appointment of 11 experts charged with providing crucial advice to grow our visitor economy and retain Victoria’s status as a world leader in tourism and major events.

Destination Phillip Island Regional Tourism Board Chairman John Pandazopoulos will chair the Committee. Mr Pandazopoulos is a former Victorian Minister for Tourism, so he has the knowledge and skills to safeguard the state’s title as a world leader.

Other members of the Visitor Economy Ministerial Advisory Committee include:

• Mr Gary Brown, Delaware North Australia Managing Director
• Ms Rebecca Casson, Committee for Geelong Chief Executive
• Ms Tracey Cooper, Mornington Peninsula Regional Tourism Board Executive Chairperson
• Ms Gillian Franklin The Heat Group Pty Ltd Managing Director and Deputy Chair, Australian Grand Prix Corporation
• Mr Justin Giddings, Avalon Airport Chief Executive
• Mr Matthew Jackson, Phillip Island Nature Parks Chief Executive
• Mr Jeremy Johnson, Victoria Tourism Industry Council Chairman
• Ms Natalie Pizzini, Pizzini Wines Branding and Marketing Manager
• Ms Karen Quinlan, Bendigo Art Gallery Director
• Mr Mike Yang, Chinese Community Council of Australia Victoria Chapter President

The Andrews Labor Government is getting on with a once-in-a-generation shake up of Victoria’s approach to tourism and major events. Last year, the Government embarked on the Victorian Visitor Economy Review – the first of its kind in decades.

The Labor Government is establishing Visit Victoria, a world-leading entity responsible for growing Victoria’s visitor economy. The new body will bring key agencies including Tourism Victoria and Victorian Major Events Company under one roof.

The Labor Government’s 2015-16 Victorian Budget includes an additional $80 million towards the state’s events war chest. The Government is also rolling out an ambitious $3 million regional tourism marketing campaign.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren

“John Pandazopoulos was at the helm during a really successful era for tourism and major events in Victoria. He knows what it takes to remain number one.”

“The tourism and major events sector is a broad field, so we’ve given careful consideration to making sure all interests are represented.”

“We’re getting on with the job of delivering a bigger and better visitor economy, because it means jobs for Victorians and a stronger state.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport integrates the tourism sector with the arts, culture and sport sectors to create a more vibrant British Columbia for residents and visitors.  

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• Tourism Resources Review the latest tourism research, learn about funding and programs, connect with industry partners and much more. 
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Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport

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Bid to prosecute Victorian government over COVID-19 hotel quarantine collapses in court

Families who lost loved ones to COVID-19 in the deadly second wave say it is appalling no one will be held accountable, after prosecutors dropped dozens of charges laid against the state government over its ill-fated hotel quarantine program.

John Atzarakis is still dealing with the pain of losing his Mother Fotini in July 2020.

She was in St Basils aged care for two weeks of respite when she contracted covid and died.

Mr Atzarakis said it is hard to believe no one will be held accountable for the virus being able to escape from hotel quarantine.

"I was really shocked and disgusted," Mr Atzarakis said.

"Accountability has been parked and shelved, due to loopholes"

The health department was facing 58 charges after infection control breaches from its first hotel quarantine program led to the deadly second wave in 2020 .

WorkSafe had alleged the government failed to provide a safe working environment for its employees and put the public at risk.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Victoria's Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP) explained the case had collapsed after the evidence of 10 witnesses was ruled inadmissible by the County Court of Victoria in a pre-trial ruling.

The spokesperson said all of the witnesses were agents or employees of the health department and had given evidence to an inquiry into the hotel quarantine program .

The spokesperson said laws which restricted the use of information given in an inquiry in criminal proceedings had informed the judge's decision last month.

"The Court's ruling was that these witnesses provided statements to the Inquiry on the Department's behalf," the OPP spokesperson said.

"For that reason, the Court ruled that evidence arising from those statements to the Inquiry was not admissible against the Department in this criminal proceeding.

"The exclusion of that evidence substantially weakened the prosecution case."

The spokesperson said prosecutors ultimately decided "there were not reasonable prospects" of challenging the ruling — and no reasonable prospect of conviction without the evidence.

As a result, the prosecution was discontinued on Tuesday.

'Someone has to be held accountable somewhere'

In a statement, a WorkSafe spokesperson said the agency was "deeply disappointed by the decision to discontinue criminal proceedings against the Department of Health in relation to the Victorian hotel quarantine program".

 "As an independent regulator, WorkSafe strives to enforce the highest standards of health and safety for workers and the community it serves."

Victoria's second wave of COVID-19 infections in 2020 killed hundreds of people and was traced back to leaks from the government's hotel quarantine program.

Opposition Leader John Pesutto said the magnitude of the failings in the quarantine program should result in prosecution.

"I think this will be deeply disappointing for Victorians," he said.

"What Victorians want is somebody fairly and reasonable to be held responsible.

"Somebody has to be held accountable somewhere and it just seems with this government no one is held accountable for anything."

Asked about the outcome, Premier Jacinta Allan noted the withdrawal of charges was an independent decision by prosecutors.

Ms Allan rejected the opposition's criticism, saying the same opposition had been pushing for more relaxed COVID-19 restrictions during dangerous stages of the pandemic.

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N.B. tourism minister defends pricey trip to United Kingdom, France

Tammy scott-wallace says new brunswick can learn ‘best practices’ from windsor castle, palace of versailles.

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New Brunswick's tourism minister is defending a trip she and her top officials took to the United Kingdom and France that helped her deputy minister rack up a $77,000 travel bill last year.

Tammy Scott-Wallace said the trip last September included meetings with a number of tour operators and public relations firms in London and Paris that have contracts to market the province to potential visitors from the two countries.

"That's incredibly important. It's a good day's work and it's a good seven days' work for me, I'll tell you that," Scott-Wallace said.

Her deputy, Yennah Hurley, sat next to her as she spent more than an hour responding to questions about the trip from Liberal MLA and tourism critic Isabelle Thériault during a meeting of the legislature committee studying budget estimates. 

As first reported by CBC News, Hurley's expenses for the trip totalled $12,328, part of the $77,710 overall she claimed last year.

Scott-Wallace's trip cost $10,199.

"What did it give the taxpayers of New Brunswick, that you went there for eight days?" Thériault asked.

"It's really not clear what you did, except visit some places. Like, you have to face the music."

Two other officials from the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture also made the trip.

Scott-Wallace acknowledged that no travel conferences or tourism trade shows were part of her schedule.

But she said it was important to meet with the tour operators and public relations firms hired to represent the province in the U.K. and France to rebuild connections frayed during COVID-19 travel restrictions.

"These are key markets for our province," she said.

Departmental staff then "built an itinerary," Scott-Wallace said, that included visits to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, the British Museum, the London Eye and the Palace of Versailles — all of them expensed to taxpayers.

N.B. tourism minister defends pricey European trip

The visits by her officials to the Palace of Versailles and Windsor Palace — which she pointed out she did not visit herself — provided insights into managing "built heritage," the minister said.

New Brunswick has "similar sites, but on a smaller scale, absolutely," Scott-Wallace argued.

"There are best practices all over the country, all over the world, and when we are there having meetings with stakeholders, it's important we learn those best practices while we're there." 

She also said 45-minute tours offered at the British Museum in London could be a model for an abbreviated tour of the New Brunswick Museum in Saint John offered to cruise ship visitors.

She called the London facility "truly a new, modern-age museum, and I think the people of New Brunswick deserve to have a modern, state-of-the-art museum." 

No one from the New Brunswick Museum was part of the London visit but it was set up at the suggestion of the Saint John museum's staff, Scott-Wallace said.

Thériault told CBC News she wasn't satisfied with Scott-Wallace's responses.

"I didn't get clear answers," she said.

Scott-Wallace said New Brunswick recorded 122,600 "visit nights" from French tourists in 2023, worth $11.6 million in revenue, and 121,000 from U.K. visitors, worth $18.2 million.

Trips to the province from the U.K. were up 23 per cent last year, compared to 2022, while trips from France were up 12 per cent. 

Asked if Premier Blaine Higgs or someone else approved the trip in advance, Scott-Wallace said such trips are normal for the department.

"It is budgeted for. It is part of the work that we do," she said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Provincial Affairs reporter

Jacques Poitras has been CBC's provincial affairs reporter in New Brunswick since 2000. He grew up in Moncton and covered Parliament in Ottawa for the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal. He has reported on every New Brunswick election since 1995 and won awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association, the National Newspaper Awards and Amnesty International. He is also the author of five non-fiction books about New Brunswick politics and history.

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Manage expectations of scaled-down fireworks, tourism veteran says as Hong Kong faces mainland tourist complaints

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Hong Kong must improve communications to manage tourists’ expectations of fireworks displays, a tourism veteran has said after visitors from mainland China aired complaints about a scaled-down pyrotechnics display on Labour Day.

It came as Hong Kong saw more than 181,000 arrivals from the mainland on the first day of the May 1 “golden week”.

Timothy Chui, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, told RTHK that he was “pleasantly surprised” to know that some mainland tourists had come to Hong Kong specifically for the scaled-down fireworks display.

However, some Chinese netizens were not impressed by the festivities, complaining about the scale of the pyrotechnics, while others mockingly called the display a “smoke show” after it fogged up the skyline.

The pyrotechnics displays were announced during the 2024 Budget as part of a HK$1.09 billion plan to boost tourism and “soft sell” the city, finance minister Paul Chan said this February.

They are expected to be held monthly, with each display costing roughly HK$1 million.

‘Clear message’ needed

According to Immigration Department figures, some 181,400 mainland tourists crossed the border into Hong Kong on Wednesday, accounting for almost a fourth of the 467,608 arrivals, with most of the remainder being local residents.

Only 27,406 of the 467,608 arrivals on Wednesday were “other visitors,” according to official data, which refers to foreigners entering the city other than local or mainland visitors.

The figure for mainland tourist arrivals marks a 40 per cent increase over the 129,349 arrivals during last year’s Labour Day. The city expects more than 800,000 visitors from the mainland over golden week, which lasts from May 1 to 5.

Chui attributed those figures to the government’s promotional efforts on Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu, adding that he believed more people would have come if the weather had been better.

But he also said the government should send a “clear message” that the pyrotechnics displays are scaled down from larger, longer-lasting displays such as those held on National Day or Lunar New Year so that tourists would know what to expect.

Some Chinese netizens complained about the scale of the fireworks, saying they had been “scammed”.

“Good thing I didn’t rent out a yacht to see the pyrotechnics. Doesn’t it feel like a gimmick to cheat tourists into spending money?” one Xiaohongshu user said, complaining that the low-altitude display only lasted 10 minutes.

See more: Hong Kong says it listens to locals, as well as mainland tourists, as lawmaker says gov’t disregards residents’ demands

The fireworks were fired directly from ground level, creating a large cloud of grey smoke from the fireworks that could be seen drifting across Victoria Harbour.

🇭🇰🎆 The May Day fireworks, when viewed from Hong Kong Island, weren't that bad. Unfortunately for HKTB, they told everyone to view them from TST, which is where the smoke went (watch the end of the video to see the plume heading to the TST waterfront) (📽️: i-Cable FB) pic.twitter.com/tWARhgcShH — Aaron Busch (@tripperhead) May 2, 2024

Chui said the smoky skyline was a result of the rain. “I think visitors who came to Hong Kong were generally satisfied. On social media, it’s normal for people to say a few things,” he added.

Lawmaker Peter Shiu, representing the retail industry, said the government could devote more resources for publicity.

Speaking on the same radio programme, he said the fireworks were a “shining light” for Hong Kong that would help drive tourism.

Since Hong Kong reopened its borders last March following the Covid-19 pandemic, the  number of mainland tourists has recovered more rapidly  than international visitors, with many looking to  social media for suggestions  on where to visit.

Tourism Board data shows that the number of mainland tourists in the last quarter of 2023 had recovered to around 80 per cent of the average seen in the five-year period between 2015 and 2019.

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New position expedites progress on Indigenous child welfare

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Michael McEvoy to serve as interim information and privacy commissioner

B.c. takes action to improve literacy for students.

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Stronger local-disaster response will keep people safer.

More than $26 million invested in disaster mitigation infrastructure improvements across British Columbia

Bc hydro issues call for new clean electricity to power b.c.’s future.

New legislation ensures B.C. benefits from clean, affordable electricity

Working together to preserve the natural beauty of pipi7íyekw/joffre lakes park.

More climate-action funding coming to communities throughout B.C.

Budget 2024: taking action for people, families in b.c..

Climate action tax credit helps people with everyday costs

B.c. plants its 10-billionth tree.

B.C. continues investments to support forest sector

Urgent and primary care centre opens in Chilliwack

Indigenous people in sooke get access to 170 below-market homes, historic b.c. legislation introduced recognizing haida aboriginal title.

Throne speech lays out vision of a stronger B.C. that works better for people

Province honours people providing extraordinary community service

New agritech plant anchors b.c.’s industrial blueprint.

Funding will strengthen rural Kootenay economies

2024 minimum wage increases confirmed, minister’s and parliamentary secretary’s statement on construction and skilled trades month, expanded mental-health, addictions support coming for south asian community, expanding multi-language support, services for newcomers, construction underway on cowichan sportsplex field house, new legislation recognizes work of first nations post-secondary institutes.

TradeUpBC builds, enhances tradespeoples’ skills

Province reaches major milestone in surrey police transition plan, budget 2024 supports improvements to treatment, recovery services.

Changes aim to help people out of poverty

Province provides updates for fifa world cup 26.

Province moves ahead on a safer amateur sport system

Province, yvr work together to support good jobs, fight pollution.

Airport improvements support services, growth for communities

Province supports new weir to keep cowichan river flowing.

Province strengthens flood defences, protecting people, communities

Premier David Eby

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More affordable rental homes are on the way for people in B.C. as the Province launches a three-year pilot of the new Secondary Suite Incentive Program.  

“There is an urgent need for more homes British Columbians can actually afford, and many homeowners want to be part of the solution to the housing crisis,” said Premier David Eby. “This new incentive program makes it possible for homeowners to add a rental suite to their home, creating thousands of affordable rentals. This is a win for homeowners, a win for renters and a win for communities throughout our province.”

Starting Thursday, May 2, 2024, homeowners in most B.C. municipalities and regional districts can apply to the program through BC Housing’s secondary suite website.

The program will offer forgivable loans of as much as 50% of the total cost of renovations, up to a maximum of $40,000, for successful applicants to add a secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit (garden suite, laneway house, carriage home, etc.) on the property of their primary residence.

The loan can be forgiven if the new unit is rented at below market rates for at least five years.

“We’re making it easier and more affordable for homeowners to become part of the solution to the housing shortage,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing. “This program will add thousands of long-term, below-market rental homes to urban and rural communities across B.C. and is one of many collaborative approaches we’re taking through our Homes for People action plan.”

Approximately 1,000 homeowners each year will receive forgivable loans, which will add 3,000 new rental units at below-market rates. Those rates for bachelor, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom-plus units have been set for 2024-25.

To help homeowners navigate the process for a secondary suite, in September 2023,the Province released Home Suite Home, a comprehensive guide to build and manage a rental suite in B.C.  

To be eligible, homeowners must also:

• obtain a building and occupancy permit from their local government;
• have a combined gross annual income of homeowners on title of less than $209,420; and
• have a BC Assessment value on their property below the homeowner grant threshold ($2.15 million in 2024).

Homeowners who want to know if they’re eligible for the program can check BC Housing’s website. Eligible applications to the program will be approved on a first-come, first-served basis by BC Housing.

In fall 2023, the B.C. government passed legislation centred on delivering thousands more homes for people where they’re needed most. These actions included establishing new small-scale, multi-unit zoning requirements that permit secondary suites or accessory dwelling units, such  as a garden suite or laneway home, in every community in B.C.

The program is part of the Homes for People action plan and a $19-billion housing investment by the B.C. government. Since 2017, the Province has nearly 78,000 homes delivered or underway.

Grace Lore, MLA for Victoria-Beacon Hill –

“Affordable, attainable and available rentals in our communities, including here in Victoria, are essential. Creative solutions like the Secondary Suite Incentive Program will create and support investments in the homes that people need.”

David Hutniak, CEO, LandlordBC –

“Secondary suites are an important source of long-term rental housing across British Columbia. This initiative by the Province will encourage homeowners with under-utilized space to create additional units of badly needed rental housing.”

Neil Moody, CEO, Canadian Home Builders’ Association of BC –

“Across the province, many of our members are working with homeowners who see the value in adding a secondary suite to their home. The Secondary Suite Incentive Program will help to alleviate some of the financial burden on homeowners when they take on a project of this scope. It will help ensure the construction is completed safely and with the proper permitting and approvals.”

Learn More :

To see rates for bachelor, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom-plus units for 2024-25, visit: https://www.bchousing.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/BC-RAHA-Rent-Affordability-Limit.pdf

For information about the Secondary Suite Incentive Program, to sign up for updates and check eligibility, visit: https://bchousing.org/secondary-suite

To see a quick fact sheet for the Secondary Suite Incentive Program, visit: https://www.bchousing.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/BCH-Secondary-Suite-factsheet-English-April-2024.pdf

To read the Home Suite Home guide, visit: https://gov.bc.ca/HomeSuiteHome

To read the Homes for People action plan, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023HOUS0019-000436

A backgrounder follows.

Backgrounders

Details about the secondary suite incentive program in b.c..

• ​Alberni-Clayoquot
• Central Kootenay
• Central Okanagan
• Cowichan Valley
• East Kootenay
• Fraser Valley (excluding the Sunshine Valley)
• Fraser-Fort George
• Kootenay Boundary
• North Okanagan
• Squamish-Lillooet
• Sunshine Coast
• Thompson Nicola
• Peace River
• Legislation was introduced in fall 2023 to allow secondary suites and accessory dwelling units across B.C.
• The program eligibility was expanded in January to include 15 of B.C.’s regional districts.
• The Province will review options to further expand the program in future years.
• Budget 2023 allocated an additional $91 million over three years to support the SSIP pilot.  
• A 2023 Statistics Canada report found that in 2021, 214,925 property owners in B.C. were owner-occupants of multi-unit residential properties, which include secondary suites and accessory dwelling units. This represented 9.6% of all property owners in the province.
• SecondarySuiteProgram_Chinese(simplified).pdf
• SecondarySuiteProgram_Chinese(traditional).pdf
• SecondarySuiteProgram_French.pdf
• SecondarySuiteProgram_Hindi.pdf
• SecondarySuiteProgram_Punjabi.pdf
• SecondarySuiteProgram_Tagalog.pdf

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