Issues
CTGA of Toronto has undertaken
to address a number of issues that concern tour guides both in our city and
across Canada. Among these our principal concerns have been with education,
certification and licensing of guides. A new concern is the coming
involvement of Canada in the negotiations related to the General Agreement
on Trade in Services (GATS). Tour guiding is a professional service included
in the negotiations.
Education of Tour Guides
For many years there has been no educational program or course in
tour guiding offered in the Toronto area. CTGA of Toronto addressed the
issue and made known the need for such a course to city officials and
educators. Things have changed for the better. A course is now offered by
George Brown College. Go to the
Education page to learn more.
Certification of Tour Guides
Guides in the Toronto area have never been certified as qualified to guide.
Our feeling is that most of them are highly qualified. Should they be
certified, however, and what are the approaches that should be taken to
certification? Go to the
Certification page to learn more.
Licensing of Tour Guides
There is no system in the Toronto area for licensing of tour guides. This is
not uncommon and there are relatively few jurisdictions in North America
where guides must be licensed. Go to the
Licensing page to see a few more of our
thoughts.
GATS Negotiations
CTGA was pleased to receive a talk from Mrs. Susan Cox of Industry Canada in
November 2001. Mrs. Cox explained in terms we could understand what
the negotiations are about. She also travelled to other cities across
Canada to make the same presentation to other associations. We were
pleased that she could shed some light on the situation to us. You
can learn more about GATS at
the Services 2000
web site of Industry Canada. Be sure to search on "GATS". You will find a
downloadable copy of the agreement itself among many other GATS-related
documents.
