Licence Appeal Tribunal File Number: 14932 TIA
Appeal from a Notice of Proposal under the Travel Industry Act, 2002, S.O. 2002 to Revoke Registration
Between:
Destination Weddings.com LLC o/a Celebration Travel
Appellant
and
Registrar, Travel Industry Act, 2002
Respondent
CONSENT ORDER
ADJUDICATOR: Jeffery Campbell, Vice-Chair
BACKGROUND
1Destination Weddings.com LLC o/a Celebration Travel (the “appellant”) appealed the Notice of Proposal dated May 11, 2023 (the “NOP”) to revoke the registration of the appellant as a travel retailer issued by the Registrar, Travel Industry Act, 2002, S.O. 2002, c. 30, Sched D (the “Act”).
2The NOP is based on the grounds that the past conduct of the appellants’ officers and directors affords reasonable grounds for belief that its business will not be carried on in accordance with the law and with integrity and honesty under s. 8(1)(d)(iv), that the appellant is carrying on activities that are, or will be if the applicant is registered, in contravention of the Act or the regulations under s. 8(1)(e), and that the appellant failed to comply with a request made by the respondent, s. 8(1)(g).
3The parties advised the Tribunal that they had resolved the issues in dispute and both parties consent to the continued registration of the appellant as a travel agent under the Act on the terms and conditions set out in Schedule A signed by both parties August 3, 2023.
4Further, both parties confirmed that pursuant to section 4.1 of the Statutory Powers Procedure Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S 2 (the “SPPA”), both parties waive the requirements of a hearing and consent to an Order of the Tribunal to continue the appellant’s registration on the terms and conditions set out on Schedule A. A copy of the agreement signed by both parties is attached as Schedule A to this Order.
ON CONSENT OF BOTH PARTIES, I ORDER:
5Pursuant to s. 4.1 of the SPPA and on the consent of the parties, I dispose of this proceeding without a hearing on the terms set out in the agreement signed by both parties on August 3, 2023, attached to this order as Schedule A, which Schedule A is incorporated and made part of this Order.
LICENCE APPEAL TRIBUNAL
Jeffery Campbell, Vice-Chair
Released: August 4, 2023
Schedule A
DestinationWeddings.com LLC o/a Celebration Travel
Registration 50019699 – R (Retail)
CONDITIONS TO REGISTRATION
Whereas DestinationWeddings.com LLC o/a Celebration Travel (Registration 50019699R) (the “Registrant”) is a travel agent and wholesaler under the Travel Industry Act, 2002, ("Act") and is subject to the requirements of the Act and to Regulation 26/05 under the Act (“Regulation”) (collectively, the “legislation”);
AND WHEREAS a Notice of Proposal to Revoke Registration (the “Proposal”) was issued by the Registrar on May 11, 2023;
AND WHEREAS the Proposal alleged that the Registrant failed to submit a financial statement or a verification statement for the 2020 fiscal year-end, 2021 fiscal year-end and 2022 fiscal year-end;
AND WHEREAS the Proposal alleged that the Registrant failed to submit Form 1 for June 30 2021;
AND WHEREAS the Registrant has addressed the deficiencies outlined in the Proposal since it was issued;
AND WHEREAS the Registrar is agreeable to resolving the Proposal;
AND WHEREAS the Registrar believes that attaching the following conditions to the registration is just in the circumstances; THEREFORE pursuant to subsection 8(2) of the Act, the Registrant and the Registrar, in accordance with section 4.1 of the Statutory Powers Procedure Act, do hereby waive the requirements of a hearing and consent to an Order of the Licence Appeal Tribunal ("Consent Order") based upon the following terms and conditions:
The Registrant accepts the following conditions to its registration:
A. Conditions of Continued Registration
In addition to and without limiting the Registrant’s obligation to comply with all requirements of the legislation, and in addition to and without limiting its obligation to comply with all voluntary conditions of its registration including but not limited to those undertaken at the time of its registration and/or renewal of registration, and including without limitation the Trust Declaration, on behalf of the Registrant, undertaking to comply with its provisions, the provisions of the legislation and TICO Guidelines with respect to trust accounts and the depositing, holding and disbursement of trust funds (“Trust Declaration”), the Registrant hereby undertakes to comply with the following additional conditions of its registration:
The Registrant shall ensure that annual Financial Statements or Verification Statements are filed with TICO in a timely manner in accordance with the applicable legislation.
The Registrant shall ensure that Form 1 is filed with TICO in a timely manner in accordance with the applicable legislation.
The Registrant shall respond to any and all requests for information, forms or documents from the Registrar or the Registrar’s designate (hereinafter “TICO staff”) in a fulsome and timely manner and is responsible for ensuring that any and all Directors and Officers and Supervisor/Managers of the Registrant respond in a fulsome and timely manner. The Registrant shall respond to all requests for information, forms, or documents from TICO staff by the due date or time indicated or, if no specific due date or time is indicated, within 5 business days after the request.
The Registrant shall ensure that all registration renewals are filed with TICO in a timely manner.
In accordance with section 17 of Ontario Regulation 26/05, the Registrant shall notify the Registrar at least five days before any of the following takes place:
i. A change of address for the office or a branch office of the registrant.
ii. Any change of the person who satisfies the requirements of clause 15 (2) (a), if the registrant is aware of the change at least five days before the change takes place.
iii. A change in the name or number of an account or in the financial institution in which the account is maintained.
If a change of the person who satisfies the requirements of clause 15 (2) (a) takes place and the Registrant is not aware of the change at least five days before the change takes place, the Registrant shall notify the Registrar immediately upon becoming aware of the change.
In accordance with section 18 of Ontario Regulation 26/05, if there is a change to any of the required information that was included in the Registrant’s application under subsection 3 (1) of Ontario Regulation 26/05, other than a change described in clause 5 above, the Registrant shall notify the registrar within five days after the change takes place.
In addition to and without limitation to the above, the Registrant shall comply will all requirements of the legislation applicable to the Registrant.
The conditions contained in this document shall be in force for a period of three years from the date they come into force.
B. The Registrant understands that should it fail to comply with any of the above noted conditions or any other provision of the Act or Regulation, that non-compliance and all previous non-compliance history will be taken into consideration and cited in any decision by the Registrar to take further legal or administrative action including a further Proposal to Revoke or Refuse to Renew Registration under the Act.
A.
C. The Registrant hereby acknowledges and understands that nothing in these conditions restricts the right of the Registrar or the Travel Industry Council of Ontario to take further administrative or legal action, or a prosecution for an alleged offence under the Act, as appropriate, including but not limited to any administrative or legal action arising in whole or in part from any non-compliance with these Conditions. For clarity, the Registrant acknowledges and understands that a failure to comply with any provisions of the Conditions of Continued Registration above may result in issuance of the Notice of Proposal to Revoke Registration.
D. The Registrant and the undersigned on behalf of the Registrant acknowledge they have read, understand and will comply with the entirety of this document including but not limited to the Conditions of Continued Registration.
E. The Registrant and the undersigned on behalf of the Registrant hereby acknowledge that they have been informed of their right to independent legal advice.
Name:
Position:
DestinationWeddings.com LLC o/a Celebration Travel
TICO (Registration #50019699 – R)
“I have the authority to bind the Corporation” (please circle)
Date:
Dorian Werda
Registrar, Travel Industry Act, 2002
Date: