- A Message from NOTO's Executive Director
- Parliamentary Petition to Get Direct Funding for Tourism
- Minister MacLeod's Northern Ontario Tour
- CEWS Period 5 Application Now Open
- Federal Government News
- Provincial Government News
- REMINDER: NOTO Survey
- TIAO Calls - Tuesday, August 25th
- Adapt 2020 Webinar - Northern Operators Share Their Path Forward - August 27th
- MNRF Releases Official Forest Sector Strategy
We will continue to strive to bring forward pertinent information to the tourism industry as it becomes available. We will also do our best to find answers to your questions. Do not hesitate to contact us. We are here for you.
NOTO Contact Emails:
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A Message from NOTO's Executive Director
Laurie Marcil
As we continue to keep the pressure on the Federal and Provincial Government for direct support to tourism businesses, we have a number of other issues that we are looking into that have come to us through our conversations with a number of camp operators across the north.
Some operators have received some odd bills for their LUPs and BMAs. This should not be happening. If you have received any invoices for 2020 fees, in the last two to three weeks, please contact me ASAP.
We have also been working with MNRF to see if there are any flexibility with regard to moose tag allocations, specifically temporary transfers and mini-LUPs. We are looking for efficiencies that would allow for the best use of these valuable tourism allocations this year.
Our latest survey is still underway and will close this Friday. We have only heard from 228 tourism businesses as of today and would really like to hear from more of you. This survey will help us form NOTO's more specific recommendations around how the Government can support the resource-based tourism industry. We need your data. See below for the link to the survey.
We have recently seen the Saskatchewan and Alberta Governments providing support directly to outfitters and we are checking with our colleagues in those Provinces to assess whether the support provided is meaningful to their tourism businesses. We will use what we learn from them to strengthen our recommendations.
We are also continuing to develop more recommendations regarding a plan to reopen the border. We are collaborating with TIAC (Tourism Industry Association of Canada), CFOA (Canadian Federation of Outfitter Associations) to ensure our voice is strong and unified.
We appreciate all of you who have reached out to us with your thoughts, suggestions and updates on how you are doing. This organization has always been about strengthening and supporting the resource-based tourism industry. Hearing directly from you through your emails, calls and your survey responses helps us to stay grounded and focused. Thank you.
Be well,
Laurie
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MP Melillo is Bringing Forward a Parliamentary Petition to Get Direct Financial Relief for Tourism
Kenora MP Eric Melillo says that Ontario’s tourism sector, especially in the northwest, has been hit hard by COVID-19 and the ongoing border closure. As a result, MP Melillo has sponsored a Parliamentary Petition initiated by Temple Bay Lodge owner Jeff Moreau, calling for financial support for tourism operators impacted by COVID-19. The Parliamentary e-petition will be presented in the House of Commons.
The petition calls on the government to provide direct financial relief to tourism operators. MP Melillo understands that the wage subsidies and loans available to outfitters isn't enough as many businesses don't have enough revenue to support loan payments or the hiring of staff.
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Minister MacLeod's Northern Ontario Tour
We wish to thank Minister MacLeod for taking the time to visit Northern Ontario. NOTO's Executive Director, Laurie Marcil had the opportunity to spend sometime with the Minister to talk about the industry and the financial impacts the pandemic has caused.
Although Minister MacLeod was not able to make visits to any of our lodges and resorts, during this visit she indicated that she will be back and that these types of destinations would definitely be on her agenda.
On her tour, the Minister stopped in North Bay, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, and Thunder Bay. In addition to several direct funding announcements for local museums and attractions such as Science North, Dionne Quints Museum, Fort William and others, the Minister also announced that the Government is investing $1.2 million through Destination Ontario and Destination Northern Ontario for a new multi-seasonal marketing campaign encouraging domestic tourism within Northern Ontario.
With the border remaining closed, this marketing campaign celebrates the unlimited outdoor adventure opportunities, including angling, resorts, lodges, paddling, hiking, camping and leisure touring that individuals can explore while in Northern Ontario during the summer/fall, with a particular focus on Northwestern Ontario to help attract domestic travel.
The fall and winter campaigns will be developed with Northern Ontario partners and will expand to cover destinations across the north, with content highlighting the many seasonal activities available to visitors, such as hiking and angling in the fall, and snowmobiling and ice fishing in the winter.
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CEWS Period 5 Applications Now Open
Applications for Period 5 of the CEWS program is now open! There are now new resources, including a CEWS calculator, available to businesses to help navigate changes to this program.
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Federal Government News
New FedNor Funding Initiatives for Northern Ontario:
This funding will be delivered by FedNor to support 16 strategic initiatives in communities across Northern Ontario. It will help First Nations stimulate business growth and employment opportunities by enabling them to implement priority projects and develop new partnerships. It will also assist businesses to boost productivity and growth by matching skilled workers to employer needs. In addition, it will help tourism organizations to attract more visitors with new product development that will extend their stay and increase their spending.
NOTO will look into what types of tourism initiatives will be covered in this new funding initiative as well as determine when it will be made available.
Minister of Finance Bill Morneau Resigns:
Minister of Finance, Bill Morneau, resigned from his position last week. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland has been appointed as Minister of Finance in addition to her role as Deputy PM.
Update on Federal Parliament:
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also called the prorogation of Parliament until September 23rd, 2020 when a new Speech from the Throne will be delivered. This means all committees will be reappointed and the pre-budget consultations will have to be re-adopted and reintroduced. This may cause delays in the implementation of COVID-19 support and measures.There is also speculation that there will be a confidence vote in Parliament. A vote of non-confidence could lead to a new election. These are things NOTO and other Tourism Partners will be keeping a watchful eye on in the coming month.
Conservatives Elect New Leader:
The Conservative Party has elected their new leader. Durham MP, Erin O'Toole is now the new leader. O'Toole looks forward to working with the other Conservative representatives to create a strong, united party who respects one another and the diversity of opinions.
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Provincial Government News
Emergency Orders Extended:
The Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health,has extended all emergency orders currently in force under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020. These orders will be reviewed by September 22nd. All Stage 3 rules continue to apply.
Changes to Indoor Gathering Limits:
If your business has indoor meeting rooms or event spaces within the facility, you may now have up to 50 guests in each individual indoor meeting room or event space, so long as social distancing can be maintained. The current indoor gathering limit will now apply on a per meeting room or event space basis at professional meeting and event facilities, including convention centres, hotels, motels, resorts, banquet halls and conference centres. Outdoor spaces remain subject to the 100-person gathering limit.
Change in Customer Logging Requirements:
Rather than collecting the contact information of each individual entering a dining establishment with the intention of dining on-site, and for those participating in a tour or guided service, the Provincial Government has passed an amendment that allows businesses to collect contact information from one person in the group who enters an indoor or outdoor dining space, or participate in a tour or guided service. This will help reduce the administrative burden on businesses while continuing to support case and contact tracing.
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REMINDER - NOTO Survey
We are conducting a survey to collect information specific to the resource-based tourism industry. We are looking for feedback to help ensure our asks of Government are responsive to the needs. Through this survey we will touch on a few areas; financial support, border closure, and impacts on hunting opportunities.
We will use this information to further our discussions with Government regarding meaningful supports for this sector of tourism.
The more data we have the better! If you haven't already done so, please take the time to participate. This survey will take approximately 5 minutes for most operators, and 10 minutes for those who offer hunting services as we need data and feedback on our current asks from MNRF.
Thank you for your participation.
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NOTO would like to take this opportunity to let evacuees of the Red Lake area know that we are thinking of all of you during this difficult time.
We would also like to send a warm thank you to all the operators in Northwestern Ontario who have opened their accommodations to the evacuees. We know the struggles that you have been suffering and your generosity has NOT gone unnoticed!
You are true champions of the tourism industry!
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TIAO Calls - Tuesday August 25th, 2020
COVID-19 Tourism Industry Update Call - Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey Results & Travel Demand Recovery Dashboard
Join us as we share the latest key findings from Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey, regarding the Tourism & Hospitality Sector. Special guests OTEC will provide an overview of a new program designed to help vulnerable workers in this sector and how the attendees can make a difference and support the initiative. Also learn about the new Travel Demand Recovery Dashboard - recently released by WTTC but complimentary to members of TIAO.
Northern Ontario Industry Update Call with OTEC
Time: 11am (EST)
Access Code: 894-643-693
Dial in: +1 (647) 497-9391
Industry Update Call with OTEC
Time: 2pm (EST)
Access Code: 169-700-709
Dial in: +1 (647) 497-9391
Thank you,
The TIAO team.
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A Follow Up: The Road from Today to Tomorrow
Northern Operators Share Their Path
August 27th, 2020 - 11:00 am EDT
This panel discussion is a follow-up to the May 7th panel discussion with Northern Ontario Operators, centered around the COVID-19 crisis.
Join us and learn how our panelists are managing the reopening of their businesses, how they are planning for the future and how they have addressed workforce issues now that tourism has opened back up!
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MNRF Releases Official Forest Sector Strategy
The Ontario government released Sustainable Growth: Ontario's Forest Sector Strategy. The strategy aims to support the Indigenous, northern and rural communities that depend on the forestry sector, while ensuring the province's forests stay healthy for generations to come.
An advisory committee will be assembled and will be tasked with developing and overseeing the implementation plan, including providing input on proposed key performance indicators in the short, medium and long term implementation of this strategy.
NOTO will continue to keep a close eye on forestry developments to ensure tourism businesses are not negatively impacted by forestry activity as well as provide input to MNRF when issues arise. If operators have concerns surrounding any items listed in the new strategy, please share them with us by e-mailing info@noto.net.
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NOTO's COVID-19 Page
This page was created to keep you informed on the latest developments that may impact/help your businesses. This page features links to our COVID-19 newsletters, Government resources, information that may be useful to tourism operators and links to supports for tourism operators as they become available. This page will be updated regularly during this pandemic.There are FAQ's with answers and tips from NOTO. FAQs will be regularly updated as well.
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Federal & Provincial Government Information
The Ontario and Federal Governments are regularly updating COVID-19 information, travel information, Minister statements, Government initiatives and statistics on their websites. For additional information from the Ontario or Federal Government, please click on the buttons below.
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NOTO is a membership based organization that works hard to support the outdoor tourism industry through advocacy and information services. We do not receive Government funding for operating and rely on annual memberships from tourism businesses, organizations, product and service suppliers, and partners. For more information about membership with NOTO visit noto.ca
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