In Today's Update
- NOTO's 2020-2021 Board of Directors
- Transport Canada Looking to Repeal Provision for Use of Boating Safety Checklists
- Gov. Updates: Northwest Health Unit Enters Yellow Zone, new COVID modeling & more.
- TIAO Calls
- MNRF Seeking Feedback on Proposed Fishery Fines
- ADAPT 2020: Winter Series - Many Webinars Happening in the Next Two Week!
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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NOTO's 2020-2021 Board of Directors
Congratulations to All Who Won in the Election!
We would like to wish a warm welcome to NOTO's newest board members, Kyle Polesky (Brace Lake Outfitters) and Ray Sapiano (Marten River Lodge) and for the recommitment of Lucas Adams (Gateway North Outfitters) and Jean-Luc Brousseau who put their names forward for a second three year term. We would also like to thank our outgoing board member, Ken Johnston (MarMac Lodge) for his service over the last six years.
There are still vacancies on the NOTO Board in the Northeast and South regions. If there is anyone who is interested in learning more about these vacancies, please reach out to Bob Garson at 705-253-4938.
If anyone has any questions or would like to know more about NOTO, please feel free to reach out to your local representatives listed below:
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North Central:
Northeast:
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Thank you to all the speakers and to all the tourism operators who took the time to participate in the
Northern Ontario Tourism Training Week!
We hope that you've enjoyed the sessions and that the information was of great value to you and your business. All of the sessions were recorded and will be available shortly.
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TC Looking to Repeal Provision for Rental Boat Safety Checklist as Bring Accepted as Proof of Competency
IMPORTANT NOTE: Within these changes, TC is looking at repealing the provision for the Rental Boat Safety Checklist as being accepted as proof of competency. This would not be good for our industry. We highly recommend all operators submit comments by clicking on the button below. This forum will remain open until January 15th.
- Bringing grandfathered pleasure craft licenses (with no expiry date) into a five-year validity regime.
- Reducing the ten-year validity period for licenses (PCLs) to five years.
- Expanding the application of the SVR to include all pleasure craft equipped with motors of 10 horsepower (7.5 kilowatts) or more, including personal watercraft, which are principally maintained or operated in Canada; and all pleasure craft (including all power-driven and sail-alone vessels) above 6m in length, with the exception of human-powered vessels (e.g. kayak, canoe).
- Reducing the timeframe for vessel owners to report a name or address change from 90 days to 30 days, and specifying 30 days for the buyer to notify a sale or transfer of a vessel ensuring that updated information is available in the same boating season.
- Providing TC the authority to cancel a PCL if the license holder does not comply with regulatory requirements.
- Introducing a service fee of $15 for pleasure craft licenses thereby reducing the cost borne by taxpayers for providing this service.
- Strengthening course accreditation requirements & setting course accreditation to a five year renewal period.
- Providing TC the authority to suspend or revoke course accreditation if a course provider does not comply with regulatory requirements
- Providing TC the authority to cancel a Pleasure Craft Operator Card if it is deemed to have been obtained under fraudulent circumstances
- Repealing the provision for the Rental Boat Safety Checklist as being accepted as proof of competency
- Introducing a $5,000 accreditation fee to course providers every five years and a test materials access fee of $8.50 for each Pleasure Craft Operator Card issued.
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Government COVID Updates
Provincial:
Red-Control
- Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.
Orange-Restrict
- Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit.
Yellow-Protect
- Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
- Lambton Public Health; and
- Northwestern Health Unit.
The Provincial Government has released it's latest COVID-19 modelling. In the "best case scenario", Ontario could see more than 2,000 cases per day by the end of December and in the "worse case scenario", we could see 9,000 cases per day by the end of December. Experts believe that COVID-19 caseloads will strain some of Ontario's hospital in December.
The Provincial Government would like to remind everyone that Public Health Measures vary by district and people should keep these in mind and to avoid all unnecessary travel. The Provincial Government is also asking everyone to avoid travelling this holiday season and to celebrate with your immediate household only.
Federal:
The Federal Government is set to announce their fiscal update on Monday. We will share details on this as soon as it's available.
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TIAO Calls - Tuesday December 1st
Please join us and special guest, Luke Nixon-Janssen from Magnet tomorrow where he will providing information about SWPP program.
A little bit about Luke:
As a proud Georgian College Alumnus Luke received a 3 year Advance Diploma in Resort Administration graduating in 2003. During his time at Georgian Luke completed two Work Integrated Learning opportunities as a part of his studies taking him to Lake Louise and Muskoka where he started to acquire the necessary skills to be successful in the Tourism Industry. Crediting this hands-on learning during his Co-op, Luke is a strong advocate of WIL programs and the many benefits they provide to students preparing to enter the workforce.
Upon graduating, Luke has acquired 20 years of industry experience working with small and medium sized businesses in 3 different provinces, as well as having spent 10 years working with Marriott Canada where he helped open the Residence Inn Gravenhurst and The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto and was a member of the Global Sales and Canadian Sales leadership team. Always eager to give back Luke sat on the Program Advisory Board and Alumni Board at Georgian College, was the Chairperson at Muskoka Tourism and Vice President with the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce. Luke has also volunteered with Pathways to Education, mentoring underserved youth in Regent Park.
Due to the global pandemic Luke's position with Marriott Canada was officially eliminated in August 2020 forcing Luke to reimagine a life outside of the Tourism Industry which is why he is with Magnet today. Luke is the Sr. Manager, Industry Engagement and helps lead the Export & Growth Portal Teams and the Chamber Partnership Initiative, which is a wage subsidy program helping to support the Post Secondary Students and Students. When Luke isn't busy at work he and his wife Julie are busy staying active outdoors with their two boys Jacob 3 and Thomas 5 months.
Details for the calls can be found below.
In order to avoid conflict with the ADAPT 2020 Webinar on the Snowmobiling Season (see ADAPT Series information below), there will be one joint call tomorrow for ALL tourism businesses across Ontario at 3:30pm (EST).
COVID-19 Tourism Industry Update Call with special guest: MAGNET - SWPP program
Time: 3:30 pm (EST)
Access Code: 543-848-325
Dial in: +1 (647) 497-9391
Thank you,
The TIAO team.
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MNRF Seeking Feedback on Proposed Fishery Fines
MNRF is currently seeking feedback on their proposal to increase set fines for certain recreational and commercial fishery offences and establish new ticketable offences. The ministry is proposing to apply existing federal government guidance for fines, specifically:
- administrative and/or low impact infractions: ranging from $100- $200;
- infractions related to transportation issues (e.g. vessels, transporting fish, etc.) approximately $350;
- infractions related to mischief or those that pose a conservation threat: approximately $500; and
- commercial fishery fines would generally be higher than those for a recreational fishery.
Some offences in the Ontario Fishery Regulations, 2007 are not ticketable. This proposal will add new contraventions to the schedule so that tickets can be issued. It is important to note that these are not new offences (i.e. they have been an offence in the Ontario Fishery Regulation, 2007), however this will change the way they are enforced.
Some examples of new ticketable offences include failing to properly mark a commercial net or hookline with a buoy in specified water, release live bait or live baitfish into or within 30 m of any waters, and retain a fish hooked in any part of the body other than the mouth.
The proposal would also see existing fines increase. The rate of increase will depend on the existing base amount and results of the feedback received during consultation. However, when the federal fine guidelines are applied to existing fines, the increase could be between 50 to 125%. Offences that pose a conservation threat would increase more significantly. It is important to recognize that final set fine amounts will be determined by the federal government, but they will consider input from MNRF.
Please consider the following questions when submitting your feedback:
- Do you agree or disagree that the ministry should increase the use of contraventions (tickets) for more types of offences?
- Do you agree or disagree that the set fines should be increased from current amounts set in 1996?
- If you agree that set fines should increase, by how much do you think the increase should be? For example, do you think set fines should increase by the rate of inflation (approximately 50%), that set fines should be doubled (100% increase), or tripled (200%)?
If you have any questions or would like to speak to someone about this proposal, please contact fishpolicy@ontario.ca, or Sarah Desjardins at 705-772-8820.
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The Winter is Coming Series
This series will focus on popular winter tourism product groups:
snowmobiling, outdoor recreation and adventure, and resort/accommodations and attracting a Hyper-Local market.
Industry specialists and panels made up of Northern Ontario tourism business operators will share their best practices and how they are considering COVID-19 in their planning. The webinar series will provide resources, tools, action plans, strategies and connections for both today and the future.
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Focus on Snowmobiling
December 1st, 2020 - 11:00 am EDT
This panel discussion is centered around snowmobiling. Panelists will discuss trends and best practices and will share their experiences and plans for the upcoming season.
Moderated by: Marla Tremblay, Markey Consulting
Panelists:
- Claude Aumont, Destination Ontario
- Gino Bourdages, Companion Hotel / Motel & Super 8
- Rob Racine, J&B Cyle & Marine Co. Ltd.
- Patrick Dzijacky, Timmins Snowmobile Club + lead of Timmins on-street riding initiative
- Mitch Garon, OFSC District 15 President
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Hyper-Local, Hyper-Fast to Drive Visitation and
Economic Development
December 3rd, 2020 - 10:30 am EDT
For the foreseeable future, the travel market will be Hyper-Local leisure visitors. As a result, Destination Marketing Organizations acting as Community Catalysts must act hyper-fast to build a Hyper-Local strategy that will help travel partners and generate business for the winter and the first half of 2021.
DMOs must facilitate the creation, development and marketing of point-of-sale travel packages with travel partners and local businesses.
In this session you will discover the process for creating compelling consumer travel packages. Next, you will gain an understanding of current travel trends and the motivations of consumers. In addition, you will learn how to activate your travel partners and provide them with the skills and tools they need to create partnerships that will drive packaging and revenues.
Your organization is key to activating your partners and community businesses to drive visitation and economic development.
Presented by: Joe Veneto, Chief Experience Officer, Veneto Collaboratory
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Focus on Outdoor Recreation and Adventure
December 8th, 2020 - 11:00 am EDT
This panel discussion is focused on outdoor recreation and adventure and how operators and industry associations are preparing for winter.
The panelists will share their experiences so far in 2020 and plans for the upcoming season, including innovative changes to the guest experience and what to expect beyond the pandemic.
Moderated by: Rebecca Godfrey, Director, CBRE Ltd.
Panelists:
- Kerry Lamarche, Executive Director, Kivi Park
- Paul Amano, Boreal Journeys Sled Dog Kennel
- Burton Penner, Borealis Sled Dog Adventures
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Alison Cameron, Loch Lomond Ski Area
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Focus on Resorts and Accommodations
December 10th, 2020 - 11:00 am EDT
This panel discussion is centered around resorts and accommodations.
With a focus on understanding the new current reality, panelists will discuss trends and best practices and will share their experiences and plans for the upcoming season.
Moderated by: Fran Hohol, Director, CBRE Ltd.
Panelists:
- Grace Sammut, Executive Director, Resorts of Ontario
- Andrea Whitmarsh, Spa Manager, Cedar Meadows Resorts & Spa
- Kelly McAree, GM, Killarney Mountain Lodge and Conference Centre
- Stephanie Brown, Totem Lodge
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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.
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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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