Happy Holidays!

The NOTO Staff and Board of Directors want to wish you a warm and happy holiday season!

Holiday Notice

The NOTO staff will be taking some well deserved rest effective December 23rd, 2021 and will return on January 4th, 2022. During this time, we hope that all of you will do the same. Take the time this holiday season to check in on one-another and don't forget to enjoy the great outdoors!

A Message from NOTO's President

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I would like to tell you all how I feel about COVID-19 but I would be just repeating what the whole world knows. Instead, I will share with you some of the positives that we have accomplished through all of this.

The crown resource fees were suspended for two years and there have been some programs that have helped operators more than anticipated because of our advocacy efforts. We got the border opened and also have been able to attract our own residents so they experience the opportunities we offer. The Great Ontario Getaway Giveaway was a really good news story as well as a financial boost for operators (thanks Ang and Pete and Destination Northern Ontario)! There are more positive impacts our organization has made but I just wanted to highlight these few.

We are a resilient and adaptive industry and COVID-19 allowed us to demonstrate this. We all have experienced the bad times but we always look ahead with hope and determination to overcome any new obstacle. Life is not easy and life as a tourist operator is near impossible, but we will rise to the occasion and come out of this pandemic stronger in character. NOTO has been there and will continue to help operators in any way we can.

Have a safe holiday and take a chance to recharge and relax. Appreciate the things like health and family as they are the most important even though we don’t always recognize this.

A special thanks to all our Board Members old and new. I look forward to working with you all in the New Year.

To Laurie and Kate, you are the backbone of this industry and have certainly showcased that with your efforts and devotion. I cannot say enough about how we are able to do so much with only two incredible staff. Your efforts have brought NOTO to the forefront and solidified us as leaders in this industry but most of all you have taken care of our members through this very challenging time. Thanks, thanks, thanks I cannot say it enough! Take some time for your family and friends!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Garson’s,

Bob, Andrea, Dylan, and Otter.

Ontario Launches New Supports for Businesses

The Ontario government is introducing new supports for businesses that are impacted by the recent public health measures in response to the Omicron variant. These supports include a new Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program and a six-month interest- and penalty-free period to make payments for most provincially administered taxes.

Through the new Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program, eligible businesses will receive rebate payments equivalent to 50 per cent of the property tax and energy costs they incur while subject to the current capacity limits. A full list of eligible business types and online applications for this program will be made available through a program guide in mid-January 2022. Payments to eligible businesses provided retroactive to December 19, 2021. Businesses will be required to submit property tax and energy bills as part of the application process.

The province is also providing businesses with a six-month interest- and penalty-free period to make payments for most provincially administered taxes. The six-month period will begin January 1, 2022 and end July 1, 2022. Businesses will have the option to delay their payments for the following provincially administered taxes:

Employer Health Tax
Beer, Wine & Spirits Taxes
Tobacco Tax
Insurance Premium Tax
Fuel Tax
International Fuel Tax Agreement
Gas Tax
Retail Sales Tax on Insurance Contracts & Benefit Plans
Mining Tax
Race Tracks Tax

More details on this will be made available in January 2022 as well.

Federal Government Temporarily Expands Access to Lockdown Program and Worker Lockdown Benefit

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, announced the federal government’s intention to temporarily expand eligibility for key support programs. Using regulatory authority provided in Bill C-2, the government intends to introduce new regulations that would:

Expand the Local Lockdown Program to include employers subject to capacity-limiting restrictions of 50 per cent or more; and reduce the current-month revenue decline threshold requirement to 25 per cent. Eligible employers will receive wage and rent subsidies from 25 per cent up to a maximum of 75 per cent, depending on their degree of revenue loss. The 12-month revenue decline test continues to not be required in order to access this support.

Expand the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit to include workers in regions where provincial or territorial governments have introduced capacity-limiting restrictions of 50 per cent or more. As announced previously, this benefit will provide $300 a week in income support to eligible workers who are directly affected by a COVID-19-related public health lockdown, and who have lost 50 per cent or more of their income as a result.

These updated regulations will apply from December 19, 2021, to February 12, 2022. To view more details on this announcement, please click here.

Renew Your Membership Early for a Chance to Win the Early Bird Prize!

From January 1st, 2022 to March 31st, 2022, you can pay for your 2022 NOTO membership at the Early Bird Rate and be entered for a chance to win the Early Bird Prize Draw! *Prize to be announced in the new year.

Visit our Website

NOTO's New Website to Launch in 2022!

Our new website is in it's final stage of development! Once the payment portal is completed, the website will go live. This new website is full of new and exciting features, and will also allow you to renew your membership online!

Stay tunned!

NOTO is a membership based organization that works hard to support the outdoor tourism industry through advocacy and information services. We rely on annual memberships from tourism businesses, organizations, product and service suppliers, and partners to continue our work. For more information about membership with NOTO visit noto.ca