NOTO COVID-19 Update April 15th

COVID-19: April 15 Update

In Today's Update

Federal Update: Change in CERB eligibility, update on wage subsidy & more.
Provincial Update: Extension of emergency declaration & emergency orders, launch of economic committee & more.
Update on LUP, BMA and Baitfish Harvest fees
Frequently Asked Questions: We received several questions similar in theme over the long weekend. As a result, we've put together a list of Q&As to help you navigate through this time.
Pandemic Action Steps by The Standard Insurance Brokers
2020 Hunting Regulations: Now Available
Conference Call Notes & Survey Results: April update
Resource: COVID-19 Tip Sheet on Minimizing Risk
NOTO's COVID-19 Page

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.

NOTO Contact Emails:

Kate Racicot - kate@noto.net

Laurie Marcil - laurie@noto.net or 705-499-7556

Government Announcements

Federal:

Over the weekend, Members of the Conservative Party called on the Government to create support measures specific to the tourism and hospitality industry due to impacts of COVID-19. The proposal includes suggestions to:

Temporarily allow owner-operators to qualify for the federal wage subsidy program
Refunding a year’s worth of GST remittances to small businesses.

The Federal Government will be looking into additional supports for Canadians who don't qualify for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, including those who are still working but receiving less than the monthly benefit through CERB, those working 10 hours a week or less, students and sectors hard-hit by COVID-19. The Prime Minister announced that relief for especially hard-hit sectors including tourism and airlines is coming soon. He emphasized that the initial focus was on ensuring support for Canadians and businesses regardless of sector, but recognizes that some sectors have been hit harder by COVID-19. We will hear more on these initiatives in the coming days.

The Federal Government's Canada Emergency Response Benefit application site is now open. We've heard from PM Trudeau today that they will change the eligibility requirements to make this benefit more accessible. New eligibility criteria will allow individuals who make less than $1000 per month, seasonal workers, and individuals who have not received EI since January eligible for the CERB.

Over the long weekend, the Government was recalled to talk about the new Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy . The Federal Government has finalized some of the details and eligibility criteria for this program. This program will now cover 75% of employees wages. New employees will qualify under this program as well. Businesses must show a 15% loss in revenue for the first eligibility period, and 30% loss in revenue for each eligibility period afterwards. Businesses can now choose to use January and February as a point of reference as opposed to March to show this loss. This program will be available within the next four weeks and will be retroactive to March 15th. NOTO will keep an eye on this program and the eligibility requirements as they continue to be released.

The Government is now making it mandatory for travelers returning to Canada who do not have a proper quarantine plan upon their return to undergo quarantine in a hotel or designated facility. This came into effect at midnight.

Provincial:

The Government has passed legislature which allowed for the State of Emergency to be extended for another 28 days. The next review of the state of emergency will be on May 12th. All emergency orders remain in place. Ontario introduced the following new steps to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The government is:

Making it easier to re-purpose existing buildings and put up temporary structures, like tents, so communities can meet their local needs quickly. This will reduce pressure on health care facilities, where needed, and help shelters provide more space for sleeping to maintain the physical distancing requirements to reduce the spread of the virus.

Temporarily enabling hospitals to increase their capacity by using the beds and services of retirement homes without certain labour relations implications during the declared provincial emergency.

Prohibiting recreational camping on Crown land as of April 9, 2020. Under the emergency order, no individual can camp on Crown land, including the placement of tents or other camping structures, while the order is in effect. This order is specific to people who exercise the 21 day camping rule under O.Reg. 161/17. It does not restrict individuals or groups who have occupational authority, such as through a Land Use Permit, lease or any other form of occupational authority from accessing their improvements. This would also be the case for those outfitters holding a valid Type B Outpost Camp (mini-LUP). The government will continue to monitor the situation and re-evaluate if further actions are required.

Supporting construction workers and businesses with emergency action to help improve cash flow in the construction industry during the COVID-19 outbreak. This will lift the suspension of limitation periods and procedural time periods under the Construction Act and allow the release of holdback payments to contractors and subcontractors.

A list of all the emergency orders that remain in effect can be seen here .

The Province announced that they have launched a committee which will focus on getting businesses up-and-ready and individuals back to work as soon as COVID-19 is under control. The Committee will be consulting with a wide variety of people to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the provincial economy and develop an action plan to move forward, including business associations, chambers of commerce, municipal leaders, corporate leaders, small business owners, and entrepreneurs.

Both the Provincial and Federal Government continue to focus on increasing the productivity and availability of medical equipment and supplies and increasing testing capabilities.

Update on Land Use Permit, Bear Management Area, and Baitfish Harvester Fees, Help us Help you

To assist in our efforts to have these fees waived for 2020, we are asking all tourism businesses that have these annual fees to contact your MNRF District office (preferably via email) to request that your fees be waived/refunded (if you have already paid).

Ensure that you indicate that your request is due to the impacts of COVID-19 on your business revenues and the uncertainty as to whether you will be able to open for even part of the upcoming season. This will help us to continue our discussions with the Province.

Please send your requests in to MNRF at your earliest convenience and advise us of any immediate responses you receive to your request.

Laurie Marcil - laurie@noto.net

Questions and Answers:

We have received many questions over the weekend from various operators across the province. As many of these questions were similar in theme, we put together a Q&A summary for you all.

Are accommodations still deemed essential?

No. Under the new essential businesses list , there are new stipulations that indicate that accommodation businesses can only be open to accommodate essential workers to self-isolate as specified under the "Short Term Rentals" (for example: a nurse, doctor, or mine worker).

Although there are many restrictions and we aren't technically a seasonal campground, can I open my trailer park?

No. Under the new essential businesses list , all seasonal campgrounds and trailer parks have been ordered to close. The only exception to the trailer park closures is if you are providing accommodations to "snowbirds" who's trailer is their primary Canadian residence and they have no other place to self-isolate.

Can I continue to book guests?

Under the new extended emergency order, you cannot book new guests as specified in the "Short Term Rentals" section for the duration of the emergency order. We do not recommend you take new bookings until we see if the Government continues to extend the emergency declaration on May 12th. All accommodations have been deemed non-essential unless you are providing a place for an essential worker to self-isolate.

Can my employees who are currently claiming EI, claim the Canada Emergency Response Benefit?

They can but only when their current EI runs out. Just earlier today, as a means to help more Canadians benefit from the CERB, the Government is announcing changes to the eligibility rules to:

Allow people to earn up to $1,000 per month while collecting the CERB.
Extend the CERB to seasonal workers who have exhausted their EI regular benefits and are unable to undertake their regular seasonal work as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Extend the CERB to workers who have recently exhausted their EI regular benefits and are unable to find a job or return to work because of COVID-19.

These changes will be retroactive to March 15, 2020. More details will be posted on the CERB portal shortly.

When is the Canada-USA border going to re-open for tourism/leisurely travel?

Unfortunately, no one has the answer to this question. The length of time the border will remain closed will depend on the actions taken by both Governments and the actions of the people residing in both countries. The more people comply with the orders of staying home and avoiding all non-essential travel, including unnecessary trips to the grocery store, the more likely we are to see these restrictions ease before the fall.

When will American business owners be allowed to cross the Canada-US border to check on our properties?

As of right now, we are still unsure as to when these restrictions will ease. We understand the stress of this situation for American business owners. We know that all of you want to ensure your businesses are in good working order. This is why we continue to press Government to acknowledge the importance of allowing you to cross the Canada-US border to check for vandalism, protect properties, and to ensure your camps are ready for operations to begin as soon as the situation improves. It's about much more than opening your business, it's about protecting your investments.

In the meantime, we encourage you to make arrangements with either fellow camp operators here in Ontario or perhaps your Canadian employees to check on your properties when possible. If this is not possible, we are learning about people willing to check on camps for a fee. Please contact these people directly to to learn more about their services

Kyle Emslie, M.Sc

River Point Environmental

P.0. Box 101

Eagle River, ON P0V 1S0

807-251-4333

riverpointenvironmental@gmail.com

Steve Hanson

Hanson’s Hideaway Lodge

Box 96

Nestor Falls, ON P0X 1K0

O-(807)484-2115

C-(807)276-5337

info@hansonlodges.com

What support programs have been made available so far?

Please click on the links below to access additional information on these programs.

Federal Government: Canada Emergency Response Benefit, Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, Canada Emergency Business Account & Tax Deferrals

We've heard from the Federal Government that supports for the tourism industry will be available soon. We are expecting to hear more details on this within the next few days.

Provincial Government: Tax deferrals, WSIB payment deferrals, provincial land tax deferrals for Northern Ontario businesses located outside municipal boundaries.

Please note: many municipalities have initiated their own tax deferral programs for those located within municipal boundaries. Please contact the department who is responsible for taxes within your municipalities/city for more information.

Pandemic Action Steps

A message from our valued Preferred Supplier, The Standard Insurance Brokers

No business could possibly be prepared for the scale of impact that this global pandemic is having but

tourism and hospitality are arguably the hardest hit. This is not only business, but personal for us as we

call many of you friends. We know the depth of sacrifice and investment you’ve made to build your

businesses and are deeply sorry for the unprecedented impact this is having on you, your families and

your employees.

We’ve seen you persevere through multiple, extreme challenges over the decades and although those

obstacles appeared insurmountable in the past, your tenacity enabled you to survive it. Given your track

record, we’re optimistic that this too will be another challenge that the industry collectively overcomes.

As lead broker of the program, we’re doing all we can to advocate on your behalf with your insurer, Novex Insurance, and have taken steps to offer the following on renewal: