In Today's Update
- Message from NOTO's Executive Director
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Early Bird Promo - 3 Weeks Remaining!
- Canada Border Services Agency Information
- Ontario to Remove Mask Mandate March 21st
- VIA Rail Announces the Final Phase of its Gradual Service Resumption Plan
- Great News For Tourism! Cambrian College Revives Hospitality Program
- Tourism SkillsNet North Update
- ADAPT 2022: Small Business Tax Information Webinar
- Northern Ontario Tourism Spring Training Week
- Camping on Waterways - Public Consultation
- Public Engagement Sessions About the Recreational Walleye Fishery on Lake of the Woods
- Safe Travel Stamp
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
As we close another hectic week of work to advance the priorities of our tourism sector I am feeling exhausted but productive and optimistic that we are making some progress.
We have numerous meetings and initiatives on tap for this week and we are optimistic that we will have news to share on a number of items in the next couple of weeks.
As you prepare your businesses for the upcoming season, we encourage you all to attend the Northern Ontario Spring Training Week sessions. Registration will be opening this week so keep an eye for more details on the virtual sessions. Destination Northern Ontario and NOTO recognize the financial challenges tourism operators are facing and we are continuing to offer these session at no cost to help in some way.
Over the last couple of weeks, operators have been reaching to us and each other to share ideas on how to manage deposits for US guests that are unvaccinated or are unable to take their trips this season. They have also been asking about ways they can manage the increasing costs of fuel, insurance etc. We encourage you to visit our Facebook page: NOTO Group Page This group is closed to the public so that operators can feel free to share.
It really is great how much more engaged this sector has become through this unprecedented crisis. We appreciate how so many have put their trust in us here at NOTO so that we may be more effective in our advocacy efforts and the development of services that we can offer to help. We are also thrilled to see how the tools that we are providing to help are being used. We will continue to take our lead from the industry on ways that NOTO can best help.
Here's to the busy week ahead and to remaining optimistic and strong on behalf of the resource-based tourism sector.
Be well,
Laurie
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Early Bird Promo: 3 Weeks Remaining!
Renew your membership or join NOTO before March 31st, 2022 to be entered for a chance to win the Early Bird Prize Draw!
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Entry Level: $452.00
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Bronze:
$621.50 NOW: $593.25
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Silver:
$734.50 NOW: $706.25
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Basic:
$621.50 NOW: $593.25
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Bronze:
$779.70 NOW: $734.50
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Silver:
$1,367.30 NOW: $1,299.50
If you require an invoice for your records, please e-mail NOTO staff. Prices listed above include HST. To renew your membership or to join NOTO, please click on the appropriate category link above to access the membership form. Completed forms can be printed and mailed to the NOTO office, or scanned and emailed to kate@noto.net or laurie@noto.net.
Thank you for your support!
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Early Bird Prize Announcement
This year's prize for the Early Bird renewal draw is a DJI Mavic Mini Drone with a 2.7K Camera that can be used to create videos to help promote your business and have a little fun!!
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Canada Border Services Agency Information
Here are a few recent information notes from our outreach to CBSA:
Will live bait be permitted across the border this season?
- No live bait will be allowed across the border, to reduce the processes at the border as well as to comply with Ontario's baitfish regulations.
What are the requirements for unvaccinated Children under 12 to enter Canada for leisure travel?
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Unvaccinated children under 12 do have to be tested before entry using either the molecular (PCR) test 72hrs before entry or the rapid antigen test (at a lab or healthcare site) 24hrs. If they are travelling with a vaccinated adult they will no longer have to quarantine upon arrival.
- Currently, unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated children under 12 must complete pre-entry, arrival and Day-8 tests, unless the child is under 5 years of age or you have evidence that the child had a positive COVID-19 test taken at least 10 calendar days and no more than 180 calendar days before entering Canada. For the positive test, counting starts the day following the day after testing.
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For example, if your child’s positive COVID-19 molecular test was taken on January 1, the first day your child could use it for entry into Canada by land or water would be January 11. If your child is flying, the earliest scheduled departure date of their flight to Canada would be January 11. (Click here for more details)
- Children under 12 years old, travelling with fully vaccinated adults, will continue to be exempt from quarantine, without any prescribed conditions limiting their activities.
Are there any exemptions for US travellers that cannot get vaccinated due to medical reasons?
- Persons who are unable to complete a COVID-19 vaccine dosage regimen as a result of a medical contraindication, and are eligible to enter Canada, are exempt from the prohibition of entry if:
- they have a medical condition that is a contraindication that prevents them from completing a COVID-19 vaccine dosage regimen,
- they have in their possession written evidence from a physician who is licensed to practice medicine, or other evidence considered reliable by the Minister of Health, on the recommendation of the Chief Public Health Officer, confirming that they have a contraindication to a COVID-19 vaccine dosage regimen
Basically, an unvaccinated traveller would need to have written evidence from a licenced physician stating they are unable to be vaccinated in order to be eligible for entry.
Note: An unvaccinated foreign national eligible to enter is currently subject to a day 1 and day 8 COVID test as well as a 14 day quarantine period upon arrival, which makes staying at a resort a near impossibility for this client.
What will the process be for work permits and paperwork for US camp owners this year?
- So far we have heard that the CBSA will use the same process as last year for US camp owners. We are expecting that emails will be sent to US camp owners in the next week to provide more details.
NOTE: We are expecting things to change between now and the season open. NOTO will continue to communicate with CBSA regularly for relevant news to share with the industry. In the meantime, it is strongly recommended that guests are sent to check the travel.gc.ca website as they make their plans.
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Ontario to Remove Mask Mandate March 21st
Beginning on March 21st, 2022, the Government of Ontario will remove the mandatory masking requirement for most settings, with the exception of select settings such as public transit, health care settings, long-term care homes and congregate care settings.
Until then, the following public health and workplace safety measures are in effect:
- capacity limits have been lifted in all indoor public settings
- proof of vaccination requirements have been lifted
- businesses and organizations may choose to require proof of vaccination upon entry
- other protective measures, such as mask/face covering requirements and passive screening of patrons remain in place
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businesses and organizations that are open must continue to have safety plans in place
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View official regulations here: O. Reg. 364/20
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VIA Rail Announces the Final Phase of its Gradual Service Resumption Plan
Over the last couple of months, NOTO has sought answers from VIA Rail for tourism operators that depend on their rural route services to transport their guests, employees and supplies they need to operate.
In response to the pandemic, VIA Rail reduced its service to only two trains per week on rural routes (Saturday and Sunday) making it very challenging for tourism operators to adjust and continue to offer vacations when other restrictions allowed for it.
We have been pressing for a resumption of more services and this week we received a positive response. We are pleased to relay that VIA Rail has confirmed that additional services are expected to be added on the Sudbury to White River and other rural routes in April 2022 and again in June 2022.
A VIA Rail representative stated, "While employing a balanced approach, our teams evaluate VIA Rail’s overall service offering based on various factors, including the evolution of the pandemic and demand. We remain committed to the full recovery of our services throughout our network when conditions will allow it."
VIA's media release regarding service resumption is available online at:
NOTO will continue to monitor feedback from operators and support them as needed on this issue.
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Great News For Tourism! Cambrian College Revives Hospitality Program
Sudbury's Cambrian College is re-introducing their Hospitality Program focused on Hotel and Restaurant Management. The program last ran over 10 years ago, and was reintroduced in hopes to help with the labour shortage in the hospitality sector.
The two-year diploma program will accept students for the upcoming spring semester (May) with the first graduating class expected at the end of the Spring 2023 semester.
In addition to a 7-week placement with a hospitality business, courses will include:
- Beverages and Mixology
- Food and Nutrition Theory
- Accounting
- Gaming and Casinos
- Hospitality Law and Risk Management
- Indigenous Business and Economics
- and other courses and microcredentials
NOTO is very excited to see this program come back to life! We hope that the re-ignition of tourism and hospitality post-secondary programs will help showcase tourism as a career and help build a strong labour force.
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Tourism SkillsNet North
Registration Officially Closed*
As we approach March 31st and continue to wait for a decision from the Ministry on our Round 2 application, Destination Northern Ontario, NOTO, and OTEC will be taking the last two weeks to focus on our current participants.
For Those With Matched Employees:
We want to ensure all of the job seekers and matched employees complete both the instructor-led courses and self-guided courses by the deadline of March 18th. We will then turn our focus on finalizing the wage subsidy claims for each of our currently registered participating businesses who have trained their employees through this program.
For Those Seeking Staff:
If you have registered to the program to find employees, we will continue to host your job listings on the TSNN job board and Indeed profile in hopes to help you fill your vacancies as we await for a decision on Round 2.
Stay tunned!
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Small Business Tax Information Webinar
March 23rd, 2022 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm EST
Webinar Presented by:
- Karen Westbrook (Liason Officer, Canada Revenue Agency)
- Shelly Pederson (Liason Officer, Canada Revenue Agency)
This information session, held by Canada Revenue Agency professionals, will cover the following information:
- Overview of revenue and expense concepts
- General review of GST/HST
- Common tax errors
- Helpful tools and services offered by the CRA
- General bookkeeping concepts and best practices
- Answers to your general questions
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Northern Ontario Tourism Spring Training Week
Save the Date! » April 12 – 14, 2022
Registration Opens Monday, March 14th!
Join Destination Northern Ontario and Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario for an up-to-date look at our industry and information sessions that can help you as you launch into the busy spring and summer tourism season. The event will be delivered virtually and registration is FREE to all industry partners.
Topics Include:
- Industry Update
- What to expect for summer 2022
- Workforce Development
- Marketing Tips
- Environmental Sustainability & Your Business
- Protecting Your Business
- Fire Safety and Preparedness Tips
- Discussion with MNDMNRF
- Federal COVID Support Program Updates
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Camping on Waterways - Public Consultation
The Government is seeking feedback on potential ideas and approaches to manage “camping” on water and the use of floating accommodations on waterways over Ontario’s public lands. Please note, no regulatory changes are being proposed at this time.
The ministry is seeing increased interest in the use of waterways by various types of vessels (i.e., watercraft equipped for overnight accommodation). Some of the concerns include, but are not limited to:
- wastewater management
- application of building permits
- duration of use
- advertisings that suggest a range of options for the use of floating accommodations on water
- increasing human pressures on waterways
- impeding access to public land and waterways
- lack of payment of property taxes
NOTO hosted a meeting with some of our members who are houseboat operators from across the North to discuss the bulletin and to ensure that tourism values are protected if future regulatory changes arise. We will also be participating in a meeting with the Ministry in the coming week to learn more about the proposal and why they are currently seeking feedback.
NOTO will be submitting comments based on the information collected from our members as well as the Ministry to ensure all tourism values are protected in future considerations. We encourage those of you who offer houseboat rentals or those who are concerned about the increase of camping on the waterways to participate as well.
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REMINDER: Public Engagement Sessions About the Recreational Walleye Fishery on Lake of the Woods
The Ministry, accompanied by Parliamentary Assistant Dave Smith, will be hosting a series of public consultation sessions pertaining to the Lake of the Woods recreational walleye fishery. The next session will be held on March 22 and will take place virtually.
For more information please contact James Williams, Resource Management Coordinator, at (807) 468-2543.
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Safe Travels Stamp
The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) created the Safe Travels Stamp which is an international symbol designed to allow travellers to recognize governments and companies around the world, which have adopted health and hygiene, standardized protocols – so consumers can experience ‘Safe Travels’.
In Ontario, the Safe Travels Stamp are administered by TIAO. NOTO's health and safety protocols, which have been vetted by the Government of Ontario have been recognized as standardized protocols for this purpose.
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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 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
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