In Today's Update
- Message from NOTO's Executive Director
- 2022 NOTO Membership: Last Week for Early Bird Promo!
- Message from CBSA for US Camp Owners
- NOTO Increasingly Concerned About the Rapid Change to Ethanol Content in Marine and Other Gasoline-based Fuels
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Message from TIAC: Share your Experience with the Tourism Hospitality Recovery Fund
- Registration Now Open for Northern Ontario Tourism Spring Training Week
- TIAO Calls Tuesday March 29
- Forestry Notices
- 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
It was beginning to feel like spring until most of the north received more snow this week. I know it can get discouraging but hang in there folks, spring will be here soon. Our summer season won't be too far behind and we all hope to see many more guests excited to take in all that our tourism facilities have to offer.
We have heard the issues that many of you are having with insurance premium hikes and searches for new insurance companies. We are taking these issues forward to our Provincial and Federal Governments to ask them for them to step in and lend their support.
We are still anticipating good news on a few of the key northern issues that we have been working on and hope to be able to share this news with all of you next week.
We have had some good discussions recently about supports for sole proprietors and partnership and are hopeful that those discussions will bring some relief to those businesses that have been excluded from recent tourism recovery funding.
In this newsletter you will see a call to action from TIAC asking for your help to share your experiences with the Tourism Relief Fund. NOTO encourages you to respond to that call to action and please do share your experiences with NOTO as well so that we can ensure that we are representing your needs in our discussions with government. NOTO is submitting a request for an extension of the Tourism Relief Fund as well as more budget dollars to be put behind the program for this coming fiscal.
We are heading into the last week of NOTO's Early Bird Membership Promotion that ends on March 31st. I encourage all tourism operators to reflect on the constant efforts that NOTO has put forth and the successes that we have seen as a result of those efforts. Here are a few of the accomplishments for quick reference:
- Getting Crown resource fees (LUPs, BMA, bait harvesters licences) waived for 2020 and 2021 (working on 2022)
- Development of the COVID-19 Protocols for this sector that allowed the RBT sector to open in June of 2020
- Advocated for loosening border restrictions to allow US camp owners into Canada
- Moratorium on cuts to Bear allocations upon transfer of BMAs
- Changes to most Federal programs to ensure the RBT sector was able to access them
- Purolator drop box locations for random testing in Fort Frances
- Extension on payback terms for government loan programs
- Advocated for loosening border restrictions for US guests
- Educated many politicians as well as Provincial and Federal Government staff on the importance of the RBT sector to the economy, and the overall health of our northern communities
- Helped in the development of the Northern Ontario Recovery Program offered by NOHFC
We have much more to do and we need your help to ensure we have the resources to tackle it all. Strengthen your voice by joining NOTO or renewing your membership. We know that operators continue to struggle and that reopening does not mean recovery so if you are interested in joining or renewing but you need more time, please just let us know and we will be happy to work with you.
If we have learned anything through this pandemic it is that we are certainly stronger together!
Be well,
Laurie
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2022 NOTO Membership: Last Week for Early Bird Promo!
Renew your membership or join NOTO before March 31st, 2022 to be entered for a chance to win the Early Bird Prize Draw! This year's early bird prize is a drone!
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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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Message from CBSA for US Camp Owners
Spring is approaching and we are seeing pandemic restrictions lifting. I think we are all looking forward to warmer weather and the return to more ‘normal’ operations at our Ports of Entry in Northern Ontario.
We received a great deal of positive feedback with respect to our pre-arrival work permit processing over the last two years. It gave our clients the opportunity to prepare in advance, reduce amount of time spent at the border, and have one less thing to worry about when it came time to head north and open their businesses. With this in mind, we plan to continue this option for the 2022 season.
- Clients choosing the pre-arrival processing option will have appointments booked on an agreed upon date and time.
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Clients not choosing the pre-arrival processing will be served on a first come/first serve basis after any booked appointments are completed.
If you are interested in pre-arrival work permit processing we ask that you contact the Port of Entry where you normally cross:
Rainy River POE – 807-852-3341
Fort Frances POE – 807-274-4949
Pigeon River POE – 807-964-3000
Sault Ste. Marie POE – 705-941-3063
Lastly, although Provincial restrictions are lifting in the days to come, federal restrictions currently remain that will impact our foreign national travellers. The information provided to you today is likely to change in the coming days, weeks and months. The COVID-19: Travel, testing and borders - Travel.gc.ca website is updated regularly and will reflect these changes. We encourage you to reference this website and share it with your guests.
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NOTO Increasingly Concerned About the Rapid Change to Ethanol Content in Marine and Other Gasoline-based Fuels
In December, NOTO was made aware of an message that was circulated by Imperial Oil to fuel suppliers that indicated ethanol content in gasoline is soon to be mandated to exceed 10 percent of fuel volume and may reach upward of 15 to 20 percent as early as April of 2022.
This can cause serious problems with recreational vehicles, boat motors and fuel dispensing equipment.
We have partnered with the National Marine Manufacturers Association to bring forward the following concerns in hopes that we can prevent more challenges for our industry for the next several years.
- Fuel with a percentage of ethanol above 10 percent in boat engines is harmful to the engines. There are serious and well-documented human safety, environmental, and technology concerns associated with ethanol blends over 10 percent in recreational boat fuel tanks and engines. NMMA has conducted a number of tests which have shown the destruction of the tank and engine.
- Tourism, particularly in Northern Ontario is based on water related activities such as pleasure boating, fishing, access to remote recreation amenities, and much, much more. Damage to tourism has been unprecedented over the past two years of the pandemic and the sector just simply cannot withstand the cost of replacing damaged or destroyed boating and/or fuel dispensing equipment that is often a mainstay of their businesses.
- Boating and tourism aside, Ontario is already seeing the effects of global supply chain disruptions in the automotive sector. The resultant product shortages and skyrocketing costs would only be exacerbated by the untimely market disruption that will occur if ethanol levels are further increased without allowing automotive, boating and tourism sectors to adjust.
There is currently an exemption in place for Northern Ontario that requires fuel suppliers to provide access to lower ethanol blends of fuel but that is set to expire in April 2022. We are making every effort to get that exemption extended or to find another solution with Government.
We will keep you posted on our progress.
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A Message From TIAC
Your Voice is Needed – Share your Experience with the Tourism Hospitality Recovery Fund
On October 21, 2021, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, announced that the government was taking targeted action to create jobs and spur economic growth, including the Tourism Hospitality and Recovery Program (THRP), which would provide support through wage and rent subsidy programs to tourism and hospitality operators, with a subsidy rate of up to 75%.
This program is currently available until May 7, 2022. And, as of March 13, 2022, the subsidy rates were decreased by half. We have been advocating, prior to these cuts, for the original rates to be maintained and extended to September 2022.
As we continue our discussions with government officials, we wish to obtain more up-to-date information from tourism operators on the impact this cut will have on your business. Please help us advocate on your behalf by answering this survey: https://www.research.net/r/9N37H2F
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Beth Potter
President and CEO of TIAC
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Registration Now Open!
Northern Ontario Tourism Spring Training Week is a partnership event between Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario (NOTO) and Destination Northern Ontario (DNO) that brings informative and interactive presentations to the tourism industry across Northern Ontario.
This Spring, we will be delivering 'just in time' virtual training to inform and assist tourism operators, communities and destinations across the North as many launch into their busiest time of year. The safety of the tourism industry remains a top priority while ensuring we deliver the most up to date and valuable information for the success of businesses in the region.
Registration is free to all industry partners, so you can focus on operations, saving money and staying safe.
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How To Register For Each Session |
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STEP 1
STEP 2
Once registered, open your registration confirmation email, click on the EventMobi link and start building your schedule!
STEP 3
Once in EventMobi, click on ‘Agenda’ in the left-hand side menu. Register for each session individually by clicking on the ‘Register Now’ button.
Note: Clicking ’Add to Schedule’ does not register you for the session, only the ‘Register Now’ button does.
STEP 4
Once you have registered for an individual session, you will receive an email from GoToWebinar with a link to that session. If you have registered for multiple sessions, you will receive multiple GoToWebinar emails.
STEP 5
Click the link in each GoToWebinar email to join that session, at the specified time and date.
Joining Via Mobile?
STEP 1
Download the EventMobi app from the iPhone or Android app store.
STEP 2
Launch the app and enter the unique event code: "nottws22"
STEP 3
Use the app to access event information and build your schedule! Remember: Clicking ’Add to Schedule’ does not register you for the session, only the ‘Register Now’ button does.
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TIAO Calls Tuesday March 29th
Please see below for information on how to join this week's Industry Update Calls. We will be joined by special guest Hassel Aviles, Executive Director of Not 9 to 5.
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COVID-19 Northern Ontario Tourism Update Call
Tue, Mar 29, 2022 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (EDT)
You can also dial in using your phone.
Access Code: 625-108-365
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COVID-19 Ontario Tourism Update Call
Tue, Mar 29, 2022 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (EDT)
You can also dial in using your phone.
Access Code: 249-526-277
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Forestry Notices
NOTO would like to take this opportunity to remind operators of the importance of staying up-to-date on the forestry activities happening in your region. We encourage all operators to take some time to review Forest Management Plans (FMP) and to participate in the consultations to ensure your business values are respected in the development of an FMP.
The NOTO office has received the following notices which remain open for comments:
- Annual Work Schedule Inspection Notices for Most Forest Management Units (close March 31st)
- Abitibi River Forest - Inspection of Approved 2022-2032 FMP (closes April 1)
- Black Spruce Forest - Forest Management Plan Amendment (closes April 1st)
- Kenora Forest - Inspection of Approved 2022-2032 Forest Management Plan (closes April 1st)
- Kenora Forest - Annual Work Schedule Change - Addition of Harvest Blocks (closes April 1)
- Lac Seul Forest - Inspection of Contingency Plan & Annual Work Schedule (closes April 1)
- Trout Lake Forest - Inspection of Approved Burn Plan for Slash Piles (closes March 31st)
- Whiskey Jack Forest - Invitation to Participate in 2023-2033 Forest Management Plan (closes July 1)
- Whiskey Jack Forest - Inspection of Extension of 2012-2022 FMP (closes April 1)
- White River Forest - Major FMP Amendment Information/Review (closes April 7)
- Whitefeather Forest - Inspection of Approved 2022-2032 Forest Management Plan (closes April 1st)
To view these notices and to participate in the consultations, please click on the button below. To receive notices for your Forest Management Unit directly in your inbox, register an account on the Ministry's forestry website by clicking here.
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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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