In Today's Update
- A Message from NOTO's Executive Director
- Canada-US Border Closure Update
- Canada Launches Tourism Relief Fund
- Canada Also Launches Jobs & Growth Fund
- Ontario Now in Step 3 - FAQs answered on signage, capacity
- TIAO Calls Next Week
- Tourism SkillsNet North: Notice to employers looking to train new/re-hired employees
- ERO Proposal: Introducing a Financial Penalty for Hunters Who Fail to Submit Hunter Reports
- Great Ontario Getaway Giveaway
- Forestry Notices
- Safe Travels Stamp
- Renew or Join NOTO! - Early Bird Rates Extended!
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
Laurie Marcil
As all of us anticipate a Federal announcement this week with more details and a date on the reopening of the Canada/US border, we know you are facing the challenge of creating plans an making decisions.
While you are working through those activities for your business we encourage you to consider support programs that you may have not thought useful until now. You can find a list of Federal programs for businesses at Canada.ca and don't forget the Tourism SkillsNet North Program to find or rehire staff and obtain a subsidy. Please call me if you have any questions about how this program can work for you. I am happy to help.
We also encourage you to review your COVID health and safety protocols as you prepare to reopen. If you have any questions, we are here to help. You can also reference NOTO's COVID Best Practices.
As we prepare to continue our discussions with Government on the impacts that COVID-19 continues to have on our sector of tourism, we ask you to keep us informed of the challenges you are facing. We also call upon operators to share with us any solutions that you have found so we may share it with others within the industry.
Hopefully this week will bring an end to the complete closure of the border and provide tourism businesses an opportunity to generate some revenue and to shorten the list of carry-over trips this season.
Be well,
Laurie
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Canada-US Border Closure Update
On Monday, July 12th, Prime Minister Trudeau made statements regarding the potential opening of the Canada/US border to fully vaccinated Americans mid-August. A detailed announcement is expected early next week. NOTO has shared with Government the need for an announcement of all details and a date confirmation for a reopening as soon as possible in order for tourism businesses to plan.
To read the message from the Prime Minister's Office click HERE.
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Canada Launches Tourism Relief Fund
On July 12th, 2021, the Federal Government announced the launch of the new Tourism Relief Fund. The Government is putting forward $500 million in support over a two-year period. The majority of the funding will be delivered by Regional Development Agencies (FedNor/FedDev) directly to tourism businesses and organizations to adapt their operations to meet public health requirements while also investing in products and services to facilitate their future growth.
Businesses will have the choice to select one of following options:
- Receive up to $100,000 in non-repayable contributions for up to 50% of eligible costs OR
- Receive up to $500,000 in repayable contributions for up to 75% of eligible costs
The loans are interest free and can have up to 10 year payback terms depending on the loan amount.
Eligible applicants include tourism entities that cater mainly to visitors, such as:
- businesses;
- not-for-profit organizations, such as tourism associations; and
- band councils or other Indigenous organizations and cooperatives.
To be considered eligible for this fund, applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Be a key supplier or operator in the visitor experience;
- Be part of a defined tourism cluster or a tourism dependent community, including supporting downtown cores; or
- Provide an anchor product or service in a tourism destination.
Eligible Tourism Relief Fund projects must focus on one of the following:
1) Product development: For example, projects that enhance tourism experiences; help tourism businesses adapt to the “new normal,” to modernize their offerings; and, encourage the adoption of more environmentally sustainable and inclusive practices. Examples of this include but are not limited to:
- Upgrading facilities to permit for additional social distancing or meet other COVID regulations
- Make modifications to help extend seasons
- Enhancing air circulation
- Become more eco-friendly through the installation of green technologies.
2) Destination development: For example, projects that position communities to take advantage of post-pandemic opportunities through strategic planning for medium- to long-term investments, as well as supporting destination development prospects in line with objectives set out in the Federal Tourism Growth Strategy.
To see more details on eligibility and information on how to apply, applicants are encouraged to review the Application Guide and to contact a FedNor Officer prior to submitting an application.
For operators located in Northern Ontario, please apply through FedNor by clicking here.
For operators located from Muskoka-south, please apply through FedDev by clicking here.
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Jobs & Growth Fund
This week, the Federal Government also launched the Jobs and Growth Fund. In Northern Ontario, FedNor is investing $26.6 million to help employers future-proof their businesses, build resiliency and prepare for growth by transitioning to a green economy, fostering an inclusive recovery, enhancing competitiveness, and creating jobs. Eligible activities include:
Activities that support the transition to a green economy include those that:
- Support the development and adoption of clean technology.
- Help communities and businesses plan and drive clean, sustainable economic growth.
- Partner with organizations to catalyze the development of green regional clusters.
- Work with organizations supporting businesses to transition to a green economy.
Activities that foster an inclusive recovery include those that:
- Support businesses owned or majority-led by underrepresented groups, such as Indigenous peoples, members of racialized communities, women, youth, LGBTQ2, persons with disabilities, newcomers to Canada, and members of official language minority communities.
- Increase the participation of underrepresented groups in the economy by supporting not-for-profit organizations that provide funding, business services, training and access to resources to build a more inclusive and equitable workforce.
Activities that preserve Canada’s competitiveness and future-proof SMEs through digital adoption, including those that:
- Support the development or adoption of digital and technological solutions (i.e., Industry 4.0 solutions) to increase and promote business productivity.
- Invest in technologies that help scale businesses, enhance their capabilities and increase resilience.
Activities that strengthen capacity in sectors critical to Canada’s recovery and growth, including those that:
- Support scale-up and market expansion activities that bolster traditional areas of strength.
- Develop emerging areas of global competitive advantage.
- Support supply chain adaptation and diversification opportunities to build Canadian capacity in critical sectors such as food production, medical supplies and biomanufacturing.
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Ontario Now in Step 3
New Regulations in Effect as of July 16th
Thanks to the vaccination efforts across Ontario and a continued improvement in public health indicators, the province has entered Step 3 of the Roadmap to Reopen on Friday, July 16th. Step 3 focuses on the resumption of additional indoor services and an increase in gathering restrictions in place.
All operators who are open must ensure they comply with all of the regulations listed and have implemented enhanced health and safety protocols. All operators must also have a safety plan in place (essentially a document highlighting your protocols as well as your plan in the event that someone develops COVID-19 at your workplace). Please consult NOTO's health and safety protocols to help you build your plan.
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FAQs About Step 3
Q. What signage do I need to have around my business?
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Passive screening for COVID-19 at main entrances (the signs you see at the entrance of grocery stores stating that if you have the following symptoms of COVID-19 do not enter). View Passive Screening Poster Example
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Mandatory masks poster on your main lodge/check-in area or any other indoor common area permitted to be open at this time. View Mandatory Mask Poster Example
- Social distancing markers (either stickers or taped lines) near your check in area to keep people in line 2m apart (if possible). If the area is too small just put a note on the front door stating only 1 family/group or individual at a time to permit for social distancing.
- You'll need to post your capacity limit in a visible area in your main lodge, check-in area, indoor dining area and patio (# of people at any one time to permit for social distancing).
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Place signage on the importance of proper hygiene in washrooms or near sanitization stations. View Handwashing Poster & Hand Sanitizing Poster
The poster examples were taken from the Northwestern Health Unit. Each Health Unit District has created their own posters which businesses can use. Go to your local public health unit's website or contact them to access these resources for your area.
Q. How to I calculate capacity for my indoor facilities (main lodge, dining area, etc.)?
Under the Step 3 regulations (O.Reg. 364/20, Schedule 1, #3), capacity limits should be calculated in the following matter:
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The maximum number of individuals permitted in a business or facility that is operating in an indoor setting at 50 per cent capacity is determined by taking 50 per cent of the maximum occupant load of the business or facility, or part of a business or facility, as applicable, as calculated in accordance with Ontario Regulation 213/07 (Fire Code), made under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997.
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TIAO Calls Next Week
Tuesday July 20
COVID-19 Northern Ontario Tourism Update Call
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (EDT)
Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
You can also dial in using your phone.
Access Code: 835-739-605
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COVID-19 Ontario Tourism Update Call
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (EDT)
Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
You can also dial in using your phone.
Access Code: 664-101-061
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Tourism SkillsNet North
Tourism SkillsNet North (TSNN) is designed to identify specific workforce labour gaps, train up to 300 potential employees and match them with available job opportunities within Northern Ontario’s tourism sector.
Qualified employers will be eligible for a 30% wage subsidy up to $3,000 per employee.
To apply, please click on the button below.
Please note: if you are using this program to re-hire, or to train new employees, please have them complete the participant application as well and let NOTO know the name of the employee registered so that they are matched with your business right away.
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ERO Proposal: Introducing a Financial Penalty for Hunters Who Fail to Submit Hunter Reports
The ministry is proposing to introduce a fine as an intermediate step prior to preventing a hunter from purchasing a licence or tag in the event that a hunter fails to submit their hunter report.
The financial penalty:
- would be automatically applied to the hunter once the fish and wildlife licensing system detects the report has not been submitted by the deadline
- would be required to be paid as part of (or prior to) the hunter’s next purchase of the relevant product (generally in the following year)
- would be based on each individual reporting requirement (i.e. if a hunter fails to submit multiple reports, they are charged a fee for each)
- would persist on the hunter’s account until they are paid and would not expire
The financial penalty would be a standard fee, consistent across each individual reporting requirements. The fee would be the same whether the hunter is an Ontario resident or a non-resident. The ministry is seeking input on a proposed penalty in the range of $15-$35 dollars.
The ministry would maintain a graduated penalty approach. If a hunter failed to submit a hunter report in two consecutive years for the same species, they would be prevented from purchasing the relevant draw application, licence or tag the following year.
The ultimate goal of this proposal is to improve hunter reporting compliance which will help improve the data recording process.
If you would like to submit your thoughts on this proposal, please click on the button below.
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Great Ontario Getaway Giveaway
Want to Participate? There's Still Time!
If you haven't submitted an application yet, you can still do so. We've had over 50 of resource-based tourism businesses submit their packages for this program which highlight the great variety of unique experiences Northern Ontario has to offer! The contest will run until August so it's not too late to join in on the action. 15 out of 25 trips have been awarded to date.
Please remember, awarded trips can be fulfilled in 2021 OR 2022.
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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:
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Algonquin Park Forest - Inspection of Approved Contingency Plan (Closes January 1st, 2022)
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Bancroft-Minden Forest - Approved Short Term FMP Extension (Closes October 1st)
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Black Spruce & Dog River-Matawin Forests - Inspection of Aerial Herbicide Projects (Closes July 31st)
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Boundary Waters Forest - Inspection of Aerial Herbicide Project (Closes July 31st)
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Kenogami Forest - Inspection of Aerial Herbicide Project (Closes August 17th)
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Kenora Forest - Review of Draft 2022-2032 Forest Management Plan (Closes September 4th)
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Lake Nipigon Forest - Inspection of Aerial Herbicide Project (Closes July 31st)
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Mazinaw-Lanark Forest - Approved Short Term FMP Extension (Closes October 1st)
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Ottawa Valley Forest - Approved Short Term FMP Extension (Closes October 1st)
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Ottawa Valley Forest - Review 2021-2031 Forest Management Plan (Closes September 30th)
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Trout Lake Forest - Inspection of Aerial Herbicide Project (Closes July 31st)
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Whitefeather Forest - Review Draft 2022-2032 Forest Management Plan (Closes July 23rd)
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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Get Your Safe Travel 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’.
NOTO's health and safety protocols, which have been vetted by the Government of Ontario have been recognized as standardized protocols for this purpose.
If you've implemented our protocols, or any other Government approved protocols throughout your workplace, apply to receive your stamp!
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Renew Your Membership or Join NOTO!
NOTO has extended the early bird membership pricing for the remainder of 2021!
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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
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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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 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 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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