In Today's Update
- Message from our Executive Director
- New Preferred Supplier: JillyFRAZ
- NOTO to Facilitate Operator Call on Insurance
- Remaining PHUs Rejoining Framework - Some PHU Zone Changes
- CEWS Extension and Other Changes
- TIAO Call Next Week
- Wild TV Outfitter Auction - Help Build Your Domestic Market
- MTO Releases Results from Northeastern Ontario Rail Corridor Consultation
- MPP Mantha Calls on Ford Government to Include Tourism Businesses in Emergency Funding
- Last Call for Pictures for NOTO's New Website
- Northern Ontario Tourism Training Week - Save the Date!
- Early Bird Pricing Available Until March 31st
- Get Your Safe Travels Stamp
- Forestry Notices
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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Message From Our Executive Director
Laurie Marcil
Now that our Federal, Provincial budget, White Paper and ERO postings have all been submitted, We are continue to arrange and attend meetings and one-on-one discussions with Government and colleagues to share and ensure our recommendations are implemented.
We are pleased to see some positive signs that the Federal Government is making plans to re-open the border. The timelines are not clear at all at this point so I don't want to get anyone's hopes up just yet but we are pleased with the types of discussions that are going on. We are still quite certain that the border will NOT be open for May and June. We are sure that the increases in the vaccine brands now available in Canada and the increase in vaccines going into arms is helping encourage these discussions.
We are moving forward to reiterate our need for the quarantine to be eliminated in order to bring our guests back when it is safe to do so. Our message that the RBT industry offers safe vacation destinations that promote the essence of isolation is being conveyed in all our discussions. We are also wrapping up the recommendations and proposal from the Northern Border Working Group. We are always seeking out individuals, groups and committees that have influence within Government to ensure our recommendations are at the forefront in the plan development. We have made some progress there but are always looking for opportunities to advance our lobbying efforts.
Over the coming days and weeks you will hear from us about opportunities to engage with the domestic market. We know that some of you believe strongly that it is not a market that will help get us through this or who is interested in traveling for the outdoor products that you have. I understand where your thoughts have come from, but I believe that if we do a better job of educating our domestic market about what we have, we can see some traffic come to Northern Ontario. We have what they are looking for, the quiet getaway, away from hoards of people, the ability to unplug, and to be out in nature. We all know that the domestic market will not replace the US market that is missing while the border remains closed. I encourage you to look at the opportunities with an open mind. Please watch for details coming this week.
As I look optimistically at the week ahead, I encourage all of you to do the same. Don't think for one minute that I don't understand how challenging that can be during these times but we have a great deal to fight for and we owe it to ourselves, our guests, our members and our families to press on and look for ways to get through this together and to bring our very important sector to the other side of this relentless pandemic.
Stay strong and be well,
Laurie
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NOTO's Newest Preferred Supplier: JillyFRAZ
NOTO would like to wish a warm welcome to our newest Preferrred Supplier, JillyFRAZ! Here is an introduction to their business and the products they offer.
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WHO ARE WE AND HOW DID WE GET HERE?
Denise Levinter is the name behind JillyFRAZ. She has been designing custom private label programs for some of the top beauty brands in the world for over 25 years. That cosmetic bag or pouch you receive as a Gift with Purchase might have been designed by her company DL Global Group.
When March 2020 hit, everything changed. The company knew that they had to ‘PIVOT’ the business. The world was going to be different and they wanted to develop ‘good for you’ products that were both fun and easy to use.
With the introduction of their product SOAP-ON-THE-GO; came a quick, easy, and portable way to wash hands. Each pop-up container holds 50 paper thin sheets of soap that are BIODEGRADABLE, water-soluble, and non-toxic. Just pull out a sheet with dry hands, add a small amount of water into the palm and lather away!
SOAP-ON-THE-GO can be taken anywhere and everywhere. It is ideal for outdoor camping, picnicking,
fishing, hiking and every trip in between. Each tiny pack fits neatly into a pocket, purse, backpack, tacklebox or lunchbox. Literally anywhere!
Available in 6 great scents: Lemon, Ocean, Tea Tree, Apple, Peach and Lavender.
Remember; the sterilizing power of paper soap protects your hands and reduces the risk of carrying bacteria.
The single most important method to eliminate germs and bacteria is to wash our hands!
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NOTO to Facilitate Operator Call to Talk About Insurance
NOTO has received numerous calls from operators wanting to know what other tourism operators are doing about insurance and/or hearing from their insurance brokers/companies. We would like to facilitate a call for operators to share their findings, concerns and advice with their peers.
This call is only for tourism businesses. In order to ensure that we are providing a private conversation amongst industry we would request that operators email us n order to get the GoToMeeting link.
The meeting will be held March 10th, 2021 at 10am (EST). Email kate@noto.net to obtain invitation with meeting link.
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Remaining PHUs Rejoining the Reopening Ontario Framework
In addition to this, the following health units will be moving into a new colour zone based on public health indicators on Monday as well:
Grey - Lockdown:
- Toronto Public Health
- Peel Public Health
Red-Control
- North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit
- Peterborough Public Health;
- Public Health Sudbury and Districts; and
- Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit.
Orange-Restrict
- Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit; and
- Timiskaming Health Unit.
Yellow-Protect
- Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit; and
- Renfrew County and District Health Unit.
In Northern Ontario, Thunder Bay remains in lockdown, Porcupine remains in orange, and Northwestern Ontario and Algoma Public Health remain in Yellow. Timiskaming (currently Green) and Sudbury (currently Orange) will be changing zones on Monday as listed above.
To view the official regulations for the Green, Yellow and Orange Zones, please click here.
Please be advised that local medical officers of health also have the ability to issue Section 22 orders under the Health Protection and Promotion Act to target specific transmission risks in the community. All operators are encouraged to reach out to their local health units to make sure they comply with all regulations and restrictions in their respective districts.
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CEWS Extension & Other Changes
The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy has officially been extended to June 5th 2021. This program was originally set to expire on March 13th. This is a welcomed change but in NOTO's recent Federal budget submission we recommended that the CEWS be extended to March 31, 2022.
There have been changes to CEWS that may help operators who are open in the winter to access the wage subsidy. You can choose to compare month over month (ex: December 2020 to December 2019 for period 11, January 2021 to January 2020 for period 12 and so forth), OR alternatively, operators can select the alternative revenue decline calculation which involves comparing the current month to the revenue you got during January and February of 2020.
Operators are encouraged to contact their accountants to see if these changes may help them be eligible for CEWS over the winter months.
If you encounter any road blocks, please contact the NOTO staff to let us know. We will continue to advocate for changes to ensure CEWS works for our operators, as well as request another extension to CEWS to make sure operators can continue to access this support over the 2021 operating season.
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Wild TV Outfitters Auction
Wild TV is proud to announce the Outfitters Auction. With this event, Wild TV will undergo weeks of promotion to bring in bidders from around the country for a chance to hunt with you! Wild TV created this auction to help Canadian outfitters access the domestic market.
The best part, there is no cost to sign up! In lieu, Wild TV will receive 10% of each hunt that is sold.
The auction will be held online over the course of 2 weeks beginning on April 1st, culminating in a live one hour TV broadcast showcasing all of the hunts for sale from outfitters across Canada on the final day of bidding (April 15th).
To participate, outfitters need to submit the following information by March 25th: What hunts are you offering? What is the retail value? What is the duration of the hunt? Where is the location of the hunt? Accommodation details and descriptions. Photos and videos of the hunts.
Please view the details on how to participate, contest details and contact information by clicking on the button below.
Wild TV looks forward to working with you to help sell some hunts!
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MTO Releases Results from Northeastern Ontario Rail Corridor Consultation
To better understand the unique transportation needs of people, communities and businesses along the rail corridor between Toronto, North Bay and Cochrane/Timmins, the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) conducted a public consultation.
Over 7,200 individuals participated in the consultation. When asked if they would use a future rail service with an option to depart once a day and which would cost the same as the bus services, 69% of respondents indicated an interest in trying it.
You can view all of the survey results by clicking on the button below.
Next steps include the MTO exploring options to reintroduce passenger rail service along the rail corridor and help guide efforts to improve the transportation system in northeastern Ontario. The pressure on Government from Northern Ontario individuals to get this project underway is steadily growing.
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MPP Mantha Calls on Ford Government to Include Tourism Businesses in Emergency Funding
MPP Mike Mantha (Algoma-Manitoulin) who is appointed as the NDP's Critic for Tourism called on Premier Ford to acknowledge the impacts felt by the tourism industry during this pandemic and called for the Government to expand the eligibility criteria for all emergency funding to ensure tourist outfitters and many others in the tourism sector get the support they urgently require.
You can read MPP Mantha's complete statement by clicking on the button below.
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Last Call: NOTO Members Encouraged to Submit Pictures!
Many of the pictures we receive will be used on our new website
We are very excited to announce that NOTO has secured funding to develop a new, modernized website! In addition to becoming more user-friendly providing more value for your membership, this site will help to educate those who are not in the industry about the significant economic value that our sector brings to Ontario and Canada.
We would love to have pictures of your lodges that include, accommodations, fishing and hunting, nature, shore lunches, anything that really identifies and showcases the amazing products the resource-based tourism industry has to offer! Many of the pictures we receive will be used on our new website.
Please send pictures to kate@noto.net for a chance to be featured on our new website! Please send all photos in JPEG or PNG format. Please do not resize or compress the photos in order to keep them at the highest resolution possible.
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Don't miss this opportunity to connect with other tourism businesses, communities, build new partnerships, ask questions and
get inspired for what's possible in 2021!
Registration opening soon! Stay tuned!
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Early Bird Pricing Available!
Join now or renew your membership to save and be entered for a chance to win the Early Bird Prize!
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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 so much for your support!
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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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Forestry Notices
It's once again that time of year where forestry activities are beginning to ramp up. 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.
To view the notices and to participate in the consultation, please click on the button below. To receive notices for your Forest Management Unit directly in your inbox, register an account on the MNRF's new forestry website by clicking the button below as well.
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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 do not receive Government funding for operating and rely on annual memberships from tourism businesses, organizations, product and service suppliers, and partners. For more information about membership with NOTO visit noto.ca
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