In Today's Update
- A Message from our Executive Director
- Changes to Public Health Measures: New Zone Classifications to Replace Staged Approach
- Provincial Budget Highlights
- MTO Survey: Potentially Bringing Back Rail Services to the Northeast
- New Requirements for Travelers Entering Canada
- Northern Ontario Tourism Training Week: Registration OPEN & Workshop Highlights!
- TIAC Tourism Congress November 17-18
- A Note from the Toronto Sportsmen's Show
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
What a week! I don't know about you but I feel like I've been sitting on the edge of my seat all week. Between watching the results slowly roll out on the US election and the release of the Ontario budget, I have been glued once again to the news.
We have spent the last several weeks and months putting in requests for help for our industry. Based on the broad strokes of the budget that were announced yesterday we are optimistic that Minister Phillips has left room for our requests to come to fruition. The more definitive items that will help to support tourism and small businesses are outline in this newsletter.
We are also eagerly awaiting the release of Minister MacLeod's white papers that are part of her new sectoral strategy for helping the heritage, sport, tourism and culture industries move forward. We will share what we learn with all of you once we review them. We will be looking for opportunities to provide input into the development of the plans that the Minister has referred to in her recent presentations to ensure that it meets the needs of the tourism industry in the North.
At the Federal level, we know that many of you have asked for more details on the changes to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. We are aware that the Federal Government is set to release backgrounders with additional information on the CEWS extension, the new Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (which will also help those with mortgages), and the new Lockdown Support programs. These backgrounders will also contain the eligibility criteria for each of these programs. NOTO will keep a close eye on these to make sure seasonal businesses don't fall through the cracks like they did in the spring.
Stay tuned for more details on all of these items as we digest the reports as they become available.
Take care,
Laurie
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Changes to Public Health Measures: New Zone Classifications to Replace Staged Approach
The Government of Ontario has released a new framework to keep Ontario open and safe. This new framework includes a shift to more targeted approaches to public health measures to prevent wide spread closures in the Province. Starting Saturday November 7th, all health unit districts will be classified in one of five categories:
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Green (Prevent): This stage will focus on education and awareness of public health and workplace safety measures in place. Restrictions in this stage will reflect the broadest allowance of activities in Stage 3 absent a widely available vaccine or treatment. All Northern Ontario health units as well as health units not listed in the categories below will begin in this stage.
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Yellow (Protect): Enhanced targeted enforcement, fines, and enhanced education to limit further transmission. This will lead to increased public health measures in high risk settings. Brant County, Hamilton, Durham & Halton will begin in the Yellow stage.
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Orange (Restrict): Implement enhanced measures, restrictions, and enforcement avoiding any closures. Focus on where outbreaks are occurring vs widespread closures. Eastern Ontario Health Unit, Ottawa, Peel, Toronto & York will begin in the Orange stage.
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Red (Control): Implement broader-scale measures and restrictions, across multiple sectors, to control transmission (i.e. return to modified Stage 2). Restrictions are the most severe available before widescale business or organizational closure. No health units will begin in this stage.
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Grey (Lockdown): To be implemented if trends continue to worsen after measures from Control level are implemented. Implement widescale measures and restrictions, including closures, to halt or interrupt transmission (Return to modified Stage 1 or pre-Stage 1). Consider declaration of emergency. No health units will begin in this stage.
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Provincial Budget
On November 5th, 2020, the Ontario Government released it's provincial budget. This budget is divided into three subcategories; protect, support and recover. Here are some of the highlights:
Protect: $15.2 billion, including $7.5 billion in new funding, will be allocated to the government's response to COVID-19. This includes increasing daily direct care in long-term care homes, protecting people's health and continuing to support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and opening of new hospitals (primarily in Southern Ontario).
Support: $13.5 billion, including $2.4 billion in additional supports for people and jobs. This will include increasing child care funding for parents, a new Seniors' Home Safety Tax Credit for the 2021 tax year, which will help seniors stay in their homes longer by making their homes safer and more accessible, increasing investments in the Black Youth Action Plan, investing another $100 million over two years for the Community Building Fund to support community tourism, cultural and sport organizations, providing one-time emergency funding to Ontario's arts institutions, and providing $1.8 billion in the Support for People and Jobs Fund.
Recover: $4.8 billion in new supports to build the foundation for a strong recovery fueled by economic growth. This includes investments over the next four years in broadband infrastructure, a plan to address the high costs of electricity, lowering the high Business Education Tax (BET) rates to a rate of 0.88 per cent, providing municipalities with the ability to cut property tax for small businesses and a provincial commitment to consider matching these reductions, and making the Employer Health Tax (EHT) exemption permanent for those making under $1 million. The Province will also provide Ontario residents with support of up to 20 per cent for eligible Ontario tourism expenses to encourage them to safely discover Ontario in 2021, the year of the Ontario staycation. The province is lso committed to connecting workers in the tourism and hospitality sector and others most affected by the pandemic to training and jobs.
Click on the button below to view the full budget and details on these initiatives.
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Ministry of Transportation Survey: Potentially Bringing Back Rail Service to the Northeast
The Ontario Government is looking for public input to better understand the transportation needs of people and businesses along the northeast rail corridor from Toronto, Huntsville, to North Bay and Cochrane/Timmins.
As part of their multi-modal transportation strategy, they are looking for importunities to improve bus and train services in the region in hopes of supporting economic development, keeping goods and people moving in the region, as well as improve departure and travel times in the North.
If you are interested in taking this survey and providing feedback, please click on the button below.
Closing date: November 20, 2020
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New Requirements for Travelers Entering Canada
All Travelers are currently required to provide information upon and after entry into Canada including a quarantine plan, contact, and travel information. As of November 21st, there will be new mandatory requirements for travelers coming to Canada which involve the use of the ArriveCAN app.
Pre-arrival to Canada: Air travelers will be required to submit their information electronically through ArriveCAN before they board their flight. This includes travel and contact information, quarantine plan and a COVID-19 symptom self-assessment. A border services officer will verify that they have submitted their information digitally therefore travelers must be ready to show their ArriveCAN receipt when asked. Travelers who do not submit the required information before their flight could be subject to enforcement action, including up to $1,000 in fines. Exceptions will be made for those unable to submit documents electronically due to personal circumstances, such as disability or inadequate infrastructure.
Post-entry to Canada: Travelers who enter Canada by air, land or marine modes, will also be required to submit information through ArriveCAN or by calling 1-833-641-0343 during their quarantine period. Within 48 hours of entering Canada, travelers must confirm they have arrived at their place of quarantine and must complete a daily COVID-19 symptom self-assessment during their quarantine period. Travelers who don’t use the ArriveCAN app to submit their information will be required to call 1-833-641-0343 on a daily basis throughout their quarantine period to provide their post-border information. Travelers who do not submit the mandatory information required after they have crossed the border will be considered a high priority for follow-up by law enforcement.
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Join us virtually this year for the
Northern Ontario Tourism Training Week!
November 23rd - 27th 2020
This year, registration is free to all industry partners, so you can focus on operations, saving money, and staying safe. We hope you will join us!
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How do I register for each training session?
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STEP 01
Open your registration confirmation email and download our app to
start building your schedule!
STEP 02
Register for each session individually.
Note: Clicking + Add to Schedule does not register you for the session.
STEP 03
Once you have registered, you will receive an email with a link.
STEP 04
Click the link to join the webinar at the specified time and date.
STEP 05
Enjoy your training session!
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Weekly Workshop Highlights
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Keynote Speaker: Dr. Shimi Kang
Award-Winning Harvard-Trained Physician | Bestselling Author | Global Social Entrepreneur
Date: Monday, Nov. 23, 2020
Time: 1:00 p.m.
An award-winning medical doctor, researcher, and expert on the neuroscience of innovation, leadership, and motivation, Dr. Shimi Kang provides science-based solutions for health, happiness, and achievement in the workplace, classroom, and at home. With 20 years of clinical experience and extensive research in the science that lies behind optimizing human intelligence, Kang provides practical tools to cultivate the key 21st century skills of resilience, connection, creativity, and more.
Dr. Kang is currently a clinical associate professor at the University of British Columbia and has made promoting wellness a priority. She is also the founder of Dolphin KIDS: Future-Ready Leaders — an organization that offers positive mindset and social-emotional life skills programs to students, teachers, and parents around the world — and CEO of Spark Mindset.
An entertaining and experienced speaker, Kang has presented at events ranging from the world’s largest conferences to customized workshops for small groups. She has shared the stage with cutting edge scientists, movie stars, CEOs, professional athletes, and global leaders. Her TEDx presentation on the power of adaptability has been viewed more than a million times.
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Best Practices in Domestic Markets
Date: Monday, Nov. 23, 2020
Time: 2:30 p.m. EDT
With international tourism at a standstill, many of us have pivoted to welcome visitors from the domestic markets. In this webinar, we’ll look at the profile of the domestic traveler – who they are and what they like.
A deep dive into data from summer activities will reveal insights into what marketing strategies work, and what topics are top of mind.
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What's Shifted in Safety Protocols - Accommodation Focus
Date: Wednesday Nov. 25, 2020
Time: 2:30 p.m. EDT
Working through all the information including legislation, recommendations, regional protocols, brand differentiators and then figuring out how your accommodation should meet safety guidelines, can be overwhelming and confusing.
In this webinar we will look at how the accommodation industry, in Ontario and Canada, is providing a clean and safe experience for staff and visitors and using cleanliness as a marketing tool and product differentiator. We will explore ways to determine the best fit plan for your business, what you need to consider and how the implement the protocols. Ensuring staff and visitors feel safe and confident are important steps in travel recovery.
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Continuing our Journey - ITO
Date: Monday, Nov. 23, 2020
Time: 11:00 a.m. EDT
As we all pivot and transition during the global pandemic, learn how Indigenous Tourism is embracing technology and culinary tourism to Preserve, Renew, and Rejuvenate this important emerging sector.
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Swivel to Success
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020
Time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
Pivoting, or as Chris likes to call it ‘swiveling’, is a skill that entrepreneurs have perfected in order to be successful. Now throw in a global pandemic and some business owners have had to do a complete 360 in order to stay afloat.
Learn from your travel industry peers that have swiveled to success during this trying time.
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Online Booking: Enhancing Your Web Presence
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020
Time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
In this session we’ll discuss how to enhance your web presence through online booking, specifically Simple Rez Solutions.
Having an online booking system not only meets changing consumer expectations but allows tourism businesses to compete in the marketplace and reach new markets or demographics.
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Plan B – Planning Through Uncertainty
Date: Friday, Nov. 27, 2020
Time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
The big question right now is….“What if?” in relation to COVID-19 and everything it impacts. We may not be able to get the answers, but we can start to plan for different scenarios.
This training session will look at:
- Planning for the unknown
- Options for consideration
- Customers in summer 2020
- Benchmarks and action plans
- Quickly shifting gears
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Step-By-Step Guide to Selling a Business
Date: Monday, Nov. 23, 2020
Time: 4:00 p.m. EDT
Participants will:
- Review the six stages to selling a business
- Understand the timelines and learn strategies to expedite the process
- Learn about how Covid-19 has impacted the process of selling a business
- Review the resources available to them in the community
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If you have any questions or have any
difficulties with registration, please email
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TIAC Tourism Congress
November 17 & 18, 2020
The TIAC Tourism Congress is only 12 days away! Connect with over 2,000 tourism colleagues across Canada as they share experiences and insights as well as the tools needed to rebuild the visitor economy.
This congress will be held virtually and will include 50 inspiring sessions about a wide range of topics. Explore the program today to help you plan your experience!
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Sportshow Updates
Toronto Sportsmen’s Show – The 2021 show has been postponed to March 17-20, 2022. For more details on this postponement and exciting new opportunities offered by Master Promotions Ltd., visit http://www.torontosportshow.ca/
All Canada Show – All January 2021 shows have been cancelled.
National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is canceling nine shows in the first quarter of 2021 and planning to move forward with three shows at this time, either as currently scheduled or postponed to a later date. Read more
Cenaiko Productions, Inc. – The 2021 Minnesota Sportsmen’s Show and the 2021 St. Cloud Sportsmen’s Shows are being postponed until 2022.
As we learn more from other sportshow producers we will share the details in future newsletters.
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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 our COVID-19 newsletters, 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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