- A Message from our Executive Director
- Federal & Provincial Announcements
- TIAO Tourism Operators Call Rescheduled & Immediate Impact Management Strategy
- Border Update
- 3 NEW SURVEYS (TIAO, DNO/NOTO, TIAC)
- More details on Federal Supports
- Destination Canada Webinar
- Ontario-wide Fire Restrictions
- Early Bird Pricing for NOTO Memberships 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,
NOTO Contact Emails:
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A Message From our Executive Director
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Hello Everyone:
I wanted to reach out today to encourage all of you to continue to follow the measures put in place by our Federal and Provincial leaders and to stay healthy and safe. We care about you.
Given the news reports and the numbers of COVID-19 that keep climbing on both sides of our border, I want to urge each of you to begin making plans for a variety of scenarios if you have not done so already. It is important that our business owners build plans for scenarios like; a late start to season by two months, three months, and worst case, loss of the 2020 season entirely. You will need to decide the plan schedules that make sense for your business. I know that no one wants to think of the possibility of any of these but we must prepare for the worst.
I also wanted to encourage all of the tourism business owners and organization leaders to take the time to look into the programs that the Federal Government has created as initial measures to help individuals and small businesses in Canada.
In this newsletter we have attempted to gather information that answers some of the questions we have received regarding these programs. Over the coming days we will look for more advice and tools that we can share with you from business planning and accounting professionals to help.
I am not suggesting that I know anything specific regarding timelines of this virus and its impacts. No one really knows when all of this will end, nor what our new normal will look like. We all have to do the best we can to plan for as many scenarios as we can.
As you develop your plans and dive deeper into the Government programs that are currently available, we urge you to let us know of any challenges you face so that we can do our best to find solutions.
On a positive note, over the last several days the Prime Minister has identified tourism as a sector that needs additional supports from them. It means that work that we and other tourism organizations across the country have been able to make an impact. We will continue to work with our tourism organization colleagues to press both levels of Government for supports specifically for the tourism industry and even more specifically the resource-based tourism sector.
Stay safe and be well,
Laurie Marcil
705-499-7556
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Government Announcements
Federal:
Over the last few days, the Federal Government announcements have been focused on the
Canada Emergency Response Benefit
and the supports they've announced for
small businesses
.
They are currently focused on increasing the productivity and availability of medical equipment and supplies across the nation.
The Government will be recalled to pass additional measures that were announced earlier this week, including the new
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy
. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be in touch with the Premiers tonight to discuss additional measures that could be taken provincially in the fight against COVID-19.
Provincial:
The most recent announcement from the Provincial Government has been the extension of the Emergency Declaration and the
closure of outdoor recreational amenities
.
This new order closed all communal or shared, public or private, outdoor recreational amenities everywhere in Ontario, including but not limited to playgrounds, sports fields, basketball and tennis courts, off-leash dog parks, beaches, skateboard and BMX parks, picnic areas, outdoor community gardens, park shelters, outdoor exercise equipment, condo parks and gardens, and other outdoor recreational amenities. Green spaces in parks, trails, ravines and conservation areas that aren't otherwise closed would remain open for walkthrough access, but individuals must maintain the safe physical distance of at least two metres apart from others. Ontario's provincial parks and conservation reserves remain closed.
Premier Doug Ford has stated on April 1st that the province will be reviewing it's
"Essential Business List"
. This list will be released sometime in the next few days.
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TIAO's Tourism Operators Call - Friday April 03,2020
Due to an unfortunate event, Wednesday's Tourism Operators Call has been
rescheduled to tomorrow (Friday April 03, 2020) at 2:15pm EST
.
Please use the details listed below to call in:
- Dialogue North America toll free: 1.866.219.7782
- Dialogue local: 416.507.1717
- Access/Participant Code: 832398
TIAO has also shared with us their Immediate Impact Management Strategy. This strategy was developed with the
quantitative and qualitative data collected by TIAO from businesses on the front-line in the tourism industry in mind.
It includes measures to halt business closures, mass lay offs, mortgage defaults and bring stability to the finances of business owners and employees during the pandemic.
This document was developed to be shared with various Minister's during Tourism Day at Queen's Park conducted virtually a few days ago.
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Border Closure Update
We have been making every effort to seek clarification regarding the ability of US camp operators to cross the border to access their tourism businesses. We have been in communication with border officials and they have confirmed that
a ministerial decision has been made and no work permits will be issued to foreign camp owners seeking entry to check on or open their camps. The focus at the border remains allowing the food chain to remain viable and to reduce the spread of this horrible virus. We will provide an update when these orders change.
If you are concerned about vandalism, theft, flooding etc we encourage you make arrangements with either fellow camp operators here in Ontario or perhaps your Canadian employees to check on your properties when possible.
In the meantime, we will continue to communicate concerns of US camp owners so that as the border restrictions loosen up, those businesses will be top of mind to allow access.
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Please Complete the Following Surveys:
In an effort to monitor the progression of COVID-19 on Ontario's tourism industry, TIAO, Destination Northern Ontario (DNO), NOTO and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) have been conducting regular surveys to help provide up-to-date information to the Provincial and Federal Government. We have
3 new surveys
for you all to complete:
- TIAO's survey collects broad data across the province to help monitor the developments you all see on the front-line.
- DNO/NOTO's survey focuses on the impacts felt by tourism operators across Northern Ontario.
- TIAC's survey focuses on the impacts felt by the tourism industry at the Federal Level while requesting feedback from the tourism industry on the Federal supports so far.
Each survey takes approximately 3 minutes to complete
. We encourage all operators to complete
each survey
as this will help us all monitor the on-going impacts to your business as well as help us and our industry partners to show the Provincial and Federal Governments that more initiatives are needed to support the tourism industry.
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TIAO's Phase 3 Survey:
This survey will help TIAO build the most comprehensive picture of the very latest developments on the front-line across the province. It is vital that we are able to monitor the situation and collect feedback to relay to the provincial government.
Please note the survey
will close at 8am on Monday April 6th
so that the data can be collated and analyzed before TIAO's weekly call with Minister MacLeod.
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Northern Ontario Survey:
This survey was built to further identify the impacts felt by tourism businesses in Northern Ontario. This survey includes a deeper dive into your experience including cancellations, revenue loss and visitor origin. This information is imperative to shaping a Northern response to the effects of COVID-19 on our industry.
Click here
to view the results of the last Northern Ontario survey.
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Tourism Industry Association of Canada Survey:
As TIAC continues to provide information on the latest measures being put into place by the Federal Government, they also want to hear from you and how this crisis is impacting your business specifically. This in turn allows them to provide real-time specific feedback to the Federal Government and help in the crafting of existing and future assistance measures.
This survey focuses on the impacts felt by the tourism industry as a result of COVID-19 so far and they are looking for feedback as to whether or not operators have used the Federal Support Programs while providing operators with the opportunity to comment on the Federal Government support programs announced so far such as the wage subsidies, business loans and the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.
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Update on Federal Supports
Please note, these are the most recent updates on Federal Support Programs. Some of these programs, still require Royal Assent and may be subject to change within the next few days.
Canada Emergency Response Benefit:
Individuals who do not qualify for Employment Insurance (EI) will be able to register for the
Canada Emergency Response Benefit
online as of April 6. If you are not normally eligible for Employment Insurance, the Government asks that you
register for your CRA My Account and direct deposit
in advance of the application launch. This benefit will provide individuals with $2000 per month for up to 4 months.
This benefit will apply to any Canadian out of work due to reasons related to COVID-19, including for sickness, quarantine, caregiving, staying home to take care of children or loss of jobs. Furloughed workers, those who are still technically employed but not receiving income, would also qualify for the benefit. The benefit would cover wage-earners, contract workers and self-employed and gig industry individuals.
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy:
The new
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy
would provide a 75% wage subsidy to eligible employers for up to 12 weeks, retroactive to March 15, 2020.
The CEWS will subsidize 75% on the first $58,700 of salaries for qualifying businesses from March to May. To qualify, businesses will have to show a 30% decline in revenues compared to the previous year in 2019 on a monthly basis. In other words, applicants will need to apply for March, April and May separately.
Emergency Business Loans:
The new
Canada Emergency Business Account
will provide funding to eligible financial institutions so that they can provide interest-free loans (0% until December 31, 2022) in the form of lines of credit of up to $40,000 to businesses with payrolls of between $50,000 and $1 million. A quarter of this loan (up to $10,000) is eligible for complete forgiveness.
The following details have been share with us by a NOTO member who has approached their financial institution about this program.
To qualify, businesses and organizations will need to demonstrate they paid between $50,000 to $1 million in total payroll in 2019. Repaying the balance of the loan on or before December 31, 2022 will result in loan forgiveness of 25% (up to $10,000). There will be no minimum monthly principal payments until December 31, 2022.
Eligibility
- The person applying has the ability and authority to bind the organization.
- The organization is an operating business (i.e., not a holding company) in operation on March 1, 2020.
- The organization’s payroll expense in the 2019 calendar year was between $50,000 and $1 million. The customer must provide:
- The employer account number (15 digits) as reported at the top of the customer's 2019 T4 Summary
- Employment income reported in Box 14 of the 2019 T4
- The customer's 2019 T4SUM when requested upon audit
- Per the requirements of the program as set out by the Government of Canada, customers will agree to use funds from this loan to pay for operating costs that cannot be deferred, such as payroll, rent, utilities, debt service, insurance and property tax.
- The customer has an active business operating account which is their primary financial institution.
- The account was opened before March 1, 2020.
- The customer is not applying for this program at any other financial institution.
- The customer understands that applying for this benefit at more than one financial institution may result in prosecution by the federal government.
Please keep us informed of any questions you may have once you review the details of these programs. We will do our best to find the answers for you. We suggest that you contact your accountants or bank managers to help in the interim.
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Destination Canada Webinar Update
Over 1,400 participants joined Destination Canada's webinar on April 1st. This webinar allowed participants to hear directly from the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages as well as Ben Cowan-Dewar, Chair of the Board, Destination Canada and Charlotte Bell, President & CEO, Tourism Industry Association of Canada.
Many questions from camp operators who are concerned about their eligibility to access the recently announced Federal supports like the wage subsidy, Canada Emergency Response Benefit, and the business loans. Unfortunately, it appears these programs are the only ones that will be available to operators for now. Minister Joly emphasized that she will continue to press Government for better supports for tourism.
To view the webinar, please click on the button below.
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MNRF Announces Fire Restrictions
In order to reduce strain on first responders, MNRF has announced that s
tarting on April 3, 2020, Ontario's entire legislated fire region will be
designated a Restricted Fire Zone
. This order will mean all outdoor fires are prohibited, including the burning of grass, debris and campfires, even when using an outdoor fire grate, fire place or fire pit.
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Early Bird Promo Extension
NOTO 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.
As a result of COVID-19,
early bird pricing will remain available until April 30th!
Members who have already renewed their memberships have been entered into the draw to win the early bird prize.
· Bronze:
$565.00
NOW: $536.75
· Silver:
$678.00
NOW: $649.75
· Entry Level: $395.50
· Basic:
$565.00
NOW: $536.75
· Bronze:
$723.20
NOW: $678.00
· Silver:
$1,310.80
NOW: $1,243.00
Memberships are renewed annually and run from June to June.
Prices listed above include HST.
Please click on the appropriate category link above to access the membership form. Completed forms can be printed and mailed, scan or emailed to
laurie@noto.net
or
kate@noto.net
.
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The 2020 prize for the Early Bird renewal draw will be 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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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.
There are FAQ's with answers and tips from NOTO surrounding comforting concerned guests, how to market for the upcoming season, encouraging postponing vs cancellations of trips, and what to do about staffing. FAQs will be regularly updated as well.
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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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