In Today's Update
- A Message from NOTO's Executive Director
- Provincial Government Updates
- Congratulations Northern Ontario Businesses, Organizations and Individuals
- Reminder: NOTO Award Nominations Still Open
- Northern Ontario Tourism Training Week Registration Now Open
- Updates on CEBA
- Reminder: Safe Travel Stamps
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
On Friday, October 30th, Minister MacLeod provided some insight into her strategy to support heritage, sport, tourism and culture industries through the impacts of COVID-19. I will be honest, her presentation left me with more questions than answers and I felt very deflated as a tourism representative in the North. I am sure others felt the same.
We heard few mentions of tourism and more about sports, heritage and culture, we heard that plans will be created and we will be asked to participate in more consultations to develop these plans to move forward. I know in speaking with many of you over the last few months, you feel it is difficult to start making plans when you are still in survival mode.
While Minister MacLeod focuses her attention on recovery we will continue to also focus on efforts to help tourism businesses survive to recovery. We will continue to press for continued and additional financial supports for tourism businesses. We will continue our advocacy efforts for a safe border re-opening plan. We are pleased to see the pilot project taking place in Alberta and are keeping a close eye on the results.
We have submitted recommendations to Ontario's Minister of Finance requesting that more fees be waived for 2021 and for an immediate response to those whose 2020 fees have still not been waived or refunded. We have been asked to respond quickly to COVID, we have needed our Government to respond quickly as well.
NOTO is committed to ensuring that the voice of resource-based tourism operators is heard through the development of these new plans that are outlined in Minister MacLeod's strategy. We are also very committed to working with all Northern tourism partners to amplify our messages and to continue to make sure the world-renowned tourism products (fishing, hunting and outdoor adventure) in the North are given the respect and attention they deserve.
It is a huge challenge to be everywhere we need to be and to make sure our messages reach all of those who can help us affect change and we will forge ahead. We only hope that when we reach the other side of this pandemic, those in the tourism industry will remember all that we have strived to do on their behalf. We are only limited by those who chose not to support the advocacy organizations that represent them.
Be well,
Laurie
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Provincial Government Updates
Sectoral Strategy Presented by Minister MacLeod:
During Minister MacLeod's release of the Sectoral Strategy, only hyperlocal marketing initiatives were announced for the tourism industry. We all know that hyperlocal marketing initiatives will not be sufficient to help Northern Ontario's tourism industry, including our highly valuable resource-based tourism businesses. The official white papers of this strategy will be released after the Provincial budget is presented on November 5th. Minister MacLeod will then host another telephone townhall to discuss this strategy with stakeholders. Minister MacLeod also announced that she will be creating advisory committees to ensure this strategy assists as many businesses as possible. NOTO will definitely be working on ensuring tourism is represented and that we get the supports we need. The Government needs to acknowledge the North and all the struggles this pandemic and the border closure has brought to our industry.
Provincial Budget:
Ontario is set to release it's provincial budget on November 5th. This 3-year outlook will focus on protecting the health and safety of the people during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing much-needed supports to families, workers, and employers, and laying the foundation for future growth, renewal and economic recovery.
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Congratulations Northern Ontario Businesses, Organizations and Individuals!
NOTO would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Northern Ontario businesses, organizations and individuals that received some of the 2020 Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence presented by TIAO.
Culinary Tourism Leadership Award: Destination Northern Ontario and Indigenous Tourism Ontario
Culinary Tourism Event of the Year Award: Feast on the Farm (Leisure Farms, Sturgeon Falls)
Tourism Champion of the Year: Jim Marchbank (Sudbury)
To read more about these winners and to see all of the recipients of the 2020 Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence, please click here.
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Reminder: Nominations for the NOTO Awards End Soon!
The NOTO awards were created to acknowledge the people who make Ontario's tourism industry so vibrant. The awards are presented every year to members who have gone above and beyond to improve both the natural and working environment, and/or tourism as a whole.
Please take a moment to think about someone who you feel should be acknowledged for their contributions.
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Join us virtually this year for the
Northern Ontario Tourism Training Week!
November 23rd - 27th 2020
Help grow Northern Ontario's tourism industry by joining industry peers and colleagues in our shared pursuit of excellence and success.
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!
Building on 80+ years of successful fall conferences for the outfitting sector, the Northern Ontario Tourism Summit was developed as a partnership event between Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario (NOTO) and Destination Northern Ontario (DNO) to bring together tourism businesses, organizations and suppliers as well as all levels of government at a single event to find solutions to challenges facing the industry.
This fall, we will be introducing a virtual training week in lieu of our traditional summit to engage with industry across the North. The safety of the tourism industry remains a top priority while ensuring we deliver the most up to date and value information for the success of businesses in the Region.
We look forward to continue on building new partnerships, new opportunities and exciting developments for 2020, together.
What to expect:
- Practical & interactive online workshops
- Latest marketing and branding trends
- Virtual product development training
- Virtual Networking opportunities
- Industry Leader Awards Announcements
- Connect with operators, industry professionals, and business owners.
- Share information with like-minded individuals while building your network
- Access exclusive training opportunities tailored for tourism stakeholders in the North.
- Online training workshops and information sessions
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Updates on CEBA
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland announced that the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) will be available to businesses that have been operating out of a non-business banking account.
To be eligible, businesses must have been operating as a business as of March 1, 2020, must successfully open a business account at a Canadian financial institution that is participating in CEBA, and meet the other existing CEBA eligibility criteria. The deadline to apply for CEBA is December 31, 2020.
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#SAFETRAVELS STAMP
The specially designed stamp will allow travellers to recognize governments and companies around the world which have adopted health and hygiene global standardized protocols – so consumers can experience ‘Safe Travels’.
Eligible companies such as hotels, restaurants, airlines, cruise lines, tour operators, attractions, short term rentals, car rentals, outdoor shopping, transportation and airports, will be able to use the stamp once the health and hygiene protocols, outlined by WTTC, have been implemented.
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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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