In Today's Update
- Message from NOTO's President
- NOTO's COVID-19 Winter Lockdown Impact Survey
- Lockdown and COVID-19 Regulations Update
- FedNor Announces Expanded RRRF Funding
- Ontario's 2021 Budget Consultations
- Early Bird Membership Renewal Pricing
- Federal Government News
- Health Canada COVID-19 Awareness Toolkit
- Insurance - Connecting Operators
- MNRF's New Forestry Notice Website
- Northern Ontario Broadband Projects Announced
- REMINDER: MP Petition Calling for Federal Tourism Support Plan
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 NOTO's President
Bob Garson, Garson's Fly-In Outposts
Hello fellow members,
Although we have hoped to have a dramatic turn around from the 2020 nightmare, it has not yet changed in our favor and Covid-19 has become Covid-21 with the new variants.
The Government has not yet been able to help our sector. We continue to challenge the lack of programs that would be helpful in protecting the valuable tourism sector. We cannot proceed down the same path we were forced to follow last year.
I would ask that anyone who has had their Land Use or Bear Management fees reimbursed or if they have received any invoicing from the MNRF to contact the NOTO office. We are beginning to hear that operators have started to receive reimbursements. It should be a given that these fees be waived again this year, but we must ensure it happens.
We continue to fight on your behalf on the many fronts our industry continues to be challenged with. We appreciate everyone who has paid their membership and urge the remainder to help us.
Sincerely,
Bob Garson
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COVID-19 Winter Lockdown Impact Survey
Survey closes Sunday January 24th, 2021 at 8pm (EST)
To help with our current discussions with Government, we would like to know how many operators have lost winter revenues as a result of the recent lockdown, the total amount of revenue lost based on lost bookings and estimated additional revenues that you are no longer able to generate over the coming weeks, as well as the likelihood of replacing bookings with essential workers and/or those in need of housing during the emergency period.
Many of you have help us gather a great deal of data surrounding the summer and fall seasons but we have little data on our winter products and the impact of COVID-19 on those products. We very much appreciate your assistance again.
With your help, we can reinforce our request to add tourism operators to the eligibility criteria for the Ontario Small Business Support Grant program as well as highlight the continued losses our industry faces and the need for meaningful support.
Please take 5 minutes to answer this survey.
Your participation is greatly appreciated.
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Lockdown & COVID Regulations Update
The province-wide lockdown, Stay-At-Home order and other COVID-19 regulations remain in effect across the province. These measures are expected to remain in place until February 11th, with possibility of extension upon review of the declaration of State of Emergency. All of the COVID-19 regulations and orders listed under the Reopening Ontario Act have been extended to February 19th, with possibility of extension as well.
The government is also conducting province-wide workplace inspection blitzes and enforcement campaigns to ensure all essential businesses are operating safely. Last weekend, inspectors and law enforcement officers visited over 240 big box stores and found 76 contraventions, and that only 69% of these businesses were in compliance with public health and safety requirements and COVID-19 regulations.
Individuals and businesses who do not abide by the orders under the EMCPA or the ROA can be fined. The set fine amounts are $750 for individuals who fail to comply with an order; $1,000 for corporations who fail to comply with an order; and $1,000 for anyone who prevents an enforcement officer from exercising their powers or performing their duties to enforce the orders. If convicted, maximum fines for committing an offence range from $100,000 for an individual to $10 million for a corporation, and penalties could include up to a year in jail.
Dr. Williams, Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health indicated earlier this week that he would like to see 150 individuals in ICU and 1000 cases a day before lifting restrictions. The Chief Medical Officer of Health will continue to consult with experts, review data, and provide advice to government on the appropriate and effective measures that are needed to protect the health of Ontarians. This will include an assessment of when it is safe to exit the lockdown and move back to the zone system.
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FedNor Announces Expanded RRRF Funding
The Government of Canada is making available an additional $500 million in support from the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) for small businesses suffering from COVID-related losses. A minimum of 25% of those funds available will be made available specifically to the tourism sector.
This expanded RRRF funding will mimic the funding provided by the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) for businesses that did not qualify for CEBA.
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Ontario Launches 2021 Budget Consultations
The government is asking the people of Ontario for their ideas on how to continue to support families, workers and business during COVID-19, while positioning the province for a strong economic recovery. Minister of Finance and President of the Treasury Board, Peter Bethlenfalvy, is encouraging people to share their insights and opinions, online, by email or mail, or through a series of virtual consultations across the province.
NOTO will be taking this opportunity to reinforcing our asks for additional sector-specific support for tourism operators. We encourage all operators to take the opportunity to respectfully submit your stories, comments, ideas, and support programs you would like to see in the 2021 budget.
The 2021 Budget Consultations will close on February 12, 2021. The 2021 Budget will be delivered by March 31, 2021.
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Early Bird Pricing Now 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
All prices listed above include HST. Memberships are renewed annually and run from June to June. Early bird pricing for 2021 memberships will remain available until March 31st, 2021. Regular members who renew or join will have a chance to win the Early Bird Prize! Prize to be announced* Last year's prize was a drone.
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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Federal Government News
Prime Minister Trudeau also stated that Canada is expected to see the Pfizer vaccine deliveries cut in half over the next four weeks as Pfizer upgrades its plant in Belgium, causing a temporary slow production of the vaccine and reduced dose deliveries to every country except the US, which has its own Pfizer plant. The company is expected to return to full production capacity by February 15th. Pfizer assured the Government that Canada will receive 4 million doses by the end of March as promised. The next shipment of the Moderna vaccines is expected in the first week of February.
Prime Minister Trudeau also released his mandate letters to his Ministers. Minister Joly's mandate letter highlighted that one of her priorities should be supporting the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance to introduce sector-specific measures for industries that have been hardest hit by the impacts of the pandemic, including tourism and hospitality. We hope that we will see progress on this front once parliament reconvenes at the end of the month. |
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Health Canada COVID-19 Awareness Toolkit
Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada has developed a COVID-19 Awareness Toolkit. This toolkit includes a range of resources and information intended for businesses and organizations, to provide them with the tools they need to help keep individuals safe, healthy and informed. The kit also includes, ready-to-print posters, informational videos, social media content ideas and other links to resources targeted to specific groups of individuals. Click here to view the toolkit.
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Insurance
We have heard from many of you that insurance claim denials and higher premiums continue to be a huge battle. Unfortunately, it appears that Government has not stepped up to encourage change in this regard.
A number of you have reached out to us to tell us you are considering lawsuits. We have been asked to connect people within the industry so that you may help one another. We would be interested to hear from operators who would like to be connected. If you have any success stories or advice in dealing with your insurance companies, please share this as well. Once we have a better understanding of how many people would like to connect, we will determine exactly how to go about facilitating this.
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MNRF Launches New Forestry Website
MNRF has launched a new website which includes all of the approved Forest Management Plans, stakeholder notices, and all of the opportunities for individuals to submit comments and concerns with regards to forestry-related activities, such as the development of the forest management plans, pesticide use, plan amendments and so forth.
Operators are encouraged to create an account to receive consultation notices. Having an account permits you to submit comments and concerns on FMP related matters.
Having an account also allows you to:
- Access applications, forms and reports
- Submit information online
- Update your contact or address information
- Save and update draft submissions
- View transaction history including the current status of a submission
- Request access to additional information under Aggregates and Forestry
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Government Announces Details of Northern Ontario High-Speed Broadband Projects
The Government has announced that it will be investing $10.9 million to bring faster broadband to several towns and First Nation communities across Northern Ontario. The following projects were announced:
- Build infrastructure that brings high-speed broadband to more areas in Chisholm, Marathon, Terrace Bay, rural Thunder Bay and Oliver Paipoonge
- Construct a new 22-kilometre fibre backbone network that brings high-speed broadband to Seine River First Nation, Couchiching First Nation, Rainy River First Nations, Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation, Animakee Wa Zhing #37 First Nation and Big Grassy First Nation; and
- Upgrade the speed and capacity of the K-Net network, owned by Keewaytinook Okimakanak and which serves more than 80 First Nation communities, while supporting future upgrades.
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Conservative MP Calls on Feds to Present a Tourism Plan
Conservative MP and Special Advisor to the Leader on Tourism Recovery, Tony Baldinelli, has sponsored a petition that calls upon the Federal Government to present a tourism recovery plan before the 2021 federal budget is announced.
MP Baldinelli highlights that the tourism industry has been hit first and hit the hardest, and will take longest to recover, that many businesses are facing temporary and permanent closures, that the Government has waited too long to provide sector-specific support and relief to the tourism and travel sectors, and that public confidence and demand for travel domestically and internationally has plummeted.
All operators are encouraged to sign the MP's petition by clicking on the button below. The deadline to sign this petition is February 7th, 2021 at 5pm (EST).
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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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