NOTO Update
In Today's Update

  • Message from NOTO's Executive Director
  • Update for NOTO Members on Membership Services from Kate
  • Canada to Remove Pre-Entry Testing Requirements
  • Registration Now Open for Northern Ontario Tourism Spring Training Week
  • Call to Action: We Need Your Support to Extend and Amend Federal Support Programs
  • Ontario to Remove Mask Mandate March 21st
  • Forestry Notices
  • Safe Travel Stamp

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:
Kate Boissonneault - kate@noto.net
Laurie Marcil - laurie@noto.net or 705-499-7556
A Message from NOTO's Executive Director


Finally some very impactful good news for the resource-based tourism sector! Effective April 1st, 2022, fully vaccinated US and International guests will be able to enter Canada without a pre-entry COVID-19 test of any kind. As this news filters through to tourism businesses and US guests, we hope that it will bring relief and excitement that we are finally coming to the end of the most challenging restrictions during this pandemic.

On Thursday this week the Northern Border Working Group issued a press release to applaud Government for these changes as well as to remind them we will not see this industry fully recover until all restrictions and testing requirements are lifted. See the press release below.

We know that this still leaves unvaccinated guests out for now but we will continue to press Government to develop a timeline on when they will be allowed back into Canada. We will also continue to make recommendations regarding the random testing in Northern Ontario. We are part of a very strong coalition that has made significant progress. Thank you all for writing your letters and sharing your stories with us and directly with your MPs and Federal Ministers. We truly are much stronger together.

We are anticipating more good news on issues we have been working on that directly impact our sector in the coming weeks. With the election on its way we are taking advantage of every opportunity to ensure each political party has recommendations that NOTO has developed based on input we received from our members over the last year or two. We are encouraging each party to ensure that the stage is set for the next several years for the resource-based tourism sector to recover and grow.

We are looking forward to bringing you more positive messages in the weeks ahead.

Be well,
Laurie
Update for NOTO Members on Membership Services from Kate

If you are a member of NOTO who has renewed or joined in 2021, expect to see a letter in the mail shortly!

We received the 2021 plates for your NOTO membership plaques shortly before the holiday season and due to a personal situation, I was unable to send them in a timely manner. I do apologize for the very lengthy delay.

If you haven't renewed your membership for 2022, you will receive a letter, a 2022 membership form, and the 2021 plate for your NOTO membership plaque shortly.

If you did renew your membership for 2022, you will receive a letter along with both your 2021 and 2022 plates.

I've also been working hard to ensure that all of our member benefits are up-to-date. If you would like up-to-date information on these, please e-mail kate@noto.net.

As a reminder, early bird rates end on March 31st, 2022. Annual memberships run from June to June and are renewed voluntarily. NOTO relies solely on membership funds to continue our advocacy and information services for the Resource-Based Tourism Industry. If you require an invoice for your 2022 membership, please let us know.

Membership renewal forms can be accessed through the following links:

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 all for your support!

Early Bird Prize Announcement

This year's prize for the Early Bird renewal draw is 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!!
A Win for Tourism Operators This Week
Canada To Remove Pre-Entry COVID-19 Testing Requirements

The Government of Canada has announced that effective April 1, 2022, fully vaccinated travellers will no longer need to provide a pre-entry COVID-19 test result to enter Canada by air, land or water.

Fully-vaccinated travellers may still be subject to random testing upon arrival, however they will not be required to quarantine while awaiting their test results.

Partial or unvaccinated travelers are still not permitted entry if they are travelling for any of the following reasons:
  • spending time at a seasonal home or cottage
  • visiting an immediate or extended family member, if age 18 or over
  • attending a Canadian educational institution as an international student if age 18 or over
  • childcare for your relatives
  • a personal or casual visit
  • air or rail crew, medical worker, transportation, or sports
  • tourism, fishing, entertainment or leisure

For partially or unvaccinated travelers who are currently allowed to travel to Canada (visit travel.gc.ca to determine eligibility), pre-entry testing requirements are not changing. Unless otherwise exempt, all travellers 5 years of age or older who do not qualify as fully vaccinated must continue to provide proof of an accepted type of pre-entry COVID-19 test result:
  • a valid negative antigen test, administered or observed by an accredited lab or testing provider no more than one day before their initially scheduled flight departure time or their arrival at the land border or marine port of entry; or
  • a valid negative molecular (PCR) test taken no more than 72 hours before their initially scheduled flight departure time or their arrival at the land border or marine port of entry.

All travellers will continue to be required to submit their mandatory information in the ArriveCAN app 72 hours before their arrival in Canada. Travellers who arrive without completing their ArriveCAN submission may have to test on arrival and quarantine for 14 days, regardless of their vaccination status.

As we welcome this announcement, rest assured that NOTO, TIAO, DNO and the members of the Northern Ontario Border Working Group will continue to advocate for the removal of random testing and for the development of a plan to allow unvaccinated travellers into Canada.
Events & Other News
Registration Now Open!

Northern Ontario Tourism Spring Training Week is a partnership event between Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario (NOTO) and Destination Northern Ontario (DNO) that brings informative and interactive presentations to the tourism industry across Northern Ontario. 

This Spring, we will be delivering 'just in time' virtual training to inform and assist tourism operators, communities and destinations across the North as many launch into their busiest time of year. The safety of the tourism industry remains a top priority while ensuring we deliver the most up to date and valuable information for the success of businesses in the region. 

Registration is free to all industry partners, so you can focus on operations, saving money and staying safe.
How To Register For Each Session
STEP 1
REGISTER HERE for Northern Ontario Tourism Spring Training Week!

STEP 2
Once registered, open your registration confirmation email, click on the EventMobi link and start building your schedule!

STEP 3
Once in EventMobi, click on ‘Agenda’ in the left-hand side menu. Register for each session individually by clicking on the ‘Register Now’ button.

Note: Clicking ’Add to Schedule’ does not register you for the session, only the ‘Register Now’ button does.

STEP 4
Once you have registered for an individual session, you will receive an email from GoToWebinar with a link to that session. If you have registered for multiple sessions, you will receive multiple GoToWebinar emails.

STEP 5
Click the link in each GoToWebinar email to join that session, at the specified time and date.


Joining Via Mobile?

STEP 1
Download the EventMobi app from the iPhone or Android app store.

STEP 2
Launch the app and enter the unique event code: "nottws22"

STEP 3
Use the app to access event information and build your schedule! Remember: Clicking ’Add to Schedule’ does not register you for the session, only the ‘Register Now’ button does.
CALL TO ACTION: NOTO Encourages Northern Ontario Tourism Operators and Organizations to Write Letters to Support Federal Advocacy Efforts.

As a member of the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses, NOTO is encouraging its members to participate in the call to action from TIAO to ensure the tourism industry has the Federal supports it needs to move forward. Please see the message below from TIAO for more specific details.
We Need Your Support to Extend and Amend Federal Support Programs

Throughout this pandemic, in the face of uncertainty, lockdowns and endless restrictions, you, TIAO’s members & stakeholders, have been an integral part of us lobbying politicians and decision makers for greater support for our industry. Without your time and effort, we would never have secured the levels of support we’ve so far achieved.

But we need your help again.

As Ontario prepares to return to a new normal, tourism and hospitality businesses are still struggling to survive. The Omicron wave wiped out bookings and slowed down our recovery from 2 years of revenue losses, COVID-19 health measures, and evolving border restrictions. With operators just beginning to rebuild, we risk losing a third summer to the COVID-19 pandemic: ongoing barriers at the border, the winding down of economic supports, and the industry-wide labour crisis threaten to create another setback to recovery.

It’s clear that reopening doesn’t mean recovery for the tourism industry.

Our industry is at a critical point in our recovery. As a member of the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses, TIAO is calling on the federal government to support the survival of tourism and hospitality businesses by actioning on 3 key asks:
  • Removing barriers at the border, including testing requirements that have deterred international visitors and business events;
  • Extending and adjusting the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program – including extending the program to September, maintaining full wage and rent subsidy rates, adjusting seasonal eligibility, and lowering the revenue loss threshold; and
  • Investing resources into a dedicated tourism and hospitality labour strategy so that our operators have the workforce required to ramp up capacity

TIAO has written to every federal Member of Parliament in Ontario in support of these asks and you can read our letter here.

We ask you to join us in our advocacy and send your own pre-populated letter to your local MP here.

Thank you for your support!
Face Mask 2
Ontario to Remove Mask Mandate March 21st

Beginning on March 21st, 2022, the Government of Ontario will remove the mandatory masking requirement for most settings, with the exception of select settings such as public transit, health care settings, long-term care homes and congregate care settings.

Until then, the following public health and workplace safety measures are in effect:
  • capacity limits have been lifted in all indoor public settings
  • proof of vaccination requirements have been lifted
  • businesses and organizations may choose to require proof of vaccination upon entry
  • other protective measures, such as mask/face covering requirements and passive screening of patrons remain in place
  • businesses and organizations that are open must continue to have safety plans in place
  • View official regulations here: O. Reg. 364/20
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Forestry Notices

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.

The NOTO office has received the following notices which remain open for comments:

  • Annual Work Schedule Inspection Notices for Most Forest Management Units (close March 31st)
  • Algoma Forest - Minor Amendment Review for 2020-2030 FMP (closes March 25)
  • Abitibi River Forest - Inspection of Approved 2022-2032 FMP (closes April 1)
  • Black Spruce Forest - Forest Management Plan Amendment (closes April 1st)
  • Kenora Forest - Inspection of Approved 2022-2032 Forest Management Plan (closes April 1st)
  • Kenora Forest - Annual Work Schedule Change - Addition of Harvest Blocks (closes April 1)
  • Lac Seul Forest - Inspection of Contingency Plan & Annual Work Schedule (closes April 1)
  • Trout Lake Forest - Inspection of Approved Burn Plan for Slash Piles (closes March 31st)
  • Whiskey Jack Forest - Invitation to Participate in 2023-2033 Forest Management Plan (closes July 1)
  • Whiskey Jack Forest - Inspection of Extension of 2012-2022 FMP (closes April 1)
  • White River Forest - Major FMP Amendment Information/Review (closes April 7)
  • Whitefeather Forest - Inspection of Approved 2022-2032 Forest Management Plan (closes April 1st)

To view these notices and to participate in the consultations, please click on the button below. To receive notices for your Forest Management Unit directly in your inbox, register an account on the Ministry's forestry website by clicking here.
Safe Travels 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’.

In Ontario, the Safe Travels Stamp are administered by TIAO. NOTO's health and safety protocols, which have been vetted by the Government of Ontario have been recognized as standardized protocols for this purpose.

To apply for your stamp, please click here.
NOTO is a membership based organization that works hard to support the outdoor tourism industry through advocacy and information services. We rely on annual memberships from tourism businesses, organizations, product and service suppliers, and partners to continue our work. For more information about membership with NOTO visit noto.ca