In Today's Update
- A Message from NOTO's Executive Director
- Important Survey Reminders
- Ontario Public Health Restrictions Set to Gradually Lift
- New Resources for Businesses Regarding Federal Support Programs
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Reminder: Destination Canada's Tourism’s Big Shift Industry Webinar
- Renew or Join NOTO! - Early Bird Rates Now Available until March 31, 2022
- Tourism SkillsNet North
- 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:
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A Message from NOTO's Executive Director
This week has been a busy week of writing as we prepare for more opportunities to meet with government officials and political leaders to advance our advocacy efforts.
This week we submitted a short list of recommendations for policy and administrative changes that would help to reduce red tape for tourism operators. The list included recommendations pertaining to septic systems and certificates of approval, the gas tax rebate program, minimum tourism protections and forestry, administration of land use permits and changes in wildfire suppression policies.
In addition, we updated our recommendations for recovery for both provincial and federal governments in preparation for upcoming meetings and our latest round of outreach to MPs and MPPs.
This week I attended a CRA webinar regarding the current federal programs to support the tourism sector and there are some new online tools available on the CRA website that will help operators to understand what programs they are eligible for and for how much funding before they go through the application process. We are hopeful that more businesses will use these tools and be able to get some financial support. See the article included in this newsletter for more details. Please be sure to share with us any feedback on these tools so we can share them through our discussions.
On Monday, January 24th, 2022, NOTO will attend the Rural Ontario Municipality Association as part of TIAO's tourism delegation. Meetings have been set up with 14 senior officials from different provincial ministries which will give us numerous opportunities to inform cabinet ministers and other decision makers about the needs of the tourism sector and recommendations that help move us forward.
The Canadian Federal of Outfitter Associations has also been invited to meet with Conservative Party of Canada Leader, Erin O'Toole next week to discuss the challenges that currently face the industry and needs to get us through to recovery .
We are looking forward to these meeting and are optimistic that they will bring us closer to getting more support for the tourism industry.
Thank you to those operators that reached out this week and shared their experiences as well as those that participated in the surveys that are being circulated this month. If you haven't yet completed the surveys, please take the time to do so at your earliest convenience. I have included the links again in this newsletter. We need your help to ensure we are all advocating for the right things to support you.
Wishing you all a good week.
Be well,
Laurie
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Ontario Staycation Tax Credit Survey
In an effort to support tourism operators prepare for the opportunity to capitalize on the Ontario Staycation Tax Credit and support their guests, NOTO has created a quick survey that will take less than 5 minutes to complete.
We are hopeful that the information we gather in this survey will help others. We intend to share the summary of responses in one week. For more details and FAQs on the new tax credit click HERE.
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Ontario Public Health Restrictions Set to Gradually Lift
The Province has announced its approach to exiting modified step 2 of the Roadmap to Reopen.
They cautioned that a reopening is subject to an overall risk assessment, including key indicators remaining stable or improving.
Key indicators include a declining per cent positivity, declining number of outbreaks in higher risk settings (e.g., long-term care homes) and plateauing or decreasing hospital and ICU admissions.
The following approach will include 21 days between each group of changes.
NO EARLIER THAN JANUARY 31, 2022
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50% capacity for most indoor public settings (e.g. , retail, restaurants, casinos, cinemas) with proof of vaccination required in select settings.
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50% capacity or 500 people, whichever is les, for spectator capacity in areas of facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities (e.g., sporting events), concert venues, an theatres.
- No restriction on hours of operation for restaurants, bars, or other food or drink establishments or sale /service of liquor
- Social gatherings limited to 10 indoor/25 outdoor.
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50% capacity for indoor religious services, rites, or ceremonies. Outdoor limited to the # of people that can maintain 2m physical distance.
- Additional protective measures.
NO EARLIER THAN FEBRUARY 21, 2022 (Family Day)
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100% capacity for indoor public settings (e.g., restaurants, casinos, cinemas) where proof of vaccination is required.
- Capacity in other indoor public settings is the # of people that can maintain 2m physical distance.
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50% spectator capacity in areas of facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities (e.g., sporting events), concert venues, and theatres.
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25% capacity for higher risk settings such as food or drink establishments with dance facilities (including wedding receptions in meeting or event spaces where there is dancing), bathhouses, and sex clubs.
- Social gatherings limited to 25 indoor / 100 outdoor.
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Indoor religious services, rites, or ceremonies limited to the # that can maintain 2m physical distance (no limit if proof of vaccination required).
- Additional protective measures.
NO EARLIER THAN MARCH 14, 2022
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100% capacity for indoor public settings. Proof of vaccination continues to be required in existing setting
- Social gatherings limited to 50 indoor (no limit for outdoor).
- No limit on religious services, rites, or ceremonies.
- Additional Protective measures.
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CRA Webinar Provides Some Updates on Current Programs Aimed to Help Tourism Businesses
COVID-19 wage and hiring support for businesses: What the changes are:
- Canada Recovery Hiring Program (CRHP)
- For eligible employers with current revenue losses above 10%
- Subsidy rate has increased to 50% (from 20% previously)
- Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program (THRP)
- Wage and rent support at a subsidy rate of up to 75% to tourism and hospitality organizations
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- Organizations affected by a qualifying public health restrictions
- Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program (HHBRP)
- Wage and rent support at a subsidy rate of up to 50% to businesses deeply affected since the outset of the pandemic
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The Canada Revenue Agency has added some new tools to their website aimed to help businesses ensure they are applying for the programs that provide the most support. |
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Here are a number of links to take you directly to these resources:
As we continue to bring concerns regarding the effectiveness of these programs to Government, please ensure that you keep us informed of any challenges you encounter.
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Reminder to Save the Date!
While these trends will have an impact on Canada’s travel and tourism industry as whole, this webinar will focus on the implications and opportunities for small and medium-sized tourism businesses specifically. There will be an opportunity for questions, and we welcome an open dialogue on these important new findings.
Please register to attend this webinar via the link below:
Date and Time: February 1 at 10am PT/ 1pm ET
Speakers:
- Marsha Walden, President and CEO, Destination Canada
- Meaghan Ferrigno, Chief Data and Analytics Officer, Destination Canada
For more information visit Destination Canada's website.
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Renew Your Membership or Join NOTO!
2022 Early Bird Rates are now in Effect until March 31, 2022. Pay now and get in on the 2022 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
Prices listed above include HST. 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 for your support!
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Tourism SkillsNet North
In need of staff? We can help!
Register your business to the Tourism SkillsNet North program. We have job seekers in various areas across Northern Ontario that we will train and match to your business in hopes of filling your vacancies! As the employer, you will be able to interview each candidate we send your way and decide if you would like to hire them.
If you hired staff outside of the program after June 1, 2021, you can still register them to the Tourism SkillsNet North program to have them trained and receive a wage subsidy! As long as your employees complete the mandatory training courses, you will receive a 30% wage subsidy (up to $3000) per employee! This could help you with recruitment for next season.
Register your business and/or your employees today by clicking on the button below.
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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.
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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 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
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