NOTO Update
In Today's Update

  • Message from NOTO's President
  • NOTO's 2022 Federal Budget Consultation Submission
  • Early Bird Promo - Prize Announcement!
  • Northern Ontario Tourism Spring Training Week - Save the Date!
  • Ontario COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant Closes Soon
  • Ontario Eliminating Licence Plate Renewal Fees and Stickers
  • Changes in Canada's Border Measures Coming Into Effect Feb. 28th, 2022
  • TIAO Calls
  • Opportunities to Provide Feedback: Deer, Caribou Proposals
  • TSNN - We can still help you find staff!
  • 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 President
Bob Garson - Garson's Fly-in Outposts

Hello Fellow NOTO Members,

We cautiously move to the spring once again with the feeling that we may finally see a little light at the end of the tunnel, although the last few years it has felt like a speeding train coming at us.

We are asking the Government for an opportunity for truly open borders; no testing requirements or any other impediment the Government might dream up. We need to have a real chance to get our customers to our locations, and allow us to make our own individual decisions on what we'll require from our guests. We need the freedom to operate in a country that returns to a pre-COVID state (if we can remember what that was like).

I am eagerly awaiting the announcements on eliminating provincial and federal restrictions and budgets leading up to the Provincial Election. We should all be reaching out to our MPPs and MPs to reinforce the messages of what we need from them to help us re-enter the competitive tourism market.

In the meantime, I still feel like I am navigating my way through a minefield with a white stick.

Bob Garson
NOTO President
NOTO's 2022 Federal Budget Consultation Submission

February 25th, NOTO made its formal submission on behalf of the resource-based tourism sector to the 2022 Federal budget consultation process. Areas of focus for our recommendations were:

  • Business solvency support
  • Make more of the government loans forgivable
  • Add forgivable portions to programs that do not yet have one
  • Extend repayment periods for all loan programs
  • Extend all tourism support programs at least to December 31, 2022
  • Modify eligibility criteria to allow sole proprietor and partnership businesses to be eligible
  • Ensure wage subsidy programs cover seasonal businesses during months with no revenue to ensure support for year-round employees
  • Ensure financial institutions apply consistent criteria for HASCAP
  • Provide more flexibility to tourism businesses to make a payment schedule that works for their revenue generating cycles by eliminating penalties for lump sum payments for HASCAP.

  • Ensure Travellers Continue to Support Canada's Resource-based Tourism Sector
  • Remove pre-entry testing for fully vaccinated travellers by May 1st, 2022 and reduce the number of random testing done post entry.
  • Reopen Remoter Area Border Crossings and processes, and Airports of Entry for seaplanes.
  • Develop a tax credit for tourism businesses to cover costs associated with providing COVID-19 safe environments for staff and guests and promoting those safety measures to build consumer confidence.
  • Reinstate and expand the HST/GST rebate program for international visitors.
  • Provide a tax credit to all Canadians to encourage them to explore Canada. To assist the resource-based tourism industry and encourage long distance travel, provide a larger tax credit to Canadians that travel farther from home within Canada.

  • Climate Change Resiliency
  • Provide a grant/loan program that would provide a minimum conditional contribution of 50% of the capital costs of solar system installation and/ or sprinkler systems with the option of a loan to cover an additional 25%.

  • Immediate Action on Commercial Insurance Rates and Coverage
  • NOTO supports TIAO in urging for immediate action from both federal and provincial governments to address high commercial insurance rates through the development of a time-limited insurance program in which federal and provincial governments, policyholders, and underwriters share risk to enable hard-hit tourism businesses to access coverage and lower insurance premiums.

We will be following up over the next few weeks with MPs to enhance the impact of our submission and recommendations. To view our complete submission click HERE.
Early Bird Promo: 1-Month Remaining!

Renew your membership or join NOTO before March 31st, 2022 to be entered for a chance to win the Early Bird Prize Draw!

  • Entry Level: $452.00
  • Bronze: $621.50 NOW: $593.25
  • Silver: $734.50 NOW: $706.25

  • Basic: $621.50 NOW: $593.25
  • Bronze: $779.70 NOW: $734.50
  • Silver: $1,367.30 NOW: $1,299.50

Associate Membership: $423.75

Public Membership: $73.45 

If you require an invoice for your records, please e-mail NOTO staff. 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!
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!!
Northern Ontario Tourism Spring Training Week is coming up soon!

Save the Date! » April 12 – 14, 2022

Join Destination Northern Ontario and Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario for an up-to-date look at our industry and ‘just in time’ information sessions that can help you as you launch into the busy spring and summer tourism season.

The event will be delivered virtually and registration is FREE to all industry partners.
Ontario COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant Closes Soon

Small businesses that were ordered to close on January 5th, 2022 under the modified Step Two regulations can apply for the Ontario COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant.  Eligible businesses have until March 11, 2022, to apply to receive a grant of $10,000. To apply, please click here.
Ontario Eliminating Licence Plate Renewal Fees and Stickers

The Ontario government is eliminating licence plate renewal fees and the requirement to have a licence plate sticker for passenger vehicles, light-duty trucks, motorcycles and mopeds, effective March 13, 2022.

The government introduced legislation earlier this week that would enable the province to refund eligible individual owners of vehicles for any licence plate renewal fees paid since March 2020. If passed, vehicle owners will receive a cheque in the mail starting at the end of March and throughout the month of April.

To receive a refund cheque, vehicle owners who have moved recently will need to confirm that their address information on their vehicle permit or driver’s licence is up-to-date at Ontario.ca/AddressChange by March 7, 2022, and pay any outstanding fees, fines or tolls. For more information and/or assistance with changing an address, vehicles owners can call ServiceOntario’s dedicated line at 1-888-333-0049 or visit their local ServiceOntario office.

Under the proposal, renewal fees will also be eliminated for passenger, light duty commercial vehicles, motorcycles and mopeds that are owned by a company or business. However, no refunds will be given for the period of March 2020 to March 2022.

Changes in Canada's Border Measures Coming Into Effect Feb. 28th, 2022

The Government of Canada announced that it will change some of the border measures effective February 28th, 2022 at 12:01am. The measures include the following:

  • Fully-vaccinated travellers will now have the option to have either a negative PCR test taken within 72hr prior to their arrival in Canada or a rapid antigen test taken within 24hr prior to their arrival at a land-border or before boarding their flight to Canada. Taking a rapid antigen test at home is not sufficient to meet the pre-entry requirement – it must be authorized by the country in which it was purchased and must be administered by a laboratory, healthcare entity or telehealth service.

  • Fully-vaccinated travellers will no longer be required to take an on-arrival test however, there is a possibility of being randomly selected for arrival testing. Those randomly selected for arrival testing will not be required to quarantine while awaiting their test results.

  • Children under 12 years old, travelling with fully vaccinated adults, will continue to be exempt from quarantine, without any prescribed conditions limiting their activities.

  • All travellers must enter all of their information, proof of vaccination, as well as a quarantine plan, into the ArriveCAN app within 72hrs prior to their arrival in Canada.

  • Unvaccinated foreign nationals will not be permitted to enter Canada unless they meet one of the few exemptions. Those who meet exemptions will continue to be required to test on arrival, on Day 8 and quarantine for 14 days.
TIAO Calls - Tuesday February 22nd


Tuesday March 1
COVID-19 Northern Ontario Tourism Update Call
Tue, Mar 1, 2022 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (EST)

Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.

You can also dial in using your phone.
Canada (Toll Free): 1 888 455 1389
Access Code: 314-684-189


COVID-19 Ontario Tourism Update Call
Tue, Mar 1, 2022 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (EST)

Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.

You can also dial in using your phone.
Canada (Toll Free): 1 888 299 1889
Access Code: 275-784-333

Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://meet.goto.com/install

Thank you,
The TIAO team 
Proposals on Non-Resident Deer Hunts & Caribou
 
The Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry is seeking to engage the tourism industry and other interested parties on potential ideas and approaches to strengthen/expand guide requirements for non-resident white-tailed deer hunters in northern Ontario.

The Government has also shared it's proposal regarding the conservation agreement for boreal caribou, which has been posted to the Environmental Registry of Ontario for public consultation, that includes commitments being considered by both Ontario and Canada.

To view the proposals and submit comments, please click on the buttons below.

NOTO is keenly interested in hearing directly from operators regarding their thoughts in order to prepare for upcoming discussions. Please share with us by emailing laurie@noto.net.
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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:

  • Black Spruce Forest - Forest Management Plan Amendment (closes April 1st)
  • English River Forest - Annual Work Schedule Changes (closes March 31st)
  • Kenora Forest - Inspection of Approved 2022-2032 Forest Management Plan (closes April 1st)
  • Kenora Forest - Inspection of Annual Work Schedule Changes (closes March 31st)
  • Mazinaw-Lanark Forest - Inspection of Approved FMP (closes March 3rd)
  • Ogoki Forest - Annual Work Schedule Changes (closes April 1st)
  • Trout Lake Forest - Inspection of Approved Burn Plan for Slash Piles (closes March 31st)
  • Trout Lake Forest - Annual Work Schedule Changes (closes March 31st)
  • Wabadowgang Noopming (formerly Armstrong) Forest - Review of Proposed Operations (closes March 14th)
  • Whitefeather Forest - Inspection of Approved 2022-2032 FMP (closes April 1st)
  • Whiskey Jack Forest - Review of Forest Management Plan Extension (closes December 14th)
  • Whiskey Jack Forest - Invitation to Participate: 2023-2033 FMP (closes July 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.
Tourism SkillsNet North

As we approach the end of the Tourism SkillsNet North program (March 31st, 2022), we would still like to help you find staff!

If you register as a participating employer between now and March 31st, 2021, we will host your job listings on the TSNN Job Board and Indeed Profile to help you find staff.

To learn more about our wind-down activities, please click here.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to the Tourism SkillsNet North team.
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