In Today's Update
- Message from NOTO's Executive Director
- Tourism SkillsNet North Launches
- Clarification on When the Stay-at-Home Order Ends and Regulations in Effect Until June 14th
- Canada-US Border
- GOGG Announcements - Next round of winners TBA Monday; take advantage of advertising opportunities!
- TIAO Survey - Ontario Tourism and Travel Small Business Support Grant
- Announcement from TIAO
- Updated Resources from WSPS
- Ontario Takes Next Step with Northeastern Passenger Rail
- A Message from a NOTO Member: Michelle Savoie (Voyageur Wilderness)
- Ontario Tourism & Travel Small Business Support Grant
- Forestry Notices
- Safe Travels Stamp
- Renew or Join NOTO! - Early Bird Rates Extended!
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:
|
|
A Message from NOTO's Executive Director
I want to start this message by taking the opportunity to thank all of you who have called and emailed this week to renew your membership and welcome those of you who have joined NOTO over the past several weeks. Your support is what helps us to continue our efforts on behalf of resource-based tourism. We would not be here without you. We have also received numerous calls and emails for operators who have pledged their support when their cashflows return, we appreciate you sharing those messages with us.
This has been anther week of uncertainty and change and the NOTO office has been working hard to find answers to all of your questions about what lies ahead in the next few weeks for our sector of tourism. The announcement from the Premier that the Stay At Home Order will be lifted on June 2nd is welcomed news for all of us but he also stated that the Emergency Break measures will continue to remain in place until June 14th (or when the re-opening Steps begin). These measures include a long list of separate regulations for everything from closure of public lands for recreational camping to people entering Ontario from Manitoba and Quebec. Honestly, it is taking time to verify what regulations may impact our sector but we are working diligently to find the answers.
What we know for certain is that O. Reg. 82/20 is part of the Emergency measures that will remain in place. As we have noted for the last several months, this regulation states that hotels, motels, lodges, resorts, cabins and cottages can remain open with the condition of closing all pools, saunas, and the like. There are no stipulations on gathering restrictions specifically identified for these businesses.
Please review the article in this newsletter for more of what we know to be in place at this time and expect more details as we dig through the numerous other emergency break regulations.
In other words, stay tuned. and keep questions coming in as you plan your coming weeks.
Be well,
Laurie
|
|
Tourism SkillsNet North Launches
Providing Customized Labour Support for Hard-hit Sector in Northern Ontario
(Sault Ste. Marie - May 27, 2021) Announced this morning by Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development joined by Lisa McLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism, and Culture Industries, The Ontario Tourism Education Corporation (OTEC), Destination Northern Ontario, Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario, District Social Services Administration Boards, Indigenous Tourism Ontario and Northern Ontario Workforce Planning Boards have collaborated to launch Tourism SkillsNet North - a new initiative designed to provide support to the hard-hit tourism sector. The newly launched initiative will identify workforce labour gaps specific to northern Ontario, design responsive customized training to meet these specific needs, train employees and match them with available job opportunities within Northern Ontario's tourism sector.
Tourism SkillsNet North will identify and train 300 employees and match them with a minimum of 150 employers within Northern Ontario's tourism sector, as tourism operators scale up for the year of the Ontario Staycation. Qualified employers whose businesses have been negatively impacted by the pandemic will be eligible for a 30 per cent wage subsidy to $3,000 per employee.
"The goal of Tourism SkillsNet North is to understand and support the skills and talent needs of the tourism sector. This initiative will not only allow 300 participants to develop skills and a passion for the industry but also address the needs of the local labour market and more than 150 employers that have been impacted by the pandemic." stated David MacLachlan Executive Director, Destination Northern Ontario "Once Ontario opens for business, the Northern Ontario tourism industry will be ready."
"At its heart, tourism has always been about people." said Adam Morrison, President and CEO, OTEC. "As we work collaboratively with our partners to support post pandemic workforce recovery, it's critical that we focus on attraction and retention of highly skilled people who have a passion for this vital sector. To that end, we're delighted to play a responsive role in providing new customized training solutions designed to meet the very specific needs of Northern Ontario's tourism sector just as reopening plans begin to take shape."
An industry survey was conducted in early May 2021 to support, analyze and identify specific workforce labour gaps and available opportunities within Northern Ontario's tourism sector. The survey results also helped to inform and support the skills and talent needs of the tourism sector by developing and delivering training to best meet the specific labour gaps identified by employers.
"We are very pleased to participate in this collaborative initiative. We know that tourism businesses have been finding it difficult to fill labour gaps for the last few years. This pandemic has only increased the size of those gaps. When leisure travel resumes, people will want the outdoor vacation options that Northern Ontario has. Having a strong workforce to continue providing quality outdoor guest experiences is critical." stated Laurie Marcil, Executive Director Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario. "This program will help to showcase the wide variety of jobs in tourism in Northern Ontario. It will also go a long way in building a workforce that is ready for careers in the tourism industry which will help our tourism businesses be ready to welcome all guests back."
Details of the Tourism SkillsNet North initiative, including online registration, criteria and training schedule will be released in the coming weeks.
|
|
Clarification on When the Stay-at-Home Order Ends and Regulations in Effect Until June 14th
The Government announced that the Stay-at-Home order will expire on June 2nd. However, the Government is planning on keeping all existing public health measures and restrictions in place (O.Reg. 82/20 and others ) until the province enters Step One of the Roadmap to Reopen, which is expected to begin on June 14th. The province will confirm timelines closer to the expected start of Step One.
Until we enter Step One, here are some of the regulations that will continue to apply:
Hotels, motels, lodges, cabins, cottages, resorts and other shared rental accommodation (O.Reg. 82/20 - #25 under Schedule 2):
- Any indoor pools, communal steam rooms, saunas or whirlpools, indoor fitness centres, or other indoor recreational facilities that are part of the operation of these businesses, are closed.
Campsites must be made available only for trailers and recreational vehicles that are:
- used by individuals who are in need of housing, or
- permitted to be there by the terms of a full season contract.
- Only campsites with electricity, water services and facilities for sewage disposal may be provided. All recreational facilities in the campground and all other shared facilities in the campground, other than washrooms and showers, must be closed.
Restaurants, bars, and other food or drink establishments (O. Reg. 82/20- #6, under Schedule 2): Take out, drive through, and delivery permitted only (includes the sale of alcohol).
Marinas (O.Reg 82/20 - #37 under Schedule 2):
Marinas, boating clubs and other organizations that maintain docking facilities for members or patrons that meet the following conditions can open:
1. Any clubhouse, restaurant, pool, communal steam room, sauna or whirlpool, meeting room, fitness centre or other recreational facility on the premises must be closed to the public, except for any portion of those areas that,
- is used to provide first aid services,
- is used to provide take-out or delivery service,
- contains a washroom, or
- provides access to an area described in subparagraph i, ii or iii.
2. For greater certainty, nothing in this Order precludes a person responsible for a marina, boating club or other organization that maintains docking facilities for members or patrons from operating a grocery or convenience store on the premises or from providing fuel supply, boat or watercraft repair and servicing, boat or watercraft docking and boat or watercraft launching services.
Outdoor Recreational Amenities (O. Reg. 82/20 - #4 under Schedule 3):
Outdoor recreational amenities are permitted to open so long as individuals maintain social distance of 2m from anyone outside of their household who happen to be using the facilities.
Recreational Boating (O. Reg 82/20 - #4 (06) under Schedule 3):
Each person responsible for a boat or watercraft shall ensure that if a group of persons uses that boat or watercraft together for recreational purposes, the members of the group are all members of the same household OR one other person from outside that household who lives alone or a caregiver for any member of the household.
Please be advised that local medical officers of health also have the ability to issue Section 22 orders under the Health Protection and Promotion Act to target specific transmission risks in the community. All operators are encouraged to reach out to their local health units to make sure they comply with all regulations and restrictions in their respective districts.
|
|
PLEASE NOTE: We are awaiting clarification on the following questions.
Q. What are the restrictions with regards to accommodating guests?
Q. Can we offer fishing guides to guests?
Q. Can operators with commercial outpost LUPs within Provincial Parks be permitted to operate before we enter Step One of the reopening plan?
|
|
Canada-US Border
A few news articles have been circulating that are stating that the US will unilaterally open the border which will allow Canadians to travel to the US effective June 22nd. As far as we understand it, these reports are untrue.
We have however seen more activity on border re-opening discussions within the Canadian Government. Perhaps this media attention was the pressure our Government needed to get things moving.
Please know that NOTO is taking this opportunity to reiterate our messages of support for a safe reopening of the border as soon as possible.
|
|
Great Ontario Getaway Giveaway
Announcements
Next Round of Winners Will Be Announced May 31st!
The next round of winners (5 winning participants and 5 randomly selected lodges) will be announced during Fish'n Canada's livestream event on May 31st at 2pm EST! You can watch this livestream on Fish'n Canada's Facebook page on the day of the event.
Participating Operators: Take Advantage of the Advertising Opportunities!
Only a handful of participating operators have taken advantage of the free advertising opportunity on Fish'n Canada's website! In order to maximize your exposure through this contest, we highly encourage operators to take advantage of these opportunities! If you have any questions, e-mail kate@noto.net.
Looking to Participate?
If you haven't submitted an application yet, you can still do so. We've had a number of resource-based tourism businesses submit their packages for this program which highlight the great variety of unique experiences Northern Ontario has to offer! The contest will run until August so it's never too late to join in on the action. Please remember, awarded trips can be fulfilled in 2021 OR 2022.
|
|
TIAO Survey - Ontario Tourism and Travel Small Business Support Grant
The Ontario Tourism and Travel Small Business Support Grant was announced as part of the provincial government’s budget on March 24th. The grant offers tourism businesses the opportunity to apply for up to $20,000 in government grant support.
It was recently opened for applications, but as referenced by Minister Lisa MacLeod on her most recent town-hall call, at this early stage, there haven’t been as many applications to the fund as expected.
TIAO wants to hear from you about whether you have applied for the grant, found yourself ineligible or learn of any other reasons why you’ve not been able to apply for the grant. This will help us advise government and work to ensure this much needed funding gets to the businesses it was intended to support.
Fill out the survey here.
Thank you,
The TIAO team.
|
|
Announcement From TIAO
Dear TIAO members,
We will not be hosting stakeholder calls next week as we will be attending the Tourism Industry Association of Canada's Town Hall.
Speaking at this year's Town Hall will be Beth Potter, President and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada and Marsha Walden, President and CEO of Destination Canada and Christopher Bloore, President & CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario. Moderated by Andrew Weir, Executive Vice President, Destination Development at Destination Toronto, the panelists will participate in live Q+A from the audience.
We encourage you to attend this complimentary event as well. You can sign up to attend the Town Hall here.
Thank you,
The TIAO team.
|
|
Updated Resources from WSPS
In the light of summer being just around the corner, WSPS has provided some updated resources for your business.
For other information and resources, visit the WSPS website.
|
|
Ontario Takes Next Step with Northeastern Passenger Rail
The Government is taking the next step towards bringing passenger rail service to people in the northeast with the release of the Initial Business Case. The next stage of the planning process will focus on a proposed service route to build a better transportation network for Northern Ontario.
The province, Ontario Northland and Metrolinx are moving forward with planning for a 13-stop route that would provide service from Toronto to Timmins or Cochrane.
Service would be offered based on seasonal travel demands and would range from four to seven days a week. The service would allow passengers coming from the North to travel overnight to maximize their day in the Toronto area and reduce the need for overnight accommodations in Toronto, if preferred. The target completion date for the next stage of planning and design work is 2022 which could allow a potential in-service date in the mid 2020s.
|
|
A Message from a NOTO Member
Michelle Savoie - Voyageur Wilderness
Hello, Bonjour, Taanishi,
I’m honored and excited to be one of the semi-finalists in the cross Canada Indigenous "Share Your Story" Competition. I live, own and operate Voyageur Wilderness, with focus on nature-based experiences from Nym Lake, border of Quetico Park, (Atikokan), Northwest Ontario.
As a Métis Francophone woman, originally from Saint-Boniface MB, I am so fortunate to have received many of Métis teachings and traditions passed from one generation to the next. It’s a continuous wonderful evolving journey and I continue to learn. My family name Savoie means her voice/ her path and I deeply feel that I am part of something more than just myself. It’s about sharing my story, the “joie-de-vie” spirit, our traditions and our connection to nature and each other, and how ALL is connected. It’s about empowering others on their own journey – for future generations.
That’s what prompted me to enter the "Share Your Story" Competition. For me to be a finalist I need your VOTE! Check out my profile & video - select VOTE NOW. You can vote once DAILY! Voting is now open until 11:59 p.m. EST May 30th, 2021.
It would be awesome and greatly appreciated if you would share this and vote for me to be a finalist.
Thank you, Maarsii,
Michelle Savoie
L'ile Voyageur Island, Lac Nym Lake - Quetico
address(e): CP/Box 850
Atikokan, ON P0T-1C0 Canada
|
|
Congratulations Michelle for making it into the semifinals!
We wish you the best of luck!
|
|
REMINDER: Ontario Tourism & Travel Small Business Support Grant
The Ontario Tourism and Travel Small Business Support Grant is now available. The application portal will remain open until June 25th, 2021. This program will provide grants of $10,000-$20,000 to eligible businesses. Businesses can use this support grant in whatever way makes the most sense for their business.
For more information and details on the grant and what information you will need for your application, please click here.
|
|
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 latest notices NOTO has received are listed below:
-
Inspection of Approved Insect Pest Management Program Red Lake, Trout Lake, Kenora, Whiskey Jack, Dryden, Wabigoon, English River, Lac Seul and Caribou Forests - Closes May 30th
-
Inspection of Approved Amendment #2 to the 2020-2030 Forest Management Plan for the Red Lake Forest - Closes May 30th
-
Review of Draft Forest Management Plan for Kenogami Forest 2021-2031 - Closes June 22nd
-
2021-2024 proposed operations for a Contingency Plan for the Lac Seul Forest. - Closes June 14th
-
FMP Amendment for the Gordon Cosens Forest - Closes May 31st
To view the notices and to participate in the consultation, please click on the button below. To receive notices for your Forest Management Unit directly in your inbox, register an account on the MNRF's new forestry website by clicking the button below as well.
|
|
Get Your Safe Travel 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’.
NOTO's health and safety protocols, which have been vetted by the Government of Ontario have been recognized as standardized protocols for this purpose.
If you've implemented our protocols, or any other Government approved protocols throughout your workplace, apply to receive your stamp!
|
|
Renew Your Membership or Join NOTO!
Great news! The NOTO Board of Directors is extending the early bird membership pricing for the remainder of 2021!
-
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
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 so much for your support!
|
|
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 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.
|
|
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.
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|