In Today's Update
- A Message from NOTO's Executive Director
- Great Ontario Getaway Giveaway - Congratulations to our latest winners!
- Canada-US Border & FAQs
- CBSA Strike has ended
- TIAO Survey & Next Week Calls Cancelled
- Tourism Relief Fund - NOTO & TIAO's Advocacy Efforts
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Tourism Relief Fund Eligibility Poll: Participation Requested!
- Potential Testing Option - Lake Superior State University
- Tourism SkillsNet North - Hired new employees? Get them trained for free & receive a subsidy!
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Safe Travels Stamp - Safe Travels Stamp Awards Coming Soon!
- Forestry Notices
- 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:
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A Message from NOTO's Executive Director
Laurie Marcil
As we approach the reopening of the Canadian border to our long-awaited US guests, we were elated to hear late last night that the CBSA strike action has ended. The strike had been a building concern as it threatened to cause long delays at our border crossings.
Our guests will still be required to do more than they have before to enter our country but we have all had more to comply with and do during this pandemic. We are not out of the woods yet as much as we would like to be. These measures are in place to ensure that Canadians can feel safe about reopening the border now while the Delta variant rages on throughout the US.
We will continue to provide as much guidance and support as we can to you and your guests. We will continue to update our FAQs on our border page. Our Northern Border Working Group has helped to developed a page on the NorthernOntario.travel website to help US guests navigate the requirements, we encourage everyone in tourism to share this page with consumers. This page will be updated as required. https://www.northernontario.travel/best/canada-us-border-opening-information
Over the course of this pandemic we have made steady effort to ensure that our tourism sector has clear and up to date resources to help them through this. We encourage you to refer to our COVID-19 page. It is easy to navigate with hot links at the top to take you right to the section you need.
With the support of Destination Northern Ontario we have developed a very comprehensive Best Practices Protocol document for the resource-base tourism sector and we encourage all operators to review its contents. These protocols were vetted through the Workplace Safety and Prevention Services and approved by the Province of Ontario. They will help you meet the regulations.
On our advocacy efforts we are in need of information from you to help us understand how your business is structured. We need to assess how many will be ineligible for the new Tourism Relief Fund. We want to ensure that all tourism businesses are able to access this and future support programs that we are pushing Government for whether Provincial of Federal. Please take a moment and answer the quick poll listed in this newsletter. Beyond this program we are very interested to learn why some tourism businesses are not incorporated and we hope that you will share your insights with us.
As US guests begin to cross the border next week, we encourage you to share with us, by email, any feedback from your guests regarding their experiences. It is important that we remain informed so that we can bring any issues forward an keep our discussions with Government current. I will be out of cell range for most of next week but Kate ( kate@noto.net) and our President Bob Garson (705-253-4938) will be available for any urgent matters.
Be well,
Laurie
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Great Ontario Getaway Giveaway
Congratulations to our Latest Winners!
- Pakwash Lake Camp
- Garden Island Lodge
- Eagle Lake Island Lodge
- Lukinto Lake Lodge
- Kingfisher Resort
You can re-watch the live stream on Fish'n Canada's Facebook page by clicking here.
The winners of the trips will be sent a release form from Fish'n Canada which allows us to share their contact details with the winning lodges. Once we receive the signed release forms, we will be contact all winning lodges with their next steps.
Five trips have yet to be awarded!
The last draw will take place at the end of August. Best of luck!
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FAQs About the Border
Here are some of the latest questions we've been receiving regarding the reopening of the border for fully-vaccinated Americans. You can view the remainder of the FAQs by clicking here. All operators are encouraged to keep an eye on the Government's website as additional details may become available as we continue to approach August 9th.
Q. Some of my guests don't have smartphones. Are there any other ways for them to enter their information into ArriveCAN?
As long as they have access to a computer, they will be able to enter all their information into the ArriveCAN app online using the following website: https://arrivecan.cbsa-asfc.cloud-nuage.canada.ca/privacy. Please make sure to tell your guests to print a copy of the receipt/confirmation code that they will receive at the end and to bring it with them when they cross the border.
Q. Why is the ArriveCAN app telling my guests they are ineligible?
The changes in the ArriveCAN app to account for the new fully-vaccinated American exemption will only be updated a few days prior to August 9th. Travellers should only be entering their information into the ArriveCAN app within 72 hours of their arrival.
Q. What happens if we don't have a physical address for our lodge/outpost? What should our guests put in the ArriveCAN app?
We recommend you tell your guests to put in the address you use for your business and your phone number. This should satisfy the quarantine plan requirements when your clients plug in their information in the ArriveCAN app. One thing to keep in mind is that the quarantine plan only really comes into play if the individual is told that they do not meet all the requirements for the fully-vaccinated quarantine exemption, or in the event they test positive while in Canada, and at that point they have the choice to return home.
Please tell your guests to only fill in the app closer to their arrival date as the app hasn't been updated to account for the fully-vaccinated American exemption yet. All information must be plugged into the ArriveCAN app within 72 hours of arrival into Canada.
Q. Will my guests need to take an arrival test at the border?
They may be randomly selected to take a COVID-19 test.
Q. Do we have any information on the random testing yet?
We do not have any more details on how the random testing will be conducted yet. We will update as soon as we have something to share. NOTO has been advocating hard to ensure the process will not be too challenging for US guests.
Q. How will the CBSA strike impact Northern Ontario border crossings?
An agreement was reach late Friday August 6th so there will be no strike action and therefore NO impacts.
Q. What happens if a guest is in line to cross the border and they surpass the 72hr mark for their test? Will they be allowed in?
We have requested a response on this with CBSA officials but have yet to receive a response.
You can view all the details that the Canadian Government expects from fully-vaccinated travellers here. This page will be updated regularly as we approach August 9th so be sure to check regularly.
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TIAO Survey Focusing on Step 3 & Beyond
TIAO is conducting a survey to collect up-to-date information on the impact of Step 3, post-Step 3, and border reopening on tourism businesses. As the border reopens and public health restrictions are being eased, it is necessary to gather information to demonstrate the tourism industry’s continued need for government support even as tourism revenues rise.
The purpose of this survey is to understand to what extent tourism revenues have improved since key reopening dates were announced and business perspectives on staffing challenges, proof of vaccination (e.g., vaccine passports), commercial insurance rates, and challenges to recovery. We seek your assistance in providing this high-level reporting so that we can advocate on your behalf.
Thank you,
The TIAO team.
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Please note: There will be no TIAO calls on the August 10th or on August 17th.
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NOTO & TIAO Advocate for Expanded Eligibility for Tourism Relief Fund
Both NOTO and TIAO have received countless e-mails and calls from operators expressing their concerns that they are unable to apply for the Tourism Relief Fund because they are not incorporated, despite meeting all other eligibility criteria.
Both organizations know that Government supports are crucial to the survival and recovery of several businesses therefore NOTO and TIAO have put together a joint letter asking the Federal Government to consider expanding the eligibility criteria for this program. To read this joint letter, please click here.
In addition, both NOTO and TIAO will continue to advocate to ensure that Government supports help all tourism businesses across Ontario to survive and recover.
NOTO also continues to meet with FedNor regularly to ensure that the programs meet our sectors needs, as well as continue to advocate for additional support programs, making a greater portion of the loan programs forgivable, and to extend the payback deadlines as we continue to face rough waters.
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Tourism Relief Fund Eligibility Poll: Participation Requested!
NOTO continues to communicate your concerns regularly with the Federal Government. To help us understand the full impact of eligibility criteria, we would like to know how many businesses have been impacted by the "incorporated" requirement.
We are in need of your assistance in our advocacy efforts to affect changes. Please take 1 minute to answer this quick poll.
Thank you for participating! Your input greatly helps us in our advocacy efforts.
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Testing Option for Guests arriving through Michigan - Lake Superior State University
Some of our members have reached out to us to let us know that Lake Superior State University, located 1km away from the Sault Ste. Marie border crossing, are offering PCR rapid tests for travellers. Guests considering this option need to book an appointment up to a week in advance. Test results are apparently available in 15 minutes and the tests they use are on the Canadian Government's approved list.
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Tourism SkillsNet North
This program will help train both new and re-hires, and also provide operators with a 30% wage subsidy of up to $3,000 per employee.
If you are using this program to re-hire employees, please ensure that both you and the employee are registered to participate in the program and let NOTO know the name of the employee so that we match them to your business right away. NOTO will then send you a placement confirmation form that will need to be completed.
If you are seeking to fill vacant positions, NOTO will send you a list of potential trained candidates which you can then interview and choose from. Once you and the employee have confirmed the placement, you will receive a placement confirmation form from NOTO.
Once the placement period is near completion, NOTO will then send you the steps to claim the wage subsidy. We will need pay stubs and additional information at that time.
Tourism SkillsNet North (TSNN) was designed to identify specific workforce labour gaps, train up to 300 potential employees and match them with available job opportunities within Northern Ontario’s tourism sector.
To register for this program, please click on the button below.
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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’.
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.
NEW - The application process is now online for easier delivery.
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COMING SOON: Safe Travels Stamp Awards
Watch your inbox for an exciting announcement from TIAO outlining the all-new Safe Travels Stamp Awards.
The Safe Travels Stamp Award is a way for your customers and local residents to recognize your business's outstanding efforts in adopting the World Travel & Tourism Council's health and hygiene global standardized protocols for the hospitality and tourism sector. It's their way of saying they feel safe when doing business with you.
There are 13 Safe Travels Stamp Awards to be won: one for each tourism region in Ontario.
Stay tuned to learn more!
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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 latest notices NOTO has received are listed below:
- Bancroft-Minden Forest - 3-Month Extension of FMP (closes Oct.1st)
- Lac Seul Forest - Review of Draft Contingency Plan (closes Oct. 5th)
- Lake Nipigon Forest - Approved Aerial Herbicide Project (closes Sept. 24th)
- Mazinaw-Lanark Forest - 3-Month Extension of FMP (closes Oct.. 1st)
- Nipissing Forest - Approved Aerial Herbicide Project (closes Aug. 20th)
- North Shore Forest - Approved Aerial Herbicide Project (closes Aug 18th)
- Ottawa Valley Forest - 3-Month Extension of FMP (closes Oct. 1st)
- Pic Forest - Approved Aerial Herbicide Project (closes Aug. 20th)
- Romeo Malette Forest - Approved Aerial Herbicide Project (closes Aug. 15th)
- White River Forest - Approved Aerial Herbicide Project (closes Aug. 15th)
- Whitefeather Forest - Review of Draft FMP (closes Sept. 22nd)
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 ministry's forestry website by clicking the button below as well.
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Renew Your Membership or Join NOTO!
NOTO has extended the early bird membership pricing for the remainder of 2021!
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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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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.
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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 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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