In Today's Update
- A Message from NOTO's President
- Call for Nominations: Join NOTO's Board of Directors!
- Welcoming Back International Travellers
- Resources from Public Health Agency of Canada for Travellers
- Federal Election Voting Dates
- Green Party Platform Released
- TSNN: Hired Staff After June 1st, 2021?
- Safe Travel Stamp Awards are Here!
- 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 President
Bob Garson - Garson's Fly-In Outposts
Hello NOTO Members,
I am pleased to hear that the Bear Outfitters are having great success with the hunters they have received. It is noted that it was short notice to make it happen but, it is one step closer to normalcy. The fishermen that have made the trip across the border have been rewarded with some excellent late season fishing and some very welcoming outfitters. My hope is that we are able to carry this positivity through the moose hunt.
This is also the time of the year when the vacancies in our NOTO Board require members to step up and represent their area. If you have any questions on how to apply, please contact the NOTO staff. I also want to thank all the Board Members for their continued support and input. Remember, this is not the only election taking place this fall and I urge you to exercise your right and vote in the Federal Election.
NOTO President
Bob Garson
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Call for Nominations - Three Weeks Remain*
Join NOTO's Board of Directors!
On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are calling out to all camp operators who are members of NOTO to encourage you to consider putting your name forward for a seat on our Board. It is important for this organization to have a Board that is representative of its members; a Board that can set the goals and objectives of the organization while ensuring they are responding to the needs of the industry. Help us support the growth of resource-based tourism in Ontario!
The following number of seats are available in each of our four electoral regions this year:
- Northwest: 1
- North Central: 1
- Northeast: 2
- South: 3
In order to stand for election, you must be a paid-up Regular member. You can nominate or run only in your own region. Each nomination must be endorsed by two camp operators from your region. The nomination form can be found by clicking the following link: https://noto.ca/fm/2021NominationForm
Completed nomination forms should be returned to the NOTO office by email, FAX or mail by September 30, 2021. Once the nominations are received, ballots will be prepared and sent to the membership electronically. You will also be able to vote by mail or FAX up to 24 hrs before the Annual General Meeting. NOTE: The AGM will be held virtually this fall and the date will be announced soon.
We encourage you to consider putting your name forward to run for the NOTO Board of Directors. In general, NOTO Board members meet by conference call once a month for approximately 2 hours with the exception of the operating season where calls are held less frequently.
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The Government of Canada has re-opened Canadian borders to fully vaccinated international travellers who meet pre-entry requirements on September 7, 2021. Similarly to requirements for fully-vaccinated Americans, fully-vaccinated international travellers will need to meet the following requirements:
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Be fully vaccinated: a traveller must have received, and show proof of, the full series of a vaccine (2 doses), or combination of vaccines accepted by the Government of Canada (Moderna, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, J&J) and at least 14 days must have passed since their second dose before entering Canada.
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Have a valid pre-arrival COVID-19 molecular test result taken no more than 72 hours before their scheduled flight or their arrival at the land border crossing. Antigen tests are not accepted;
- Be asymptomatic;
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Submit their mandatory information via ArriveCAN (App or website), including proof of vaccination in English or French and a quarantine plan within 72 hours of their arrival;
- Be admissible under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act; and,
- Take a test on arrival, if selected.
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Public Health Agency of Canada's Resources for Travellers
The Public Health Agency of Canada have developed the following tools and links to better understand the full scope of these changes and what travellers will need to know before, during, and after their entry to Canada.
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Infographic: A one page document outlining requirements for all travellers entering Canada by land or air.
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Fact Sheet: A detailed document with the 5 steps fully vaccinated travellers entering into Canada must follow.
Website links:
Random Testing Information
We are also aware that some individuals may have questions about the random testing process as they prepare to come to Canada. The following video by Switch Health explains step by step how to complete the take-home test and how to schedule a pick-up: Watch Instruction Video
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Federal Election Voting Dates
As the election continues to ramp up, we wanted to make sure the industry is aware of some key dates. Individuals can vote:
- on election day on Monday, September 20, 2021
- at one of the advance polls on Friday, September 10, 2021; Saturday, September 11, 2021; Sunday, September 12, 2021; or Monday, September 13, 2021
- at any Elections Canada office across Canada before Tuesday, September 14, 2021, 6:00 p.m., local time
- by mail: Electors must apply to vote by mail before Tuesday, September 14, 2021, 6:00 p.m., local time.
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Electors can apply online. If they prefer, they can complete a paper application form. Forms are available at any Elections Canada office. They can also be printed from elections.ca, or sent by mail, upon request, by calling 1-800-463-6868.
- Electors voting by mail should plan ahead. They must allow time for their voting kit to reach them and for their marked ballot to be returned to Elections Canada.
- Elections Canada must receive the marked ballots by the election day deadline; otherwise, they will not be counted.
Make sure that you are registered to vote by visiting elections.ca
Here are the platforms for each party:
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Green Party Platform Released
The Green Party of Canada has released its full election platform titled ‘Be Daring.’ this week. Similarly to what NOTO has done for the other parties in previous newsletters, we have pulled promises from their platform as they relate to our sector and listed them below. To view a summary of the promises made by all parties as they relate to tourism, visit our website by clicking here.
COVID-19 & Small Business Supports:
- Extend wage and rent subsidies until COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions are fully lifted.
- Hold the small business tax rate at no more than 9%.
- Reduce the paperwork burden on small businesses by eliminating duplicative tax filings and red tape.
- Ensure all new legislation considers the impact on small businesses.
- Reduce bureaucracy and streamline approvals for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to adopt technologies.
- Promote entrepreneurship training and business support, especially for women, young, racialized and Indigenous entrepreneurs.
- Establish a federally funded Green Venture Capital Fund of $1 billion to support viable small local green business start-ups.
- Subsidize the implementation of new clean technologies across all SMEs
Supporting the North:
- Address disparities in delivery, access, and funding for rural services
- Establish a parliamentary committee to collect information on place-based needs in rural and remote communities, including the state of funding for rural services in the context of the economic/social realities faced by those communities, and develop recommendations on how these gaps can be closed in ways that work at the local level.
- Make investments to expand transit services and infrastructure.
- Invest $500 million in 2022-23, rising to $720 million by 2024 to develop regional rail networks and strengthen rail connections between regions.
- Provide affordable and accessible internet services across Canada, including rural areas.
- Continue to support the Universal Broadband Fund, and retain that funding with an additional $150 M annually over 4 years to reach communities at the lowest end of the eligibility spectrum
- Break up telecom monopolies through changes to CRTC regulation to allow for more equitable treatment of rural consumers
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Hired Staff After June 1st, 2021?
Register Them To Receive a Wage Subsidy!
If you have hired staff after June 1st, 2021, you can register them to the Tourism SkillsNet North program to have them trained and received a wage subsidy! We understand that you may need all hands on deck, that's why we are committed to working with you to have your employees complete the e-training near or at the end of the operating season. As long as your employees complete the online training, you will receive a 30% wage subsidy (up to $3000) per employee!
Register your business and 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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The Safe Travels Stamp Awards Are Here!
Click on the button below 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:
- Abitibi River Forest - Review draft 2022-2032 FMP (Closes Nov. 3rd)
- Bancroft-Minden Forest - 3-month extension of FMP (Closes Oct. 1st)
- Bancroft-Minden Forest - Inspection of approved 2021-2031 FMP (Closes Oct. 1st)
- Kenogami Forest - Inspection of approved 2021-2031 FMP (Closes Oct. 1st)
- Mazinaw-Lanark Forest - 3-month extension of FMP (Closes Oct. 1st)
- Ottawa Valley Forest - 3-month extension of FMP (Closes Oct. 1st)
- Whitefeather Forest - Review draft 2022-2032 FMP (Closes September 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 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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