NOTO Update
In Today's Update

  • A Message from NOTO's Executive Director
  • 2021 Northern Ontario Fixed Roof Accommodation Survey - NOW OPEN
  • Update on US Travel Requirements
  • New Canada Business App Now Available
  • Reminder: LUP and BMA holders - Your Input Needed
  • Ontario Extending Pause on Lifting Capacity Limits
  • Ontario Extending COVID-19 Paid Sick Days
  • UPDATE: Public Health Sudbury and Districts New Measures
  • Tourism SkillsNet North
  • Safe Travel 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:
Kate Boissonneault - kate@noto.net
Laurie Marcil - laurie@noto.net or 705-499-7556
A Message from NOTO's Executive Director
Laurie Marcil

NOTO continues its advocacy efforts to ensure the resource-based tourism industry has the support it needs in the coming months. We are paying particular attention to Bill C2 which has been undergoing considerable debate within the Federal government.

Our main concern is that currently the Bill needs more clarity on support for seasonal businesses to ensure they qualify to receive the wage subsidy and/or the rent subsidy. We are actively reaching out to MPs across Ontario as well as numerous federal Ministers to ensure that they understand that this needs to be changed in order for our tourism sector for the upcoming season. We know how important the wage subsidy in particular has been for many of you to keep your staff and we will continue to pursue changes to this Bill.

NOTO is a member of the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses and we encourage you to review the information on their website HardestHit.ca . You can use their template to send letters to your MPs to elevate our voices and affect change. Be sure that you highlight the need for seasonal businesses to be able to qualify for the support provided in this Bill. You can use their template and modify it to include this specific request.

We are looking at another busy week before both provincial and federal governments quiet down for the holidays.

Be well,
Laurie
2021 Northern Ontario Fixed Roof Accommodation Survey

Destination Northern Ontario (DNO), in partnership with Northeastern Ontario Tourism, Algoma Country, Sunset Country, Superior Country and NOTO, is conducting the annual Northern Ontario Fixed Roof Accommodation survey to benchmark the industry’s performance.

The past two years have been difficult and far from normal, and as the industry continues to struggle through the pandemic it is more important than ever that we continue to track performance. Input from stakeholders like you allow Destination Northern Ontario, your regional marketing organizations, NOTO and others to continue to advocate on our industry’s behalf. 

The concrete data and numbers you provide help tell the story of the continued need for funding and support specifically for Northern Ontario. It also helps measure the impact of the pandemic and if/how the accommodation industry in Northern Ontario is recovering.

This 30-minute survey seeks to collect data on your operation’s performance in 2020 and 2021, including market segmentation and high-level financials, COVID-19 funding programs, and an outlook on 2022. We realize that you may be surveyed out, but as an industry stakeholder, DNO and its partners really need and appreciate your input.

Survey respondents will have a chance to win 1 of 6 prizes! Find out more information and complete the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DNOSurvey2021

Thank you, you are making a difference!
US Travel Requirements

For operators who are anticipating US guests over the winter season, here are the latest testing requirements to enter the USA.

For air, all passengers (including US citizens), regardless of vaccination status, arriving from a foreign country over the age of 2 years old must take a rapid test (antigen or NAAT tests accepted) no earlier than 24hr before boarding their flight and show the negative results before boarding. 

Land border requirements remain the same. Travelers who enter the United States at land POEs and ferry terminals do not require proof of a negative test. 
New Canada Business App May Provide Streamlined Assistance to Small Business Owners

Canada Business is a mobile business consultant, simplifying access to government services. Find and use what you need, whenever and wherever you are making business happen.

Designed as a simplified all-access point for business, Canada Business provides business owners with a customized user experience to find essential information and directly interact with government resources and tools.

This app was developed for Canadian businesses by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

You can download the free Canadian Business app from your preferred app store.
Reminder: LUP and BMA holders

If you haven't done so already, complete our quick survey regarding these fees and your access to provincial supports. NOTO is continuing to advocate for 2022 crown resource fees to be waived and we need your help.

We are asking LUP holders and bear management area holders to share with us the impact of having to pay these 2022 fees for their business. We are also interested in learning more about your ability to qualify and/or obtain support through the Provincial programs targeted at tourism businesses.

Please help us by taking a couple of minutes to answer a brief survey. Your feedback is critical.

Thank you for your time and feedback.  
Ontario Extending Pause on Lifting Capacity Limits


The government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, is extending its pause on the lifting of capacity limits in remaining higher-risk settings where proof of vaccination is required. These settings include:
  • food or drink establishments with dance facilities such as night clubs and wedding receptions in meeting/event spaces where there is dancing;
  • strip clubs; and
  • sex clubs and bathhouses.

The government and the Chief Medical Officer of Health will continue to monitor trends in key public health and health care indicators and emerging data on the Omicron variant.

Local medical officers of health are able to implement Section 22 Orders to help control the spread of COVID-19 in their areas. Several Health Unit Districts have implemented additional orders. You can view these here.
Ontario Extending COVID-19 Paid Sick Days

The government is extending its Worker Income Protection Benefit program, which provides paid sick days to employees who need to miss work for reasons related to COVID-19 until July 31, 2022.

Employees can access this paid leave to get tested, vaccinated, self-isolate, or care for a family member.

In addition, the province is extending temporary changes to the Employment Standards Act that prevent temporary layoffs of non-unionized employees from becoming unwanted terminations, which can trigger payments and force businesses to close. This measure will now be extended until July 30, 2022.
UPDATE: Public Health Sudbury and Districts New Measures

In addition to the re-establishment of several COVID-19 measures for businesses, individuals and sports, Sudbury Public Health has introduced even more COVID-19 restrictions due to local trends.

Effective Saturday, Dec. 11 at 12:01 a.m., new measures will come into effect for the entire Public Health Sudbury and Districts area, including:
  • Reinstated capacity limits and physical distancing requirements relaxed by the province in early fall.
  • Strengthened masking requirements at organized public events.
  • Strengthened proof of vaccination requirements for those participating in organized sports at indoor facilities.
  • Reinstated the former requirement that people work remotely (for example from home) unless the nature of their work requires them to be on-site at the workplace.

These new Instructions also add new protections as follows:
  • Businesses and organizations that are open must limit the size of social gatherings and organized public events in their premises and venues to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors.
  • Effective Wednesday, Dec. 15 at 12:01 a.m. Proof of vaccination requirements (for those 12 years of age and over) for all non-essential businesses and organizations for which it is currently voluntary (opt-in) under the Step 3 Rules, while maintaining capacity limits. This will apply, for example, to personal care services, indoor recreational amenities, and museums, galleries, and science centres, among others. A full list of settings is available in the detailed technical brief (PDF).
  • Strengthened requirements for basic public health measures across sectors including masking, physical distancing, active screening, and contact tracing. For example, masks will be required outdoors in places where people cannot maintain physical distance of at least 2 metres from those not part of their households (subject to exemptions for mask use).
  • Strengthened requirements for safety plans for all businesses and organizations, including detail for what these must contain. This includes for example, conducting and documenting regular reviews of the plan with workers.
  • Food and drink establishments will be required to reimplement some protections from Step 2, including no buffets and ensuring that patrons generally remain seated (except when dancing in establishments where that is permitted).
  • In facilities used for indoor sports and recreational fitness activities, and for personal physical fitness trainers: Returning to a physical distancing requirement of 3 metres (instead of 2 metres) for some activities, and establishing new protections to enhance the safety of the facility, for example, in washrooms and change rooms.
  • Team sports or games that may result in personal contact must not be practised or played at the facility, indoors or outdoors, unless the sport or game has been modified to avoid personal contact. Limited exceptions apply to professional and elite sport leagues or associations. School-related extra-curricular team sports or games are subject to separate measures previously communicated.
  • Requiring shopping malls to reduce the volume levels of music and prevent line ups and congregating unless physical distance of two metres is maintained.
  • For those who cannot work remotely, strengthened workplace health and safety measures, for example, requirements for virtual meetings and staggered breaks to the fullest extent possible.

Case rates continue to climb in the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts. On Dec. 4, Public Health Sudbury & Districts surpassed a milestone of 4000 COVID-19 cases reported since the beginning of the pandemic, less than one month after we reached the previous milestone of 3,000 cases. Despite the pandemic being in its 21st month, more than one quarter (26 per cent) of total cases have been reported in just the last 30 days. 
As a reminder, local medical officers of health have the ability to issue Section 22 orders under the Health Protection and Promotion Act to target specific transmission risks in the community. The introduction of new measures can happen in any health unit district at anytime. It is very important for businesses that remain open to keep a close eye on your public health unit's website to stay on top of regulatory changes.
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.

Have questions? Reach out to us at communications@destinationnorthernontario.ca.
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.
Renew Your Membership or Join NOTO!

NOTO has extended 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

Associate Membership: $423.75

Public Membership: $73.45 

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!
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