2020 ONTARIO PROVINCIAL BUDGET ADDRESSES TOURISM IMPORTANCE TO THE FULL RECOVERY OF THE PROVINCIAL ECONOMY

Yesterday, the Government of Ontario significantly addressed the tourism and hospitality industry in its 2020 Ontario Budget.

Included in this year’s Budget are a series of significant measures for our industry, including:  

• A commitment to providing Ontario residents with up to 20 per cent for eligible Ontario tourism expenses, encouraging them to safely discover Ontario next year during what the Government of Ontario is calling The Year of the Ontario Staycation;
• A new $100-million community building fund to support tourism, cultural and sports organizations;
• A $25-million infusion to help cultural institutions;
• Connecting workers in the tourism and hospitality sector and others to training and jobs with an investment of $180.5 million over 3 years, including a skilled trades strategy, $100 million of dedicated investments through Employment Ontario for skills training, a redesigned Second Career program, and $59.5 million to acquire in-demand skills.
• During Minister MacLeod’s Budget Viewing Party, the Minister also committed $10 million to a hyperlocal tourism campaign.

Many of TIAO’s budget proposals to the government were supported in yesterday’s Budget. You can read TIAO’s full response here

We’ll share more information about Budget measures as they become available.

ONTARIO RELEASES NEW COVID-19 RESPONSE FRAMEWORK:
WHAT THAT MEANS FOR TORONTO

This week, the provincial government announced a new colour-coded framework, Keeping Ontario Safe and Open.

Toronto will still remain in the current modified Stage 2 until November 14 at the advice of Mayor Tory and Toronto Public Health. At that time, the city will join the orange ‘restrict’ stage, meaning:

Bars and restaurants

• Indoor service can resume with a capacity limit of 50 people
• A maximum of four people may be seated together
• Alcohol cannot be served past 9 p.m. and establishments will have to close by 10 p.m.
• Required screening of all patrons 

Meeting and event spaces

• An indoor capacity limit of 50 people must be maintained. The capacity limit applies to the entire facility and not individual rooms.
• Alcohol cannot be served past 9 p.m. and establishments will have to close by 10 p.m.
• A maximum of four people may be seated together
• Required screening of all patrons

Retail

• Required screening of all patrons at mall entrances

Cinemas

• An indoor capacity limit of 50 people. A previous plan allowing 50 people per individual screening room has been revoked.
• No consumption of liquor between 10 p.m. and 9 a.m.
• Required screening of patrons

Performing arts facilities

• An indoor capacity limit of 50 people and an outdoor capacity limit of 100
• Required screening of patrons
• No consumption of liquor between 10 p.m. and 9 a.m.

We’ll continue to share any updates or changes to Toronto’s status as they become available.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS ABLE TO BEGIN OR CONTINUE SIDEWALK CAFÉS UNDER WINTER CaféTO

The City of Toronto’s CaféTO staff have been working to develop a set of guidelines to support restaurants who wish to extend a café onto the sidewalk throughout the winter. The Province of Ontario also recently announced new measures for restaurants, bars and food or drink establishments taking effect on November 14^th in Toronto permitting indoor operations with restrictions.

In the meantime, restaurants and bars in Toronto will be able to expand cafés on the sidewalk, where possible, in order to take advantage of the warmer than usual weather. Restaurants and bars will be able to begin or continue operation of sidewalk cafés under the Winter CaféTO program effective immediately. Registration is not required to expand a café on the sidewalk under the Winter CaféTO program.

Operators participating in Winter CaféTO must download and complete a CaféTO-specific Certificate of Insurance and AGCO Municipal consent letter to expand their liquor license temporarily. You can find these forms at www.toronto.ca/cafeto.

A short design guide is available here (PDF) which illustrates the basic safety and accessibility requirements for the placement of a sidewalk café.

Key requirements include:

• Tents, enclosures and other structures are not permitted on the Right of Way.
• Café operations must ensure a minimum 2.1 metre pedestrian clearway at all times.
• Transportation Services strongly encourages "pop-up" winter patios. All Winter CaféTO operators will be required to remove all café equipment from the sidewalk in advance of a snow fall that triggers a sidewalk snow plowing event (i.e. at 2cm of snow accumulation).

Additional guidelines will be available next week.

If you have any further questions about the Winter CaféTO program, please contact the project team at the City of Toronto directly at cafeto@toronto.ca.

LET US KNOW ABOUT NEWS OR CHANGES WITHIN YOUR BUSINESS

As Destination Toronto plans PR and marketing initiatives for the coming months and over winter, please keep us informed about news or changes within your business. If your business is closed, do you currently have a re-opening date? Do you have new or modified experiences for winter that you would like media and the public to know about? Fill out the form below so we can help spread the word as recovery efforts continue.  

REMINDER: SUPPORT TORONTO’S CULINARY COMMUNITY WITH TOGOTORONTO.COM

As you know, Destination Toronto has reactivated the popular ToGoToronto.com website to help share information on how to engage with Toronto’s restaurant industry, highlighting takeout, delivery and safe patio dining options currently being offered by participating restaurants.

Now in its third full week, ToGoToronto has referred 5,550 leads to nearly 700 participating restaurants.

Marketing and social media activities continue to be a priority to further support the city’s culinary community, and support continues to come in from BIAs and Mayor Tory.

A reminder that registration remains complimentary for all Toronto restaurants, with new restaurants welcome via the “Add My Restaurant” link.

Let’s keep supporting our city’s vital restaurant community. Visit ToGoToronto.com and support Toronto’s restaurants today.

APPLIED RESEARCH AND STUDENT PLACEMENT AVAILABLE

Centennial College School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts has Tourism and Hospitality students who are seeking industry linked challenges to help complete their industry learning for Winter 2021.

This could include:

• Partnering for an Industry Applied Research Project. This involves your business identifying a project (a challenge that you currently facing) for our students tackle to help their learning while helping support your organization.
• Hosting a Work Integrated Learning student for a 336 to 448 hour distance or virtual placement.

For more information on how to work together please email tourism@centennialcollege.ca. 

UPCOMING VIRTUAL EVENTS:

TIAC TOURISM CONGRESS - COMPLIMENTARY REGISTRATION

Traditionally, registration to attend Tourism Congress starts at $725 however, through the partnership and support of the Government of Canada and the Canadian Experience Fund, TIAC is able to offer complimentary access to the industries must-attend event. 

Join TIAC for two days of thought-provoking content, insights and ideas to help rebuild the visitor economy and navigate the new tourism landscape. The Congress will have a bustling virtual marketplace and plenty of networking opportunities.

Dates: November 17 & 18, 2020.

INDUSTRY NEWS

The National Arts and Culture Impact Survey: The Canadian Live Music Association has joined forces with 30 national and provincial arts service organizations across a range of artistic disciplines to develop the National Arts and Culture Impact Survey. All arts organizations, artists, and arts workers across Canada are encouraged to participate in the survey by Monday, November 23, 2020. 

Bar Raval named one of the world’s best bars: Congratulations to Bar Raval, named one of the best bars in the world. Bar Raval was added as a new entry, representing the only Canadian bar on the list.

St. Lawrence Market Advisory Committee looking for members: The City of Toronto is currently looking for individuals to join the St. Lawrence Market Precinct Advisory Committee. Members of the committee support and advocate for the St. Lawrence Market, providing advice and recommendations to the City to enhance the Market and Precinct for the benefit of the community and all Toronto residents. Applications close November 15.