Wednesday, April 29th
City supporting local small businesses
In order to provide emergency relief and to support efforts by local business owners to improve their operations, the City of Cornwall has launched the Cornwall Small Business Emergency Support Loan program. Qualifying businesses are eligible for an interest-free loan of up to $5,000 to offset the effects of the COVID-19 crisis.
Additional information
Wednesday, April 22nd
Regional business survey launched
A new survey has been launched to gain a better understanding of how COVID-19 has affected local businesses in Cornwall and SDG Counties. The survey results will help guide local Councils when developing recovery programs and community support. The survey closes on April 30th.
Click here to access the survey
Tuesday, April 14th
Ontario extends emergency declaration
On the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health and with the approval of the Ontario legislature, the Ontario government is extending the Declaration of Emergency under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act for a further 28 days.
Additional information
Thursday, April 9th
Minister announces next steps
In a teletown hall with over 1,000 tourism stakeholders across Ontario, Minister Lisa MacLeod announced nearly $100 million in funding and the creation of 14 sector advisory committees to advise the ministry on recovery efforts.
“We will recover, we will rebuild and we will emerge stronger than ever,” said Minister MacLeod.
Additional information
Thursday, April 2nd
TIAO launches survey
The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario has launched a new survey to gather up-to-date information from tourism businesses on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey closes Monday at 8 am.
Additional information
Source: Tourism Industry Association of Ontario
Wednesday, April 1st
Parks of the St. Lawrence closes parks and public spaces
The St. Lawrence Parks Commission has temporarily closed visitor and vehicle access to all of its outdoor parks, public spaces, trails and amenities. This applies to all visitors including recreational walkers and dog walkers. The parks commission manages Upper Canada Village, the Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary, the campsites of the Long Sault Parkway and other properties in eastern Ontario.
Additional information
Source: Parks of the St. Lawrence
Tuesday, March 31st
TIAO releases Immediate Impact Management Strategy
Today the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) released an Immediate Impact Management Strategy that outlines necessary actions that will help stabilize tourism industries and position them to weather the immediate impacts of the COVID-19 crisis.
Additional information
Source: Tourism Industry Association of Ontario
Monday, March 30th
Ontario extends emergency declaration
This new order would close all communal or shared, public or private, outdoor recreational amenities everywhere in Ontario, including but not limited to playgrounds, sports fields, basketball and tennis courts, off-leash dog parks, beaches, skateboard and BMX parks, picnic areas, outdoor community gardens, park shelters, outdoor exercise equipment, condo parks and gardens, and other outdoor recreational amenities.
Additional information
Source: Government of Ontario
Update from Chief Medical Officer
Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, issued a new statement today in response to COVID-19.
Additional information
Source: Government of Ontario
New COVID-19 website
The province of Ontario has launched a new dedicated website for COVID-19 to provided expanded information on the pandemic.
Visit website
Source: Government of Ontario
Friday, March 27th
PM announces additional support for small businesses
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today announced additional new measures to support small businesses dealing with the economic impacts of the pandemic. These include:
– A 75 per cent wage subsidy for qualifying businesses
– Allow businesses, including self-employed individuals, to defer all Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) payments until June
– Launch of the Canada Emergency Business Account. This program will provide up to $25 billion to eligible financial institutions so they can provide interest-free loans to small businesses.
Additional information
Source: Government of Canada
Relief proposal for tourism, hospitality & foodservice
Restaurants Canada, the Hotel Association of Canada, and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada have issued a joint proposal for stronger relief measures to help businesses across these sectors survive the impact of COVID-19. They are looking for support from businesses in these sectors.
Additional information
Source: Tourism Industry Association of Canada
Thursday, March 26th
Update from Tourism Minister
On Thursday, Lisa MacLeod, the Ontario Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture, hosted a conference call with stakeholders across the province to provide an update on actions being taken by her government. The Minister highlighted 10 specific actions being taken:
1 – The Tourism Development Fund is being repurposed to the Tourism Development and Recovery Fund and is being increased from $500,000 to $1.5 million
2 – The government is working with industry partners on an online marketplace and town centre for all Ontarians to access concerts, art, digital gallery and museum tours and attraction prepurchases. An initial investment of $150,000 has been made to match community contributions to give musicians a platform to do concerts from the safety of their homes.
3 – Destination Ontario is actively working on a marketing program that will let the world know that when they are ready to travel and when we are a safe environment to accept them back, we will be ready.
4 – The government will be allowing all licensed restaurants, bars and pubs to sell and deliver unopened alcohol at their establishments.
5 – The Ministry has provided lists of hotels to other Ministries to be used in the event hospitals and other facilities need capacity due to social distancing. The province’s recent economic statement earmarked $341 million should this be required.
6 – The Ministry is revising regulations to allow contract and freelance workers to receive Ontario’s three refundable film and TV tax credits while at the same time working to streamline the time it takes to complete them.
7. The $7 Million Ontario Music Fund is being retooled to flow more funding immediately during this crisis.
8. Despite the postponement of the Olympics, the $10 million Quest for Gold and Sport Hosting events funding will still be available.
9. Celebrate Ontario, Ontario Arts Council, Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund and Trillium Grant funds will flow even if events are forced to cancel.
10. Local libraries, community museums and governments agencies and attractions will see their funding flow very quickly so when it is safe to do so, they can open their doors again to the public.
Cornwall Tourism is seeking additional information on these announcements and how they can potentially benefit the local tourism industry. Stay tuned for updates.
Source: Tourism Industry Association of Ontario
