Premier Doug Ford says that Ontario will not issue an emergency order banning people from visiting their cottages during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ford made the comments at a media briefing on Tuesday afternoon (May 5) when responding to questions from reporters about cottagers preparing for the Victoria Day long weekend.
“There’s no order on the table right now and there won’t be,” Ford said. “People are cooperating, so we have to give a little bit of leniency. If you put down the hammer, and say you just aren’t coming, people aren’t going to listen.”
Mayors of some rural communities have expressed concerns that a sudden influx of seasonal residents could strain local resources, including health care services and businesses supplying food and other essentials to year-round residents.
Some mayors and public health officials also worry that cottage owners who normally reside in Toronto and the GTA — areas with the highest COVID-19 infection rates in the province — will potentially infect local residents and place further stress on local hospitals.
Ford will be speaking with the mayors of cottage country on Wednesday (May 6) to discuss the issue of people visiting their secondary residences on the Victoria Day weekend.
“I want to make sure we’ve got collaboration from all the communities, all the mayors. Be prepared, people are coming up on May the 24th. But in saying that, I truly believe that people are going to bring their own supplies, they’re going to bring their own food, they’re going to stay at their cottage. People won’t be going to go into town as much as a typical May 24th weekend.”
Ford said that the spread of COVID-19 has been slowing in Ontario and that “on May the 24th, three weeks down the road, hopefully the numbers will be down.” The Victoria Day weekend is actually in less than two weeks; it’s colloquially called the May 24 weekend, but the federal holiday is always celebrated on the last Monday preceding May 25th, which in 2020 is Monday, May 18th.
“It’s going to be hard to hold back people going back to their cottages,” Ford said. “I’m getting calls about ‘Why should I pay my taxes if I’m not allowed to go up to my cottage?” I understand it, but I just want to make sure that when that time comes — if it does come, and hopefully it will — that people bring up their own supplies and they don’t go into town — even though when I spoke to one of the mayors, he said it’s not an issue right now, it’s not an issue with hospitals, with food in the stores.”
Ford also noted that businesses in cottage country rely on cottagers to keep their businesses open.
The Premier was unaware that Dr. Shanker Nesathurai, the medical officer of the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit, had issued an order on April 23rd under Ontario’s Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA) prohibiting owners of secondary residences from visiting their properties in Haldimand and Norfolk counties.
That region of the province includes towns and villages along Lake Erie, such as Port Dover, Turkey Point, and Long Point. People who breach the order could face fines of up to $5,000 per day.
“This is the first time I’ve heard of this,” Ford said when a reporter asked about the order. “How can you predict three weeks down the road? We’re doing pretty good. Then how do you tell people that are paying taxes, that are paying the bills for the vast majority of people there, to stay home? Do you have enough by-law officers, enough police, to enforce this? The answer is no.”
Last weekend, in response to the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit order, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams issued a memo to local medical officers of health across the province advising against the issuance of such orders.
“After consultation with the Public Health Measures Table chaired by Dr. David McKeown, Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health, my current recommendation is to not prohibit access to secondary residences through legal order, but to continue to provide communications that discourage their use,” Williams wrote. “I similarly recommend that medical officers of health do not issue Section 22 class orders under the HPPA prohibiting access to these residences.”
At the media briefing, a reporter asked Ford whether people who don’t own cottages will also be able to enjoy the Victoria Day long weekend by visiting local parks or playgrounds.
“Yes, you will be,” Ford replied. “It’s not fair, and we’ll have some good announcements moving forward this week.”
Memo from Chief Medical Officer of Health: Advice on the Access to Secondary Residences
Memo to MOHs - Secondary Residences - May 3 2020 - Final
Section 22 Order from Haldimand-Norfolk Medical Officer of Health
COVID-19 Section 22 Draft Order Related to Vacation Homes - Halidmand-Norfolk Medical Officer of Health
