Ontario Premier Doug Ford is asking the owners of seasonal residences in Ontario to follow the same public health measures as they would at home when heading up to the cottage — but at the same time he’s also discouraging tourists from visiting cottage country.
Ford makes the comments in a statement issued following his teleconference on Wednesday afternoon (May 6) with the mayors of cottage country.
“With the Victoria Day long weekend and cottage season just around the corner, we need to stay vigilant,” Ford says. “We are still battling a terrible virus, so we are asking seasonal residents travelling to their cottages to practice the same public health measures as usual, including no public gatherings, avoiding non-essential travel as much as possible, and continue to practice social distancing.”
On Tuesday (May 5), Ford had made comments during a media briefing that there would be no order prohibiting people from visiting their cottages.
He said he believed cottage owners would be responsible when visiting their seasonal residences.
“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,” he said.
For several weeks, mayors of some rural communities have been concerned that a sudden influx of seasonal residents during the COVID-19 pandemic could strain local resources such as grocery stores, and that visitors — especially from Toronto and the GTA, where coronavirus infection rates are high — could spread the virus to year-round residents and strain local hospitals.
In his statement, perhaps in acknowledgement of concerns raised by mayors during the teleconference, Ford draws a distinction between cottage owners and tourists, who he is asking to refrain from travelling to cottage country. As most tourists would need a place to stay when visiting cottage country, it’s possible Ford is discouraging visitors from renting cottages.
“Cottage country residents are known for their hospitality and normally they would be welcoming tourists with open arms right now,” Ford says. “This year, however, they are asking visitors to help them fight the spread of COVID-19 and hold-off travelling to these regions until it is safe to do so.”
Ontario’s chief medical officer of health Dr. David Williams has advised local medical officers of health to continue to discourage the use of secondary residences. While Ford makes a distinction between cottage owners and tourists in his statement, he also appears to be discouraging any visits to cottage country during the upcoming Victoria Day weekend.
“I know Ontarians are eager to enjoy the great outdoors, but there will be plenty of long weekends to come,” Ford says. “Right now, we need to focus on doing everything we can to protect the health and safety of all Ontarians. We’re all in this together and together we will beat COVID-19.”
