I am writing this, my first column for Huntsville Doppler, during unprecedented circumstances. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments at all levels are all making exceptional requests of you. And those requests and restrictions are changing rapidly as our medical professionals learn more about how COVID-19 spreads. I can only hope this won’t be out of date by the time you read it.
In the past month, all schools and recreational facilities have been closed. Non-essential businesses have been closed. You’ve been asked to stay home and only go out for groceries or prescriptions, medical appointments or, if you are an essential worker, for work.
I want to start by thanking all of the essential workers who are working to keep us safe, whether they be working in health care, long-term care, grocery stores and pharmacies or as truck drivers.
I want to personally thank the vast majority of people in Huntsville and across Parry Sound-Muskoka who are physical distancing and isolating. I know many of you have not seen your families for weeks and phone calls and video chats don’t make up for missing Easter dinner with your children or grandchildren.
And I want to thank all the businesses that are abiding by the Emergency Order. As a former business owner I understand how difficult and how scary this situation is. I know some customers are trying to push you to make exceptions for them but thank you for standing firm and doing what is right.
With all the business closures come layoffs and financial hardship for both entrepreneurs and employees. The Federal Government has moved quickly to expand Employment Insurance and create other supports. Ontario is working to reduce costs for both families and businesses for, by example, suspending time-of-use metering, offering $10 billion in tax deferrals, and WSIB deferrals for businesses, and $3.7 billion in direct support for people and jobs. There will be more supports going forward as we see how big the impacts on different parts of our economy will be.
I have been reaching out to different sectors through conference calls. The tourism sector in particular is being hard hit. Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism, and Culture Lisa MacLeod joined me for a call with a selection of about 15 local tourism operators and I have also had calls with summer camps, marinas, retail stores, restaurants and hotels, resorts and campgrounds to learn more about what they will need to survive this crisis.
Our government has launched the Ontario Jobs and Recovery Committee which will focus on getting businesses up and running and people back to work after the COVID-19 pandemic is over. I have been asked to coordinate consultations by our government caucus members with local tourism operators to help inform Minister MacLeod’s recovery proposals.
When this is over we can all help our local businesses recover. I hope everyone will go out of their way to shop local to support our businesses that have been forced to close or limit their operations. They will need all of our support to get back on their feet.
While the vast majority of people are following the directions of our health professionals, I am very disappointed that some people are not doing so. Whether this is seasonal residents coming to a cottage or locals making frequent trips around town, this is all unnecessary travel.
The coronavirus cannot move on its own, it requires people to move it around. And since our medical experts are learning that infected people can be contagious before they show symptoms, none of us can assume we don’t pose a risk to anyone else even if we feel fine.
All three levels of government have been very clear in urging people to avoid any unnecessary travel, including travel between home and the cottage. The Premier has repeatedly asked seasonal residents of Muskoka and elsewhere to stay in their primary residences. I think it is safe to say none of us want to live in a police state. Instead our government has been relying on people to be responsible but unfortunately some people just refuse to listen.
I have been keeping the Premier and the Minister of Health informed about the numbers of seasonal residents arriving, and the challenges this creates for our food stores, health system and businesses like marinas. I have asked that the Minister continue to discuss this situation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and the COVID-19 command table and act if Dr. Williams suggests it is necessary.
I am also disappointed to see an adversarial situation emerging between permanent and seasonal residents. Our communities here have always been made up of both seasonal and year-round residents. Much of our economy relies upon seasonal residents. Our businesses will need the support of cottagers to recover. Cottagers pay property taxes and contribute to our hospital foundations and charities. They are part of our community. There shouldn’t be us and them, we should all be working together. The more we all stay home and isolate now— cottagers and residents alike—the better the chance that we will all be able to enjoy the summer here in Parry Sound-Muskoka.
Photo of MPP Norm Miller is courtesy of his office. Queen’s Park photo “June 2012 Ontario Legislature Toronto” by Priscilla Jordão, via Wikimedia Commons, is licensed under CC BY 2.0 / Cropped from original.
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Ray Vowels says
This all makes me wonder just how we can support our local businesses when most are closed up and we are told to stay home anyway except for necessities. Even if we have small jobs we want done all the small contractors are not able to work so how can we support them plus a lot of folks are out of work and have no money or if they have a bit of savings they are not going to spend them unless there is no choice .
Personally I think the govt should open it up for small contractors that only have one or two employees working on a job and let them do small jobs and they can and would practice distancing . At least this would let them help themselves plus a few employees. Something to think about.
Doug Beiers says
Good points Ray Vowels
wendy j brown says
Well I can’t honestly say everyone in huntsville is doing what they should do and stay home, but most are as far as i can see. I cant really blame people who live here for being adversarial when c ottagers have been told over and over ad nauseam to stay in there primary residences and Mark my words may 24th will be a real mess. So my advice is pass legislation to make them stay home, because we can’t handle them up here atm.
Beverly Belanger says
The province is now acknowledging that personal support workers are valued heroes. The $4 wage increase is still insufficient for the valuable work they do. I would find it insulting to risk my life and my families life for $4.00 without proper PPE. Pay them a heroes wage, same as firefighters, with benefits and full time hours at one location. Seniors deserve better.
Jim Logagianes says
Mr Miller has represented Muskoka Parry Sound for a long time. Has anyone ever heard Mr Miller ever attempt to address inadequate staffing levels in our health care system. Maybe he can explain why are elected officials ignored study after study. The Romanow report on health care, the SARS report. The health of Canadians has been neglected for a long time.
John McCaig says
The debate about cottagers (or “second residences”) has pitted friends against friends and neighbors against neighbors. Scary times mean people do make comments and react in ways they perhaps would not in normal times. Those who want to come to Muskoka to their cottage react irrationally towards people simply wanting to protect themselves against “travelling virus” occurring in our community. Those who want to keep all others away react irrationally to those who simply wish to spend their isolation time at a place where they are more comfortable.
From my point of view I have no issue with those who decided (or decide now) to come to their second home here in Muskoka and isolate like the rest of us who live here. What I do object to is those who have been or are now starting to treat their cottage as if nothing has changed – coming to Muskoka for a couple of days, back to their primary home for a few days, back up here again, etc. You are putting us and yourselves at risk of carrying the virus from one place to another by your actions. As one of the “jokes” making the rounds on the internet stated recently, we spend hours trying to teach our pets to “Sit” and “Stay” – which part of that do you humans not understand?
If you truly are going to make this your residence during this time, WELCOME and enjoy all that Muskoka has to offer. If you are going to treat Muskoka as a great spot to rent your place on AirB&B to strangers or a nice place to come for the weekend, please respect that we live here and would much rather you stay put.
Ray Vowels says
From what I’m reading there are a lot of folks against the city folks coming up here and I have to admit it’s not my favorite thing for them to do. But they do have a right to come up to there cottage or second home we can’t dispute that fact. What I would like to ask them to do is bring your groceries with you and not come into town by the car load on Sat and jam our stores up and buy out most stock so by Sun our stores are empty nothing left for us until they can get more stock in. Not only that but your taking the chance of spreading this virus to all the store workers and that is just not fair. Plus abide by the rules no burning so no open fires and practice social distancing we have been practicing these rules so please do the same.
Jim Boyes says
MPP Miller and I have a bit of baggage on this.
I have problem where inequities are set up by government regulations.
My specific issue is that most cottagers are free and easy coming north and using their cottages.
We all know that it is happening. Just look around at the unfamilliar expensive cars and obviously city folks around town. I don’t see this as a huge problem as long as they observe social distancing and the other niceties of the times. I think most will, just as most locals will.
My specific issue is that marinas are presently alowed to put boats in the water as long as the boat belongs to a “primary” resident. If a seasonal resident wishes to have a boat placed in the water by a marina or to put his boat in himself at a public launch ramp this isn’t alowed. So taxpaying island cottage and water access owners are prevented from accessing their properties even if they intend to stay for two weeks. I clearly see what the government is trying to accomplish and I applaud the intent. However if we wish to achieve willing compliance we can’t create inequities which bring the entire effort into disrepute.
As I understand things the “state of emergency” will stay in effect until May 12. I certainly hope regulations are changed to allow marinas to launch boats to serve island taxpayers after that date which will correct the current inequity. The same applies to pubIc access points and launch sites such as the Raven Lake site on Hwy 35. The weather has been cold so far this spring so no big issues have arisen. However when things warm up and later May comes around things will boil over unless at least limited marina functions are permitted.
Best wishes to MPP Miller and priemier Ford who are doing a great job in these strange times.
Charles Wilson says
Well said, Mr Miller:
“All three levels of government have been very clear in urging people to avoid any unnecessary travel, including travel between home and the cottage.”
You might, however, want to drop a note to the PM and his good lady. You can address it to them care of his cottage on Harrington Lake.