Word from the Chief
Chief Anoquot has reiterated his ban on Saugeen cottagers visiting for the long weekend.
(Source: Facebook at Chippewa’s of Saugeen First Nation. )
Chief: “Ban Continues”
May 14, 2020 | COVID19, News | 23 comments
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So let me get this straight…hundreds of cottagers all over Saugeen Shores have, and will continue to use their cottages from hereonin, but we can’t come up and do the same? With the opening of trailer parks, marinas, boat clubs, golf courses etc etc , hundreds more will be travelling from other areas, and will be all over Saugeen Shores on a daily basis, including day trippers, yet we still can’t come up? Local contractors will now be all around our cottages on a daily basis, many of whom will then be in contact with visitors in town, who are not locals, yet we still can’t come up? SFN residents venture into Sauble, Port Elgin and Southampton and they will inevitably be in contact with people who are not local residents…yet we still cant come up? How on earth does this make any sense from a PH perspective anymore, to continue to deny us access? I am so incredibly offended at this point. We are not day trippers, tourists or visitors. We are cottage owners who have been a part of this community for years. There is no excuse anymore. I had no problem respecting the rules when this pandemic first started, and would have no problem implementing strict guidelines from hereonin, but when this particular denial of cottage access no longer makes logical sense, that’s a problem. What is going on here!!! Unbelievable!
Sue
All of what you say is probably true. The unfortunate thing is that the Premier has told everyone they can come to their cottage in spite of the advice he got from local mayors and medical officers of health.
The Band leadership is wise to follow the advice of the Grey Bruce Medical Officer of Health. So the only thing we can do now is sit it out and wait to see if all these people have an impact on the Grey Bruce Covid situation.
If there is a significant rise in the number of Covid cases, the MOH is not likely to change his advice and the Band is not likely to lift its restrictions. Let’s hope the cottagers and campers coming to neighbouring communities are better behaved than the stories we heard last weekend. We will know the answer in a few weeks.
Be safe.
The provinces’ CMO has given the green light for all of these openings. You don’t think he realized that trailer parks and boast launches are in cottage country? Hence..for the use of cottagers?! Why the Grey Bruce CMO seems to think its ok to suggest otherwise, makes no sense at this point. There is an article in the K-W Record regarding this topic and it suggests that the only thing the “authorities “should be doing at this point is asking us to be smart about things as pretty much everything is opening up. I wish our “authorities” understood that.
My understanding is The non-municipal camp grounds and seasonal trailer parks are opening next week, if not this weekend already. Does this carry any weight in our quest to be able to get to our cottages? I think it’s easier to maintain social distancing at a cottage than a crowded seasonal trailer park. The fire ban has been lifted in Saugeen Shores as well. It seems everyone is moving ahead but us.
Michelle,
The Grey Bruce Medical Officer of Health continues to advise cottagers to stay home as do the Mayors of all neighbouring municipalities. The Band is following the MOH’s advice and until that changes we do not expect the Band to allow cottagers to return. However, the Band has lifted restrictions on local contractors and the Chief has said he hopes the restriction on cottagers will be removed a few weeks.
We believe that if the influx of municipal cottage owners to the region this weekend does not result in a significant increase in Covid cases in Grey Bruce in the next couple of weeks, the MOH advice will change and the restriction will be removed.
To all my fellow cottager’s
At this time we must be patient and diligent
I have no doubt that our Band Chief will follow the ban being lifted on not being able to go to our cottages when Premiere Ford does in conjuction with our Ministry of Health
We winter in Southampton and we have to remember the sole reason for not being able to go was not to stress out our local Hospital in Southampton.
It small and by no means could ever handle a outbreak
Municipal cottage property owners in Southampton and Sauble Beach have been highly violating our province’s stay at home and don’t travel advisory from day one
Cottage driveways have 2 and 4 cars every weekend and right now we have 4 cottager’s just pull in last eve on our Street
So that is a threat to all the work we have done these past 2 months by staying at home.
If we get an outbreak in Saugeen Shores because of this negligence it could put us behind another 2 month’s from gaining access to our cottages.
So let’s keep our fingers crossed that the number of cases up here continue to drop and we will be able to kick off our cottage season as suggested by our Chief sometime in June
Sue I totally agree with you. Makes no sense with everyone around us up at their cottages, stores fully open in town, golf courses, trailer parks, boat launches, marinas and contractors coming and going in town and then on the reserve. Definitely doesn’t seem like the right call at all and doesn’t make sense. The band is indicating “some time in June” which doesn’t give us any indication early June or late June which means no cottage access for two months now while the rest of the surrounding area are enjoying cottage life for a month before we even are allowed up there (if that).
The comment that it makes no sense to keep us out because all the neighbouring municipal cottagers are already there, suggests there is a fundamental misunderstanding of the Band and its sense of community. Band members do not just live in Saugeen town and on the Reserve East of Bruce Road 13. Many of them and their families live on lots dispersed throughout the now empty cottage areas, mostly, but not exclusively in Block A (South Sauble and French Bay). The roads are plowed all winter, garbage is collected all year, the public water taps are on all year and the school buses run when school is in.
The Band has closed the Reserve. They do not want cottagers back because they want to protect their people. The cottagers coming back to Southampton and Sauble Beach are certainly a threat to those communities and the regional health system, but they are not a direct threat to those living on the reserve. The reserve is isolating its people along with the few homeless Canadian cottage owners they have taken in.
We believe the Chief and Council will assess the impact those other cottagers have on those other communities and the regional health system before we are allowed to return.
True Sue. You know what’s going to happen. We are following the chiefs orders. But we will penalized if there is a spike in the virus after this weekend. This isn’t fair and there could be a chance we will never get to our cottages this year. If this is the case we should be compensated for our looses. Gord
Hi Michelle C. Ontario’s CMO and the Premier have already given the green light for cottage related services/locations to open now (trailer parks, boat launches, golf courses etc), hence why you have seen, and will continue to see an influx of people in the area. Problem is, this decision is contrary to the local Grey Bruce CMO opinion, which is who the Chief and Band Council is listens to. There are mixed messages between the provincial govt and local municipal leaders that is causing discord and unfair treatment between cottagers. It makes no sense to know that tourists, boaters etc can come in and out of the community now on a daily basis, and we can’t sit in our cottages? Really??
So IMO only, I’m struggling to understand why this Band Council can’t shift gears in their thinking and realize that the flow of people to Saugeen Shores is not going to end at this point. So why not put the fire out with your disgruntled leasees before a bunch of lawyers get involved, and allow cottage access with some strict recommendations that I’m sure people will follow ie. no extended family members for now, no gatherings, practise social distancing etc. This way, people can accept the few weeks loss so far without too much fuss. Otherwise, this waiting game until mid June and possibly longer, is going to make things much worse. The stay at home orders are just falling by the waist side in Ontario at this point so time to think about compromise and common sense.
I’m prepared to be patient. I’m glad things are looking up. I want to be able to use my cottage this summer. However the influx of seasonal visitors to Carson’s Camp starting next worries me. I was looking at their website and Facebook pages and I see no mention of the beach closing or the SOA. Are they being told not to walk down the path on 10th Street? Will they be fined? When we are given the go ahead we’ll be moving in for the duration. Bring my supplies. Wouldn’t visit a local health facility except for emergency (I understand they aren’t overwhelmed) What kind of arrangement has been made with Carson’s?
Shirley,
After weeks of shutdown and training people how to protect themselves during the pandemic, the government has wisely determined that it’s time ti allow people to return to some semblance if normal life. You know what you are required to do to be safe, so just do it. If this world was run by medical officers we would be shut down permanently. The number of cases of covid-19 in Grey-Bruce can be attributed directly to the long term care homes in the community, not the population at large. There is now legislation in place that denies landlords the right to throw out their tenants for not paying their rent during the crisis. There is similar legislation coming down the pipeline fir commercial tenants. Our landlord is in breach of contract by not allowing us access to our leased property. It would be appropriate for then ti compensate us one sixth of both the rent and maintenance fee for the month of May as a token of good faith and likewise fir any further extension of this denial of access.
I dont have a problem following the chief medical of Healths decision and will continue to follow the rules. I do hope in this down time the roads are being repaired, pot holes filled and repaved while we are all not there. Increased fees, i would like to see these improvements done when i do get up there! The pot holes were brutal for the past TWO years. Contractors can work at safe distances so there is no excuses to not have these roads repaired now while cottagers are not there.
Is there anyone we can voice concerns to, that will pass on our reasonable solutions to? I feel that every time reasonable arguments are raised “our” cottage association is the first line of defence for the Band’s restriction on tenants, not cottagers but tenants of SFN.
Many of us are just as much a part of the community in Saugeen Shores as we are members of the communities we are currently, responsibly self-isolating and practising social distancing in.
We are not going to come to Saugeen Shores if we have any symptoms of COVID 19 just like we would not go out into the communities we are currently in if we had any symptoms of COVID 19
We are not going to be a tax on grocery stores or other services in Saugeen Shores. We are more than willing to bring everything we need with us. And when local businesses are prepared for the added demand, we will be happy to support them.
And if the time comes that we do start to exhibit symptoms we would go back to our own community that has the health care resources to help us.
We are not looking to come to Saugeen Shores to venture into situations that put residents of the community at risk, we don’t want to put ourselves at risk.
We want to come to our properties for our health and well being. We would absolutely continue to self-isolate, act responsibly. And anyone that does not continue to self-isolate, practise social distancing and adhere to the current restriction on the maximum number of people that can be in one place should be fined.
With private campgrounds opening, municipal cottagers going their cottages, marinas and parks opening to weekend and day visitors, for the life of me I can not understand why we, the lowest risk group, are still not allowed to go to our properties.
Kim, I agree 100% regarding the pot holes. Our fees have increased and the roads should be in excellent condition by the time we are allowed access. As far as contractors, my septic was scheduled for first week of June however we need to remove a few trees therefore without access, this will not be happening. After the cost of the septic, tree removal will need to be done by ourselves as we can’t and don’t want to spend additional money on a contractor.
Good idea
My lease is $6691.00 and my Service fee is $1000.00 Total $7691.00 for 6 Mo.
That equals $1281.83 per Mo.
I expect that my lease will come DOWN ***$1281.83*** for every Mo. or part of a Mo. when I will not be able to use my cottage.
I would like to thank chief Anoquot and the band council for their clear directions. The privilege to use the rental property is much appreciated by my family and particularly my grand children. It is nice to see band being considered first in this medical situation. I don’t need to tell you that it hasn’t always been that way.
My family will be patience. We support your decisions. Thank you for your clear and timely communications
Hang in there folks! My permanent residence is less than 200 feet from Saugeen 29 and I can’t go to my cottage either. (a 7 min. drive) The Chief and council are right in staying the course right now. I suspect they may be waiting to see the fallout from the long weekend, which will take a couple more weeks. No one needs a resurgence of COVID or we may not see our cottages until next year!
All cottagers in the surrounding areas as well as Carsons will be going to their cottages every weekend now as they have full permission from the PM and Premier. Threat or no threat the point is they are allowed to enjoy a property they own yet it seems those are the reserve are not eligible and losing out on time we pay for. With the country opening up more now this week as Ford indicated and more again the following week the band should be following the rest of the country. Like many of us have said we have a right to enjoy the property we are paying a lot of money just as much as the rest of Grey Bruce. We have personal belongings we are not even allowed to get i.e. bikes, golf clubs, clothes, etc with trails now open and golf courses we can’t even get belongings that are entirely ours. That is also unacceptable.
I’ve heard others have been given the ok to go up to there cottages there on May 29th!? Is this true??
That is not true. Cottagers are allowed to return to their cottages on Monday June 1st.
Going earlier runs the risk of a $500 fine for each day you are there before June 1st.
Chris, I totally agree with you about SCOI. They are indeed the first line of defence. It is for that reason that I ceased to be a member years ago. After spending decades living in and around Toronto I now live in a community of 16,000 people. There have been three cases of covid-19. The people got better and we have had no deaths. We all exercise caution. As you rightly pointed out, if I had even a hint of the symptoms I would be back home immediately where there is a hospital that could take care of me if necessary.