We have received the following information from the Band:
Travel Within Ontario
Travel between regions will greatly increase the potential for spikes in community spread and undo all the progress we have made.
You should avoid travelling between zones (for example, from Grey-Lockdown to any other zone, Red-Control to Orange-Restrict or Yellow-Protect to Green-Prevent), except for essential reasons.
Grey Bruce Public Health district, which includes Saugeen First Nation, is in a “Yellow” or Protect level of public health measures in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
As such, we are allowing cottagers who are reside in a green, yellow or orange designated area only to visit their SFN leased land. Cancom have a list of everyone’s home address and will continue to patrol the leased land area. Any cottager or contractor accessing their cottage from a red or grey zone will be fined with NO grace period. We will review these limitations after the February 22 guidelines are issued by Ontario and Grey Bruce Health.
Any contracting activity can re-start as long as they are limited to a maximum of 10 days’ work per month for February through April. The ten-day limit per month includes the combination of time spent by a cottager and or contractor at any one leased location.
Any lease land holder who has not already purchased the two-month extension can arrange this through the Lands Office at 519-372-7830 or by emailing Kirk Roote at kirk.roote@saugeen.org This would allow the leased land holder and or the contractor to work fulltime for a two-month period.
Sincerely,
SCOI’s Interpretation
SCOI interprets this message to mean that no cottage owners or their contractors who live in a Red or Grey zone can go to their cottage yet. Those who live in orange, yellow and green zones can.
Contractors from orange, yellow and green zones can return to work on the Reserve even if the cottage owner cannot. However this is for only ten days per month (combined time of cottager and contractor).
There is also the option for cottage owners who have not already purchased the additional 2 month option, to do so. This would allow green, yellow and orange zone contractors to return to work full time even if the owner is from a red or grey zone. Technically this would allow contractors to use 10 working days during the remainder of February plus March and April without further interruption.
If you are still unsure what is being allowed, please contact Kirk Roote 519 797 3039 or at kirk.roote@saugeen.org
I find this very sad… I live in the “ red” zone. And for that reason only I am not permitted to go to my cottage. I’m an essential worker and I have followed every single “ rule”. I have kept all of you safe.
I know people who live in the other zones and could care less about practicing safe procedures… but since their address is ok they will be allowed to visit their cottage.
I’m very disappointed. I pay exactly the same as everyone and I’m being punished.
I’m sure I’m not alone in what I’ve said….
is this really what we as kind considerate Canadians have become?
Every day I go to work… I’m put in unsafe measures… and how I would love to escape to my cottage for a break.
Thank you for your comment, Bonnie. And thank you for keeping us safe in all that you are doing as an essential worker.
Keeping the community safe is the first priority of the Band. The Chief and Interim Band Administrator have decided that the best way to do that is to follow the guidance of the province.
Be assured that as soon as we have new information from the Band we will pass it on.
David Shearman
President,
Saugeen Cottagers Association, Inc.
i thought insurance companies required us to visit our cottages at least 2 or 3 weeks…now what?
we have had one attempted break in 2 years ago and some suspicious people last year.
both times reported to Cancom, both times, no meaningful update.. even after repeated attempts, I am starting to question their effectiveness and how often they even patrol. I’m hoping with fines creating a revenue stream, they will be by more often.
our security system experienced an issue and I was hoping to fix it – i hope nothing bad happens.
so I’m sure you can appreciate my concern and frustration.
Not all insurance companies have a requirement to check your cottage regularly. Always ask your agent for the answer from your own insurance company.
I am sad but I totally understand. I just hope we can come up later. Please everyone be careful.
We have a family cottage. We are just confirming that it would be ok for families that live in the yellow.,orange , or green zones be able to use the cottage if they have their licence ID to show they are in the zone that are allowed to go. For the cottage is under our address abd not theirs.
As mentioned in the post, if you aren’t sure: contact Kirk Roote for clarification.
Great news and excellent compromise!!! It’s a win win!!! Thanks!!!
Agreed it’s a win win situation. Covid has turned our world upside down. You may not realize your A symptomatic.Red zones need to not be selfish and stay home or nobody will be here in May if it’s grey.
Agreed great compromise to keep everyone safe!!!!
Very sad that those of us living in the “hot” zones are not allowed to go to our cottages, again.. Most of us are doing everything in OUR power to stay safe and keep our communities safe, but our government refuses to slap fines on those who are not. IF we go to our cottages, we will be given an $800 fine, if someone flies into Pearson and refuses a covid test, they are handed a $750 fine! Looking for logic here? I do understand the Band’s reasoning though, and respect it. Wish they were running the province, we would have been out of this covid nightmare months ago!
I was not aware of the two month extension. I’m in a red zone, so I wouldn’t be going to my cottage anyway, but there is a lot of work that needs to be done on my cottage, and my contractor is not in a red zone (he’s local). It would be great if he could go and do the necessary work before May when (hopefully) it will be safe for me and my family to return to our cottage. Can you provide details on the two months extension you mentioned, please?
Larry,
You need to refer to your lease section 8.3. You can find a sample of the lease by going to the SCOI homepage and click on “about SCOI” which is a header across the top of the page. The drop down menu gives you the option of clicking on a copy of the current lease. You have the option of leasing an additional 1 or2 months prorated to your current lease amount. To set this in motion you have to contact Pat Roote at the Lands office – 519 797 3039
Can anyone explain the rationale of buying an extra 2 months? If we are paying for 10 days a month during Nov to April, and have not be allowed to use the days because of restrictions, could the days not be used now that the cottages can be visited again ( assuming your home address is in green, yellow or orange zones). I totally agree with and respect the restrictions during the lockdown, but I am confused as to why would need to pay extra now. Just wondered if anyone could clarify that, thanks.
Thank you for the question, Janette. The reason for the two month purchase option is to accommodate the number of cottagers who have renovations or building projects in the works. Often these projects are done over the winter with local contractors. Honouring the province’s advice to limit travel between zones, this was offered as a way to meet the cottager’s needs and to support local workers. To be clear, you are not required to pay anything extra unless you wish to have a contractor present to work on your cottage.
With respect to the ten days per month, these are not cumulative nor switchable. Our lease with Indigenous Services Canada is very specific. You have the ability to spend ten days per month at your cottage between November and April. If you do not use those days you can’t add them in later. The best parallel is a vehicle lease. During your lease period, if your vehicle is in the repair shop for any length of time, you lose access to the use of your vehicle but you still have lease payments to make. The same is true of your cottage lease.
I hope this helps you understand what is being said. Again, this is intended to respond to the cottagers who are wanting to do building or renovation projects.
David Shearman
Hi Janette, if you pay the Extra two months you can go unlimited, like the regular season. Otherwise you just have your ten days a month.