Premier of Ontario Honourable Legislative Building Queen's Park Toronto ON M7A 1A1

Dear Premier Ford,

Re: Resorts in Ontario (Roofed accommodation)

We are writing to you today as we wish to confirm that Resorts are categorized as roofed accommodation in the Province of Ontario and at this time are considered to be an essential business. We represent a great variety of rural accommodators (resort lodges, cottages, hotels and inns) located throughout Ontario.

We fully appreciate the tremendous responsibility the Ontario Government has with regard to protecting Ontario and Ontarians as a result of the pandemic. At the same time, we are gravely concerned about the health and vitality of our Resorts. There is a great deal of confusion within the industry as it relates to whether we can open or not – it is clear hotels can be open; we believe that resorts are essentially hotels (roofed accommodation) located outside of major city centres. We represent businesses who plan to open responsibly.

Resorts of Ontario as a provincial sector organization has included the WSPS guidelines into our Business Continuity Plan which is really a blueprint to structured protocols / standards to meet the health and safety guidelines to effectively protect our guests and employees. We recognize that there are recreational elements to resorts which we understand are not allowable at this time, until future phases of business are opened, as an example, similar to golf opened a few weeks ago.

Our resorts (hotels) have pre-booked business. This pre-booked business is for the peak season. Summer is the timeframe which the industry counts on for sustainability of their businesses. With the protocols and systems these individual resorts have established, for the purpose of meeting the Ontario Government’s requirements (physical distancing / gatherings of groups no more than 5 persons), the natural location and space of these rural establishments lend itself to effectively caring for and providing an atmosphere that meets the health and safety (safety, sanitation, prevention) of our customers.

We find ourselves as an industry sector subjected to confusing interpretations of the Ontario Emergency Order and Regulation. There is absolutely no consistency on the interpretation of the Regulation by the O.P.P. Some have indicated that resorts are absolutely open as they are perceived to be an essential service, whereas others are suggesting that fines of up to $100,000 can be levied as they are not complying with the sub-section under “Short Term” rentals. To exacerbate the situation, AirBnB’s are renting accommodations which not only defies the very objectives of Government’s intent to keep Ontarians safe and clearly an un-level playing field for commercial establishments who abide by the rules, pay taxes, and generate employment.

If we have misinterpreted the regulation, we ask for clarification on this issue, in writing at your earliest convenience. Thank you for the tremendous work you and your government are doing on this very difficult situation.

Yours truly,

Grace Sammut Executive Director Resorts of Ontario

GS/mkd

cc - Lisa Macleod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism & Culture [email protected] cc - , M.P.P. Muskoka Parry Sound [email protected] cc - Jill Dunlop, M.P.P. Simcoe North [email protected] cc - Steve Clark, Minister of Municipalities and Housing [email protected]

RESORTS OF ONTARIO, 29 Albert St. N., Orillia ON L3V 5J9 705.325.9115 F: 705.325.7999 1.800.363.7227 [email protected] www.resortsofontario.com