www.travelourbackyard.com Health Travel Locally. Matters BOOK BY AUGUST 19TH FOR THE FALL EDITION! The Region’s Business Media. More than 3,400 Subscribers. Travelour Starting at just $115! www.ovbusiness.com | [email protected] Backyard Issue No. 188 Published by: Ottawa Valley Business Group August 16, 2016 Campgrounds Face Triple Tax Rate CRA backcharging for 2015 season By: Jennifer Layman ism. Campgrounds are a small [email protected] “The worst case scenario is that we will see part of the tourism puzzle, and in some communities they are a If you ask anyone in the Ot- a decline in campgrounds in this country. vital part.” tawa Valley if a campground That doesn’t just impact camping, but all of Anderson has the numbers was more like a tourism business to prove her point. In Ontario or more like a storage facility, tourism.” alone, there are 1,144 camp- chances are they would go with - ALEXANDRA ANDERSON grounds and more than 150,000 the tourism angle. Even the prov- Executive Director, Camping in Ontario campsites. More than 1.8 million ince and the country in general Ontarian camp and the spend, count campgrounds as part of plus employment adds up to the “accommodations” aspect small businesses. A campground park owner, however, can only $1.2 billion annually. Of course, of the tourism industry. Up until was more like a “specified increase his rates in the future. there is also the rural factor of this year, the Canada Revenue investment business” where in- Therefore the tax increase should camping as campgrounds are Agency (CRA) agreed with the come is made from real property. be announced for the future. most often located outside of the majority of Canadians. This year, The specified investment busi- This would allow the business to city centres. Some feel it’s just they changed their mind. nesses tax rate had another small budget and, if necessary, to raise one more slap in the face of the Starting With The Act benefit to the federal coffers: the prices accordingly.” economy for rural areas. Under the Income Tax Act, they were taxed at 45 to 50 per Camping in Ontario However, there is a way for campground corporations have cent. The Conservative govern- Alexandra Anderson is the Ex- campgrounds to get around this always qualified for the small ment said they would look at this ecutive Director of the Ontario triple tax increase: they just need business tax deduction. This proposal. The Liberal govern- Private Campground Association to have five full-time employees means they pay about 15 per cent ment decided not to. So the CRA (OPCA). She and her provincial working year-round! Not only is income tax. It has been this way re-evaluated some campgrounds counterparts have been trying to that unlikely given the seasonal for a long time, no one really and re-taxed them at three times convince CRA that their “back- nature of the activity, but local knows how long, but accountants their accustomed amount - for a charging” is unfair and that if it municipalities also have zoning have filed the small business tax year that had already passed. continues, it could significantly rules for campgrounds which deductions for campgrounds for, “The denial of small business hamper a tourism industry that is prevent them from operating well, decades. tax credit to a small business just getting back on its feet. year round. That requirement Government Change is implemented to past years “The worst case scenario is forces campgrounds to either In 2015, before the change of (welcome to Canada) and the that we will see a decline in break municipal bylaws, or be federal government, CRA sug- “mom and pop” park owners are campgrounds in this country,” outside the “business” category gested that campgrounds were back charged,” explains Walter she says. “That doesn’t just of CRA. It’s an odd choice. more like storage facilities than Geisser of Bayview Lodge. “The impact camping, but all of tour- Continued on Page 3 GOOD LUCK MELISSA August 17th - Women’s 800m Round 1 - 9:55am EST August 18th - Women’s 800m Semi Final - 8:15pm EST August 20th - Women’s 800m Final - 8:15 EST Coverage on TSN, CBC and Live Stream Download the Rio App for Live Stream August 16, 2016 Ottawa Valley Business Page 2 Valley’s Council Chambers, September 7, 2016 Pembroke 2:00pm-3:30pm at the Arnprior Accessibility Commit- County of Renfrew Boardroom, tee Meeting. 7:00pm. Arnprior & Ottawa Valley Business (OVB) is a twice- Renfrew 7:00pm-8:30pm at District Museum, 35 Madawaska monthly publication covering business 1035 O’Brien Road. To register Street. All are welcome. news and events throughout Renfrew, contact Jessica Geick at jessica. September 7-8, 2016 Lanark and Pontiac counties and the Events [email protected] or 613-431- Two-day comprehensive Quick- surrounding areas. OVB is published by August 16, 2016 the Ottawa Valley Business group. 3951 ext. 225. books Training Course. Accoun- County of Renfrew Official Plan August 18, 2016 tapotamus in Ottawa. 8:30am- WHO READS US: Review. Open House (5:30pm- Renfrew County Beef Meeting. 4:30pm both days. $675 plus OVB is delivered via email to more than 7:00pm). Public Meeting Contact Donna at 613-432-5568. HST. Ask about Canada Ontario 3,400 businesses, government agencies (7:00pm-9:00pm). Chalk River August 22, 2016 Job Grant that may cover 2/3 of and organizations. & Area Lions Hall, Chalk River. Renfrew County Federation of your training. Contact Kathryn to For info contact Charles Chees- Agriculture Meeting. Cobden. register at: 613-656-0441 ext.441 HOW TO SUBSCRIBE: man at 613-735-3204. Subscriptions are free. Email us at Call Donna at 613-432-5568. September 14, 2016 [email protected] to subscribe at August 17, 2016 August 22, 2016 Upper Ottawa Valley Cham- www.ovbusiness.com/subscribe. Renfrew County Plowmen Deadline to book into the Ottawa ber of Commerce Annual Golf Meeting. Cobden. Contact Myles Valley Meetings and Events Tournament. Held at Whitetail ADVERTISING: England at 613-582-3470. Guide. Published by Ottawa Golf Club in Eganville. $105 OVB’s target audience is employers and August 17, 2016 Valley Business. Distributes per player or $400 per foursome. employees. Advertising is available from County of Renfrew Official September 1st. List as a supplier, Shotgun at 12:00pm. 80’s theme. 1/8 page to full page, plus online. See www.ovbusiness.com/advertising for Plan Review. Open House venue or more. admin@ovbusi- Call: 613-732-1492 to register more information. (5:30pm-7:00pm). Public Meet- ness.com or call 613-732-7774. your team. ing (7:00pm-9:00pm). Paul J. August 23, 2016 September 14-16, 2016 1/8 Page ............................................ $75 Yakabuski Community Centre, Enterprise Renfrew County’s Ontario East Municipal Confer- 1/4 Page .......................................... $150 Barry’s Bay. For info contact next Starter Company Intake ence. Held at the Ambassador 1/3 Page .......................................... $175 Charles Cheesman at 613-735- Session. 10:00am-Noon. This Hotel in Kingston. www.oemc.ca 1/2 Page .......................................... $275 3204. is a mandatory session for all September 21, 2016 2/3 Page .......................................... $325 Full Page .......................................... $475 August 17, 2016 potential Starter Company Cultural Heritage Conservation Information Session on PARO: Applicants. Pre-registration is Workshop. Heritage Conserva- CONTENT & SUBMISSIONS: a Women’s Business Networking required. See website for details: tion in Ontario: Fundamentals News, article ideas, employee news, Group. Sessions: Barry’s Bay www.enterpriserenfrewcounty.com for Municipal Heritage Commit- business events, tenders and letters 11:00am-12:30pm at Madawaska tees. Led by the Ontario Ministry to the editor are welcomed. Content of Tourism, Culture and Sport. will be edited to fit the space available. 6:00pm-10:00pm. Carleton Submissions must have to impact the business community to be considered. Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum. 267 Edmund Street, CONTACT US: Carleton Place. Free of charge. Publisher..........................Jennifer Layman Registration limited. Deadline to Advertising.........................Kallie Doering register is September 14. Contact [email protected] 44% Bert Duclos at 1-888-997-9015 Phone.................................613-732-7774 of employees have ext.7154 or [email protected] Online....................www.ovbusiness.com experienced a mental health issue September 27, 2016 2113 Petawawa Boulevard, Renfrew County Veterinary Pembroke, Ontario K8A 7G8 Services Committee Annual Meeting. Whitewater Municipal SOCIAL MEDIA: Building in Cobden. Producers welcome to attend. For informa- tion contact Lloyd Robinson at www.facebook.com/OVBusiness 613-582-3715. @JennLayman (Twitter) Help is here if you need it. October 24-25, 2016 OH!Tourism Summit. Best West- Valley EFAP is a workplace-based program that ern Plus Perth and Code’s Mill on the Park. More information offers mental health support to employees, at: www.ohtourismsummit.ca employers and families. The cost can be covered by November 19-20 2016 the employer or cost-shared with staff. This program The Franchise Expo in Ottawa. Saturday 11:00am-5:00pm. Sun- is also available to small businesses. Proudly in the day 11:00am-4:00pm. Eastern community for more than 30 years. Ontario’s largest “Own Your Own Business” event. Register for free at: www.ottawafranchi- Valley Employee and seexpo.com ----- Family Assistance Program Send us your business event to [email protected] | Phone: 613-735-2116 [email protected] August 16, 2016 Ottawa Valley Business Group Page 3 Campgrounds (Continued From Page 1) Continued from Page 1 who have been prohibited from ment. They never asked for the Note 2: Ottawa Valley Busi- obtaining the small business Council’s opinion, never gave ness asked additional questions What’s Going To Happen? tax deduction, and taxed at the them any notice, nothing.