A step in the right direction, but more work is needed.
That’s the response from one local camp owner after Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford announced the reopening of area resorts.
Julian Kalka from Andy Myers Lodge says there are still some questions to be answered when it comes to opening back up.
“He’s given us 11 hours notice and if we are not allowed to rent boats and guides, it’s hard to do a market and that when we spent thousands all winter marketing in the U.S.”
Kalka believes many camps will struggle as 90% of their customer base is from the United States.
Kalka notes they also advertise regionally and nationally.
“The hard part about Canadians is we benefit from the great land that we live in. So for us it’s a lot of weekends. Most of us have campers that we can just go to these lakes for nothing.”
A peaceful protest is being planned by Kalka and other operators Saturday, June 13th at 10am at Fort Vermilion in Vermilion Bay.
Meantime, in a statement from the Ontario’s Sunset Country Travel Association, Executive Director Gerry Cariou says “Foreign Nationals who own a Canadian lodge/camp will be allowed to apply for a LMIA exempt work permit at the Ports of Entry, so long as their business qualifies to open and their intent is to operate for the summer of 2020. Once a work permit is issued, the Foreign National would be allowed to enter as an authorized worker, but will need to be able to self-isolate for 14 days at a designated address subject to public health quarantine rules.”
