Ontario police turning away dozens of Manitoba cottagers

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This article was published 21/05/2021 (1938 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Ontario Provincial Police are urging Manitobans to stop trying to visit their cabins until after restrictions are lifted, after turning away dozens of people from the border daily.

“People are trying to use loopholes, and still get turned around,” Const. Jason Canfield told the Free Press.

Starting a month ago, his Kenora division got used to turning back three to four people a day at the Manitoba border. But that number has risen as the weather has improved, with around 30 people being turned away daily.

On April 19, Ontario set up checkpoints at interprovincial borders to stop all travel that isn’t essential, such as medical care, transporting goods or exercising Indigenous rights, to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Since then, Manitoba businesses have sought written guidance from the OPP on which of their workers can still enter Ontario as part of their jobs.

But Manitobans have taken it upon themselves to try to enter Ontario by making up excuses, such as claiming they have to work without a clear, essential reason, Canfield said.

“We have people driving all the way to the border and get turned around, just because they don’t have a legit reason,” he said.

He was not sure how many people still cross into Ontario on the Trans-Canada Highway, and was not aware of the OPP charging anyone for driving through the checkpoint.

Canfield said Americans who have property in the area haven’t visited since summer 2019, and that local contractors can do checks on cabins for their owners.

Anyone who claims their cottage’s security alarm has gone off will not be allowed over the border, Canfield said, noting police officers are supposed to respond to such incidents.

“If it’s not for an essential reason, don’t do it. That’s what it essentially boils down to,” Canfield said.

It’s unclear how long the border ban will stay in place. Ontario’s stay-at-home order is set to expire June 2,and on Thursday, the province announced a plan to start lifting restrictions as of June 14. That new plan did not mention checkpoints at borders with Manitoba and Quebec.

In Kenora, the Home Hardware store has been delivering lumber to cabins owned by Manitobans, and tucking it into secure places.

“We understand that the cottagers actually need to get some supplies down here, and we do our best to accommodate their needs, without having them jeopardize their health,” said manager Josh Melanson.

“That way when they come here, they can just go straight to their cottage.”

Ontario’s Northwestern Health Unit had just 27 active cases on Thursday. A spokesman said it is trying to keep its health-care system intact, in part since Manitobans have been transferred to the Thunder Bay hospital.

He was not sure if any cases or outbreaks in the past month had been linked to Manitoba visitors.

Meanwhile, the OPP’s marine unit is continuing its regular patrols of boats, and will approach any vessel that seems to be crossing the border.

“We’re not out to charge everybody. Our biggest thing right now is just education,” said Canfield.

“We are trying to not have our numbers explode here, and have people travelling here from other places has kind of been the No. 1 reason why things have ballooned everywhere.”

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca