TIAO and Camping in Ontario have sent a joint letter to the Honourable Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, regarding a local by-law affecting campgrounds in Rideau Lakes.
By-Law No. 2022-63 of the Township of Rideau Lakes introduces costly requirements for new, expanding, or renovating campgrounds, including requirements to submit lake impact, traffic impact, and hydrogeological assessments. The bylaw also effectively bans adequate usage of flashlights and camping lights for new, expanding, or renovating campgrounds. We are concerned about the impact of this bylaw on visitor safety and the capacity of local campgrounds to operate regularly, make necessary renovations, and offer competitive visitor experiences.
TIAO and Camping in Ontario have been working together to address this issue, previously raising it in meetings with government officials at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference in January. Ontario’s campgrounds are a key tourism market contributing to the economic life of local communities. We will continue working with stakeholders to find a solution that supports the economic growth and capacity of campgrounds.
To read our letter, see here.