Skip to Content
Home

Collingwood Council Advocates To Remove Grey-Lockdown Order

Laura Hampshire
Mar 2, 2021 | 9:05 AM
Last Updated: Mar 2, 2021 | 2:46 PM

Support local journalism! Don’t let others regulate what news you see.
Bookmark bayshorebroadcasting.ca to ensure you always have a direct connection to your trusted source for local news and information.

Collingwood Council Advocates To Remove Grey-Lockdown Order


Collingwood Council is advocating to remove the ‘Grey-lockdown order in Simcoe-Muskoka.

A Special Meeting of Council was held last night to discuss the repercussions of the announcement made by the Province late Friday afternoon.

Council deliberated about the detrimental effects that this third lockdown is having on the local business community.

It voted unanimously to send a letter to the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit Chief Medical Officer of Health, Premier of Ontario and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care requesting that the Town of Collingwood be immediately reinstated to the ‘Red’ Control Zone or less restrictive to level the playing field between these business communities.

Council is also starting a letter writing campaign to encourage local businesses and residents to speak up and petition the Health Unit and Province regarding their concerns with the COVID-19 restrictions.

Collingwood Council has authorized the following:

  1. THAT Council support the concerns of the Collingwood Downtown Business Improvement Area Board of Management and all businesses within the Town of Collingwood that have been detrimentally impacted by COVID-19 Lockdown restrictions; and
  2. THAT Council ask the Premier to publicly explain immediately what factors would move our abutting municipality to the west into the least restrictive ‘Green’ Prevent Zone as Collingwood was moved into the ‘Grey’ Lockdown Zone, and how these assessments together decrease COVID risks given that these 2 abutting municipalities are economically and socially intertwined; and
  3. THAT the Mayor send a letter to the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit Chief Medical Officer of Health, Premier of Ontario and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care requesting that the Town of Collingwood be immediately reinstated to the ‘Red’ Control Zone or less restrictive to level the playing field between these business communities; and
  4. THAT the Mayor work collaboratively with our neighbouring municipalities and the County of Simcoe to seek their support and further advocacy efforts in this regard; and
  5. THAT Council initiate an immediate letter writing campaign to encourage local businesses and residents to speak up and petition the Health Unit and Province regarding their concerns with the COVID-19 restrictions.
  6. THAT the Economic Support and Recovery Task Force be reinstated to further explore options that could be considered by Council to support our residents and business community; and
  7. THAT Council continue to advocate for additional provincial and federal financial supports for Collingwood’s businesses as well as continuing our Shop Local Campaigns.
  8. THAT a copy of the resolution to be circulated to neighbouring municipalities including all municipalities with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, public, business community and any other potentially impacted agencies and organizations.

“Council heard the deep frustration and concerns from our business community in response to Friday’s Provincial announcement to put our region in the Grey Zone. We convened a Special Meeting Monday and, after thorough discussion, passed this motion that covers a range of actions including a request to the Province to reinstate Collingwood to the Red Zone or lower, to level the playing field for our local businesses,” Says Mayor Saunderson. “I have heard from many business owners that the financial burden of another lockdown will be devastating, and we are advocating with the Province and Health Unit to get local businesses open and operating.”

Residents and Businesses are encouraged to write letters to the Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit and Premier’s Office to voice your concerns and ask them to reverse the ‘Grey-Lockdown’ order:

Latest News

More