Editor's note: This letter is written in response to Health Unit closes OFSC snowmobile trails
Dr. Chirico,
I am writing this open letter to you to communicate my extreme disappointment and lack of understanding in your latest decree to close OFSC trails in our district. I know I speak for a significant portion of the trail users locally in North Bay when I say that this measure appears punitive in nature.
In your news release issued from the North Bay Parry Sound Health Unit on January 18, 2021, you state that “you have received many complaints about people travelling from other districts to use local trails” and that “we are also seeing groups of snowmobilers congregating on trails, in parking lots and other locations not maintaining a two metre distance and exceeding gathering limits”.
Do you have any supporting evidence to substantiate these claims for which you ruled the closure of local snowmobile trails? The following is an excerpt from the health protection and promotion act:
A medical officer of health or a public health inspector may make an order under this section where he or she is of the opinion, upon reasonable and probable grounds,
(a) that a health hazard exists in the health unit served by him or her; and
(b) that the requirements specified in the order are necessary in order to decrease the effect of or to eliminate the health hazard.
Our case numbers have been very low and in fact, continue to decrease with 5 active cases currently (3 in Nipissing and 2 in Parry Sound). I think it is only fair that you provide your rational and hard data to support that the local snowmobile trails are contributing to a health hazard over and above what was previously in existence prior to the local snowmobile trails being opened. It is clear that our case count does not reflect a greater hazard due to the local trail use by citizens in this health district.
Instead of punishing local citizens who rely on the enjoyment/stress relief that local snowmobile riding brings which in turn is assisting with overall mental health and well-being during these unprecedented times, why not implement measures to restrict individuals from outside the district from travelling here?
Why have you not directed hotels to stop offering accommodations to out of town non-essential personnel? Why not implement a closure of access points to individuals outside our district travelling for non-essential purpose? Have you considered a local pass available free to the citizens in our health unit district that allows them freedom to access our natural resources for activity, exercise, and general mental health care within the allowable framework set forth through the provincial government on January 14th, 2021?
The latest measure to close OFSC trails in our district only serves to anger, frustrate and turn those rule-abiding citizens against you and the measures implemented. I have been riding the trails since they opened and have not witnessed large crowds gathering. Everyone I observed had a helmet on and maintained social distance when stopped.
The measure you have implemented, specifically the closure of snowmobile trails, is punitive in nature (whether you believe it or not) and sends the wrong message to the citizens of this district who have worked hard to comply with new measures and constantly changing situations/conditions that impact our lives, Additionally, it is unsubstantiated measures like this one that continue to erode the trust citizens place in their government and health officials and further contribute to the unfortunate symptom of COViD fatigue. I won't get into the sliding hills and outdoor rinks but the same logic discussed above would apply.
Please reconsider this latest measure and consider the level of mental health improvement that snowmobiling brings to local northerners who rely on these types of outdoor activities to make it through a standard winter let alone this unique winter.
Sincerely,
Matthew T.R. Curry
North Bay
