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On Friday, Premier Ford reported on the increase of Barrie and Orillia parking regulations and referred to them as “price gouging.”
I live in Oro-Medonte Township and must adhere to the same new parking regulations put in place. We shop, eat at their restaurants, use the facilities in Barrie and Orillia, and must also abide by the same new COVID-19 parking and beach bylaws.
We do not like it, but COVID-19 has caused new rules in many areas to be put in place.
Premier Ford did not address the reason why the parking regulations had changed. Yes, the beaches were crowded. Yes, there was little if not any parking for anyone who arrived at the beaches in either Barrie or Orillia.
Why? Why did the mayors of these cities feel it was necessary to try and control these situations during a pandemic? Basically to keep all of us safe — not only the people who live in these cities but also the people who travelled to the cities.
The photo that was shown on the CTV News, Friday, July 24, along with Premier Ford’s message, was of a beach with very few people. In the past two weeks, there were two photos televised in the news that would have better shown the answer to “why” the mayors had to take control.
One photo showed parking areas and beaches so congested, there was no room to move either vehicles nor people.
There were tents, barbecues, and crowds of people with no masks or regard to social distancing. There was no respect to the spreading of COVID-19, no respect to the number of people who could transmit the disease socially.
There was no respect shown towards those who may become affected, may suffer damage to their health for the rest of there lives and yes, some may die.
The second photo showed our beaches and picnic areas after the multitude of visitors left to return to their homes. Garbage was littered everywhere — all types of garbage! I have never seen the beaches left in such a filthy mess for someone else to clean.
Barrie and Orillia are trying to control the spread of COVID-19 in their area. The new parking and beach regulations are extreme but may be necessary. If anyone else has a better suggestion, please pass it along.
The mayors of these cities were very brave to step forward to try and solve a huge problem.
If only others with leadership had stepped forward at the beginning of COVID-19 and set in motion the simple wearing of masks, making it mandatory, everywhere.
If only people had accepted the simple suggestion of socially distancing.
If only the people had accepted there was a pandemic and respected the efforts towards controlling the spread.
We may not like some of the regulations but the least we can do is work with them, not against them.
If only . . .
Joan Daulby
Coldwater
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