TEMAGAMI – Camp owners in the Lake Temagami area are seeking any help they can get from the government when it comes to their denied insurance claims.
Speaking on behalf of Camp Wanapitei, Jackie Hodgins – a board member, shareholder and site director - told Temagami council at a special meeting held Dec. 23 that the camps that operate on Lake Temagami have been denied their insurance claims related to COVID-19.
“We on Lake Temagami and one other camp in British Columbia were the only overnight camps in Canada not to receive this claim,” she said.
Hodgins said the camps “acted in good faith” with Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s decision to not allow overnight camps to open for the summer season in 2020 and didn’t open their doors.
“Camper fees for the summer are our main source of revenue and I think that’s probably the case for all of the other camps,” she noted.
“So this announcement basically eliminated any revenue for the entire year.”
Hodgins said the camp’s insurance policy had a rider covering infectious disease outbreaks, therefore they expected to recover some of their losses. They also have a clause for reimbursement of business interruption losses.
However the providers, Ark and Sovereign, still denied Camp Wanapitei’s claim as well as the claims of the other camps on Lake Temagami, which includes Camp Wabikon, Canadian Adventure Camp, Northwaters Wilderness Canoe Camp, Camp Temagami, and Keewaydin.
“They say we did not meet the definition of the COVID-19 outbreak within 25 miles of our camp before May 1, 2020,” said Hodgins.
“Every other camp in Ontario with the infectious disease extension received payout. The only town within 25 miles of our site is Temagami.”
LIMITED TESTING
Hodgins said the COVID testing capacity in Ontario before last May was “limited” and that there was no testing centre within 25 miles of Lake Temagami.
“Therefore, there was no way for us to prove the 25-mile stipulation,” she said.
Hodgins said that the camp has a letter from Dr. Glenn Corneil, the district’s acting medical officer of health and CEO of the Timiskaming Health Unit, stating that individuals with COVID-19 were located within the 25-mile radius of their campsite, but the insurers have not acknowledged it as proof of their claim.
“We believe the insurers are acting in bad faith and have taken advantage of our remote location and our community’s patient privacy code of conduct,” she said.
Hodgins said that Camp Wanapitei would survive despite their financial setbacks if they are able to operate this year, but that the future was certainly unclear.
“The financial impact of (last) year will be felt for a minimum of five years, if not longer,” she stressed.
“Capital projects, advancing our programs and purchases will have to be carefully managed, and some put on the shelf, until we are financially stable. 2021 is still very much a mystery, we may find that we have to put in place modifications to our programs and infrastructure to facilitate the government’s requirements. It is incredibly hard for us to budget and we have a difficulty even knowing what (2021) is going to look like.”
Hodgins said that the camp owners don’t have the financial means to start litigation against the insurers, but were hoping Temagami council could press the Ontario government further “to make sure the insurance companies are within their rights to deny us our claim.”
She said the camp owners were leaving it in council’s court to see what would be possible from their end.
SUPPORTING CAMPS
Temagami Mayor Dan O’Mara said that the municipality has sent a letter to Nipissing-Temiskaming MP Anthony Rota and that it would do whatever it could to find support for the camps.
Treasurer-administrator Craig Davidson noted that the municipality’s hands were “somewhat tied” from a business perspective as the Municipal Act precludes the town from providing financial assistance to businesses.
“What we can do, not so much with our MPP John Vanthof, although he can certainly be a cheerleader and a supporter, but is if we go to the MPP just to the south of us (Vic Fedeli), he’s also the Minister of Economic Development and Trade for the province,” said Davidson.
“Insurance is a provincial issue but I’m sure Mr. Fedeli can try to champion our cause and even see if there’s some opening up to different sources of funding.”
Council’s next regular meeting is on Jan. 21, with O’Mara noting the municipality would lobby on behalf of the camps with the government in the meantime. More discussions also will take place on potential supports for the camps at the meeting.
