Recreational camping on Crown land is temporarily banned.
To curb the spread of COVID-19, the province has prohibited camping on Crown land until further notice.
According to the province, the ban does not affect the exercising of Indigenous or treaty rights, temporary accommodations to operate essential services and businesses such as forestry operations, public land day use for exercise consistent with the stay-at-home order, or if written permission has been issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to be on the public land.
In Ontario, there is currently a state of emergency and stay-at-home order.
Essential businesses are open with COVID-19 restrictions in place. Some non-essential businesses are permitted to offer curbside pickup. For recreation, gyms are closed, however, golf courses are allowed to open.
Under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act people cannot camp for recreational purposes on Crown land run by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry under the Public Lands Act or occupy tents or other camping structures such as trailers or RVs for overnight stays.
Crown land does not include Ontario Parks, however overnight stays at provincial parks are closed for the stay-at-home order.
Only a limited number of parks offer camping options during the winter season. The majority of parks open for the season in May.
"We understand this temporary closure of overnight stays in provincial parks may impact your plans, however, the health and well-being of Ontarians is our number one priority," reads the Ontario Parks website.
Further restrictions are expected to be announced later today. Premier Doug Ford is slated to make an announcement at 2:30 p.m. Village Media will livestream the announcement.
