I am writing to you on behalf of the Elliot Lake Hiking Club, Coureurs de Bois, for your commitment to ensure the Ontario Government immediately passes an emergency order providing “Good Samaritan” COVID-related liability protection to nonprofits if they have followed all public health guidelines.
We have certified hike leaders for each hike, four days per week... we, they have concerns regarding liability added due to Covid related claims...
There is precedent: The Ontario government has provided “Good Samaritan” relief to nonprofits operating in good faith before. For example, the Donation of Food Act ensured that those who donate food to food banks and other nonprofits were not held liable for damages related to the consumption of that food, and changes to the Health Protection and Promotion Act after SARS offered “Good Samaritan” protection to health professionals.
To be clear, we are not looking for protection from litigation if nonprofits have been negligent and not followed public health guidelines. We are looking to the Ontario government to protect nonprofits that have acted in good faith as they re-open and follow public health guidelines.
Nonprofits have barely survived the first phase of the pandemic only to find themselves struggling to operate or re-open because of skyrocketing insurance costs, COVID-related exclusions, and an excessive burden of liability falling on volunteer boards of directors.
If the Ontario government waits to act before the fall Legislative session, it may be too late for many organizations.
Ontario’s 58,000 nonprofits contribute $50 billion to the province’s GDP to the economy and they employ one million workers, and connect five million Ontarians to meaningful work as volunteers.
We are calling on your support to ensure nonprofits can continue to serve Ontario communities during the pandemic, and beyond.
Sincerely,
David Nesbitt, President
Coureurs de Bois
