Locals only

We know it’s wrong. We know that discriminating against our fellow humans is a failing—likely rooted in our primitive evolutionary wiring. We know that it is unfair, unjust, and destructive to our social well-being—that it runs counter to our fundamental ideas of a civilized society. We know, too, that generalizing about someone based on age, gender, race, marital status etc., is simply bad information. We know it is profoundly worse when prejudice and bias become institutionalized— when discrimination is crystallized into law. And when governments enforce and uphold prejudicial laws—when it becomes the organ of discrimination. We know it’s wrong, yet we can’t seem to break the habit.

Last week a committee of council took another step toward formalizing the distinction between us and them. Residents and tourists. One set of laws for those who live here, a different more punitive set of laws for visitors to this community.

While Shire Hall has not yet worked out how we will project our identity as residents— ID card, vehicle sticker, secret handshake, smug look of self-satisfaction—we are well on our way to establishing a category of laws for tourists and a different set for residents.

Where it begins is on Huyck’s Point, Bakker and North Beach Roads. On some warm summer days—mainly when Sandbanks beach is full—the parking lot at North Beach Provincial Park fills up, and the parking spills down both sides of County Road 27 (North Beach Road). It was particularly bad in 2019 (an anomalous year that now serves as the benchmark for this and a growing list of other municipal overreactions.)

There were other solutions (there always are)—including urging Park officials to create more parking at North Beach. Instead, the County responded last year by erecting signs banning parking on all the roads leading to Lake Ontario in Hillier. Walloping $300 fines—$400 if you don’t pay up right away.

Folks who had used this water access for decades—to walk their dog or spend a quiet few hours on the beach—were suddenly caught up in the municipal frenzy to beat back the tourist horde. One Wellington family received two massive fines for an overly long walk on the beach.

This year, the laws and the fines will remain. But only tourists will be charged. That’s the plan. County residents will be exempt from the law. One law for us, another for them.

Instinctively some councillors sensed this might be a bad idea. Hillier and Wellington councillors Ernie Margetson and Mike Harper expressed some wariness. Hallowell councillor Brad Nieman said the fines were too steep.

But others see the dawning of a new golden age— one in which the privilege of residency might be dispensed, and benefits offered to residents only.

“So that every taxpayer has some kind of identification that gives them some benefits for being residents,” said Councillor Andreas Bolik.

That our elected officials don’t immediately see this as the repulsive and ugly discrimination it is, is because they think they know who tourists are. Thoughtless, insensitive mass of garbage strewers, who don’t respect private property and wear inappropriate garb to the grocery store.

But like every other stereotype, it is bad information. It tells us nothing at all reliable about the individual. Worse, it is dehumanizing.

There are certainly challenges associated with the tourism economy. But smart and civilized folks can figure out how to mitigate these challenges and moderate the impact of this economic activity in ways that don’t establish two classes of humans— us and them.

rick@wellingtontimes.ca