The right monitoring technology can improve security at your cottage, and help you keep an eye on the things you care about, whether you’re at the lake or in the city.
Designed for off-grid use but also ideal for any rural property, Vosker’s outdoor security cameras include models that are solar-powered and stay connected via 4G-LTE, so you don’t have to worry about power outages or rely on spotty Wi-Fi service. They’re portable, they can withstand inclement weather, and they come with long-lasting rechargeable batteries and built-in solar panels. When there’s movement detected outside your cottage, day or night, you’ll receive a mobile notification, and the camera will capture and send photos to your phone right away. Even better, certain models in the U.S. offer live streaming, and that feature will soon be coming to Canada.
With cottage season in full swing, here are five reasons to install a Vosker security camera at your cottage this year.
Frequent visitors
With your monitoring camera pointed at the driveway or dock of your cottage, you can easily track vehicle and guest arrivals and departures, which can be very convenient if you often host adult children and extended family members at your cottage—even when you’re not there. The cloud-based Vosker app, which can access multiple cameras at once, uses the company’s SENSE AI image-recognition technology to offer smart notifications tailored to your specific monitoring needs. With the easy-to-use app, it’s easy to download HD photos for each detection, and to review images from previous alerts.
Shoreline activity
Vosker’s wire-free outdoor cameras come with a mounting arm that makes them simple to set up and position to detect any movement around your boats, watercraft, dock, or waterfront—all of which is useful whether or not you’re at the cottage. After all, not all of those structures and vehicles may be visible even from the main buildings, depending on the size and design of your property. The cameras take colour photos by day and infrared images by night.
Inclement weather
Nervous about things like tornadoes or lightning strikes? The Vosker’s cameras give you peace of mind when there’s a weather advisory or storm warning for the area, and you’re not around to make sure everything is OK. The motion-activated camera will capture conditions outside your cottage in full HD-resolution, so if a tree falls down in the monitoring area, you’ll get a real-time alert on your phone so you can see and assess the extent of any damage.
Curious creatures
From hungry deer to destructive raccoons, your cottage can be a draw year-round for a variety of wildlife and pests. When you’re not there, or not looking, an outdoor security camera can keep you in the loop about any unexpected or unwanted four-legged visitors—you’ll be notified quickly if they are causing any damage, or getting into structures where they shouldn’t be. The camera works day and night, so you’ll be able to keep an eye on any nocturnal visitors, too.
Work in progress
If you’re having significant construction or landscaping work done at your cottage, an outdoorsecurity camera can help you keep an eye on the work site, even from afar. Just check out this time lapse of an off-grid build in progress. With a motion-detection range of 90 feet, a 43.6° field of view, and a time-lapse photo mode, a Vosker camera lets you clearly monitor the work in progress on your phone, so you can address any questions or concerns with contractors without needing to stop by every day.
Planning on booking a cottage rental in Midland? The price of your stay may be going up. On June 15, the Midland town council passed a motion to work on the municipal accommodation tax (MAT) but did not yet enact it.
The provincial government introduced the tax in 2017, allowing municipalities to levy a hotel tax and share revenue with not-for-profit tourist organizations. Each community decides the rate, design, administration, and collection system. Orillia, Barrie, Toronto, and Thunder Bay have implemented the MAT and their own bylaw.
If Midland enacts the MAT, short-term renters, such as those who use Airbnb, may have to pay an additional four per cent of their total costs. The decision will be up to the working group and town council.
Midland town staff estimate that the tax could bring in $118,844 in revenue if enacted. This calculation is based on an annual 40 per cent occupancy and a minimum daily hotel rate of $100.
In the first staff report, “based on the average summer nightly rate of $276, with rates ranging from $187 to $401 a night, implementing this tax should have little to no impact on the ability for local accommodations to book rooms.”
Tax discussion with the councillors
Councillors Jim Downer, Beth Prost, Bill Gordon, and deputy mayor Mike Ross voted against the motion. “We are still coming out of this pandemic and flopping like a dead fish trying to revive the economy,” said Gordan. The opposing councillors don’t believe that the hotel and motel community will favour the higher costs, noting that the tax could waste town staff’s time and affect tourism recovery efforts. “If it deters one person from visiting Midland, then we harm our industry,” Ross said.
Councillors Jonathan Main, Carole McGinn, Cher Cunningham, mayor Stewart Strathearn, and chief administrative officer David Denault are in favour of the motion. They want to speak with stakeholders and consider the potential benefits, implications, associated costs, and successes of other municipalities. “This could be an opportunity for our local businesses to make money,” Campbell said.
The next steps include Midland town staff preparing a second report outlining their bylaw recommendations and presenting it to the future MAT working group.
After two years of “outdoors only” gatherings and extended stints at the cottage made possible by remote work, we’ve all learned how much a great deck can increase enjoyment of a cottage country property. A well-designed, thoughtfully furnished deck expands the usable space of your cottage, increases the value and appeal of the property, and allows you to spend more time outdoors with friends and loved ones.
With a few key additions and tweaks, it’s possible to transform a basic deck into an inspiring space that better complements your cottage and meets your family’s needs. Here are six ways to give your cottage deck a major upgrade this year.
Make it comfortable
It can be hard to enjoy the outdoors when you’re dealing with pests and bugs. In fact, buzzing and biting mosquitoes can ruin all your outdoor plans. Thermacell’s people- and pet-friendly E-Series Rechargeable E55 Mosquito Repellent can keep your deck space extra comfortable for everyone no matter the season or time of day. It’s DEET-free and unscented, and a single unit offers hours of powerful protection with 5.5 hours of battery life!
Create multiple activity zones
Depending on the size and layout of your deck, you may want to consider creating several distinctive areas to suggest or encourage different uses for the space. For example, one side of a wide deck can be furnished for seating and conversation, while the other side houses the BBQ and an outdoor kitchen or bar. It can be easier to have multiple zones with a multi-level deck, but even with a simple one-level space, you can create visual boundaries with things like decking colour, outdoor rugs, and built-in seating.
Plan for less-than-ideal weather
You’ll spend more time on your cottage deck if you can use it even through rainy weather and on hot, sunny days. Cost-effective accessories like patio umbrellas or fabric tarps can offer ample sun protection instantly, while more permanent add-ons like a wooden pergola, pavilion, or awning will add serious style to your deck while protecting you from the elements. Just be sure that any new additions complement the aesthetic and exterior colour palette of your property and cottage.
Add the right furnishings
This could be the year to replace your decades-old patio dining set with comfortable, stylish new seating and outdoor furniture. Look for features like storage capacity and cushions made with waterproof fabrics and easy-to-clean surfaces. You should also consider who will be using the space, and how. There’s no point investing in sun or chaise loungers for your deck if you typically prefer to sunbathe on the dock or near the water, for example. But a deck-safe wood or gas fire pit is a must-have if you love spending time outdoors on chilly spring and autumn nights.
Improve the lighting
Your cottage deck can benefit from great lighting that’s thoughtfully placed. Ideally, you want to have multiple types of lighting available for different uses and occasions. In-floor and recessed lights can make your deck and steps safer at night, while string lights and lanterns can help set the mood for parties and get-togethers. There are many solar-powered options, too, if you are looking for off-grid or environmentally-friendly lighting.
Bring your tech outdoors
From smart speakers to outdoor televisions, there are many water- and weather-proof tech products available on the market, and the portable ones can also be transported for use in the city on your balcony or backyard patio. It’s never been easier to have a movie night under the stars, or to curate the perfect playlist for your next cottage barbecue.
Ready for a summer without being bothered by mosquitoes? Learn more about the Thermacell E55 Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller at Canadian Tire.
Who doesn’t love spending a weekend on the water? Before jumping on your boat this season, it’s important to prepare with the right boating safety procedures and supplies. OPP Sergeant Dave Moffatt, the provincial marine coordinator of the Highway Safety Division, shares five preventative boating safety tips before stepping on board.
Put on your life jacket
Wear a life jacket or PFD on a motorized- or human-powered boat (including a standup paddleboard or any other craft used for navigation). “Life jackets keep your head above water, while a personal floatation device keeps you afloat, but doesn’t always keep your head above water,” says Sergeant Moffatt. If you become unconscious, a PFD might not stop you from drowning.
Tip: Sergeant Moffatt recommends an automatic inflatable PFD. “Our entire force wears them. It’s a cheap investment for your safety and comfort,” he says.
Be prepared
It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3.
1. Check local weather forecasts or head to Transport Canada for a map showing marine forecasts and warnings. “If there are heavy winds or thunderstorms, skip boating because bad weather can travel fast,” says Sergeant Moffatt.
2. Know the area you are boating in—especially when using a human-powered boat in rapid-ridden and high-level waterways. Only experienced boaters should attempt to navigate rapids. Check water levels through the Surface Water Monitor Centre.
3. Sergeant Moffatt recommends taking a preparation course to improve knowledge of boating safety—“Boating is difficult, and you can never learn enough about it,” he says.
Zero tolerance for alcohol and drugs
Never consume alcohol or drugs while operating a boat (including human-powered ones). Alcohol affects your judgment and response time by intensifying your body’s reaction to sun exposure, wind, and fatigue. In fact, one drink on the water can be equivalent to three on land, according to Transport Canada.
Deck out your boat
Time to accessorize—there’s a lot more equipment you need on board than you might think, and you have to know where it all is. “During inspections, you wouldn’t believe how long it can take for some people to find their safety equipment,” says Sergeant Moffatt.
According to Transport Canada, mandatory boating safety equipment includes a PFD or lifejacket for each person on board, a buoyant heaving line, a manual propelling device or anchor (at least 15 metres in length), a bailer or hand pump, a sound-signalling device, navigation lights, a 5BC fire extinguisher (a fixed fuel tank or a fuel-burning unit is sufficient, too), a waterproof flashlight, and a boating licence (with any motor of 10 hp or more).
Inspect your boat
Sergeant Moffatt recommends fastening your plugs, ensuring both the lights and motors are working properly, and assessing your craft for damage each time you ride. “It is important to have a regular maintenance schedule and have your engine looked at before the season starts,” he says. Consider scheduling free Pleasure Craft Courtesy Checks with Transport Canada volunteers, who will identify any potential problems or safety concerns.
Tip: Don’t forget about your trailer while looking after your boat. Examine the axles, bearings, brakes, and lights for proper operation.
Didn’t purchase a fishing licence this year? From now until July 10, you can fish in Ontario for free without a licence.
While licences aren’t required, regular fishing rules still apply. The province says fishers must:
follow conservation licence catch limits
obey size limits and sanctuaries
follow the fishing regulations
carry a permit or identification card issued by the provincial or federal government, showing your name and date of birth
More information on Ontario Fishing Regulations can be found here.
If you’re short on fishing equipment,TackleShare is a program that loans out free rods and reels across the province. Anglers can sign out equipment (like a book at a library) at locations throughout the province, including provincial parks, conservation authorities, and libraries.
For those who can’t make it out to the cottage before July 10, you can take a crack at urban fishing. Cities have designated fishing sites and all fishing rules still apply within city limits.
This is the last of four dates the province designated as free fishing periods in 2022.
Related Story This DIY fishing boat cost under $500 to make
Ontario’s new Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry is being accused of violating the Endangered Species Act.
On June 21, Bracebridge citizen Michael Opara charged Graydon Smith, the MPP for Parry Sound-Muskoka, with allegedly playing a role in endangering one of Ontario’s at-risk species, the Blanding’s turtle. The incident in question occurred during Smith’s tenure as Bracebridge, Ont.’s mayor, a position he held from 2010 to 2022.
Opara laid the charges three days before Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced Smith as one of his new cabinet ministers. Opara also brought charges against the town of Bracebridge, the town’s director of public works, Geoff Carleton, and the town’s chief administrative officer Stephen Rettie, all in relation to endangering Blanding’s turtles and their habitat.
Opara alleges that between June 8, and August 25, 2021, the town’s public works department disturbed a group of Blanding’s turtles, damaging their habitat by performing grading work on Peace Valley Road, where Opara lives. The site is a 15-minute drive northeast of Bracebridge.
Opara sent an email to the town on June 27, 2021, alerting Mayor Smith and a town councillor to the Blanding’s turtles in the area. Rather than putting a halt to the grading work, the public works department responded by changing the methodology, timing, and frequency of roadway operations where there was a risk of disturbing sensitive habitat, and erected turtle crossing signs in the area to advise equipment operators of the existing habitat, Bracebridge CAO Stephen Rettie wrote in a letter.
The charges have yet to be tested in court, but a Justice of the Peace did sign off on them, setting a court date for September 21 at the Bracebridge Courthouse.
In response to the allegations against the town of Bracebridge, Sarah Hahn, the town’s legal representative, wrote in an email that “these charging documents do not set out the details of any of the alleged offences and we are confident that they will be thrown out once a Justice of the Peace reviews the matter…The fact is, and the evidence will show, that the Town acted diligently and appropriately in completing required road works within the vicinity of the turtle habitat. It is unfortunate that town resources must now be used to respond to these baseless accusations.”
Despite repeated attempts to contact him, Graydon Smith did not respond to a request to comment on the allegations by the time of publishing this article.
David Donnelly, an environmental lawyer based in Toronto, says that the Justice of the Peace signing off on the charges and setting a court date proves that there is legitimacy to the charges. “The Justice of the Peace cannot and should not swear any information or issue process in cases that are lacking evidence,” Donnelly says.
Donnelly is not involved in the Bracebridge case but has participated in similar prosecutions, many of which have proved to be successful and resulted in changes to the law.
Once the accused appears in court on September 21, it is possible that charges could be dropped, if the individuals, such as Smith, can demonstrate that they weren’t involved in the decision-making relevant to the case, Donnelly says.
“But under the Endangered Species Act, it’s important that anyone who was responsible for the actual act or the decision making leading to the destruction of the endangered species be held accountable,” Donnelly says.
This article first appeared on MobileSyrup and it has been shared with permission. To see the original article, click here.
Ontario and Quebec are set to get a ton of new electric vehicle (EV) chargers thanks to new government investment.
Announced on June 30th, the federal government will invest over $3.5 million in Baseload Power to install 31 Level 2 EV chargers and 67 fast chargers across the two provinces. The funding comes from Natural Resource Canada’s Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP). The project’s total cost is over $10.5 million.
Moreover, all the chargers will be available by November 2022.
“We’re making electric vehicles more affordable and charging more accessible where Canadians live, work and play. Investing in more EV chargers, like the ones announced today in Ontario, will put more Canadians in the driver’s seat on the road to a net-zero future and help achieve our climate goals,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, in a press release.
Canada has invested $1 billion since 2015 to improve EV affordability and charger accessibility. That includes helping to establish a “coast-to-coast network” of chargers and federal rebates of up to $5,000 for Canadians who switch to EVs.
The government’s 2022 budget includes an additional $1.7 billion to extend that incentive program until March 2025. Additionally, the extension adds new types of vehicles to the program, such as vans, trucks, and SUVs. The budget also provides an extra $400 million to Natural Resources Canada to continue deploying zero-emission vehicle infrastructure by extending the ZEVIP to March 2027.
You can learn more about the EV charger announcement here.
Renting out your cottage comes with a certain level of risk. Whether it’s a hole in the wall, a chewed couch thanks to the guest’s canine companion, or a ruined septic system from someone flushing the wrong items, you can wind up with some expensive repairs. That’s why many hosts introduce security deposits.
How does a security deposit work?
Security deposits are designed to protect hosts against damages caused by guests. In most cases, the host collects a security deposit from the guest before the stay and refunds the money after checkout, assuming the property’s in good shape.
Bill Dobbs, who runs Muskoka Cottages by Marlene, a property management company that handles a number of cottages in Muskoka, says he only uses security deposit funds on major damage, not on minor incidents, such as broken dishes.
“One of the big ones is garbage left behind. We require all our renters to take all their garbage, and if they leave it behind, we’ll take that off their security deposit,” he says.
Security deposits also act as a deterrent against bad behaviour. “I have family that have a separate rental. They don’t collect a deposit, and they tend to get more parties,” Dobbs says.
Typically, the amount collected for a security deposit depends on the size of the property, but Dobbs says he lets the owners of the cottages he manages determine the amount. On average, he’ll collect $3,000 to $3,500 for the security deposit.
How do you collect a security deposit?
Dobbs advertises his rentals through his own booking website, rather than through a rental listing website, claiming the booking giants take too large a percentage of the profit. This means he’s in charge of managing his own security deposits. To collect the security deposit, Dobbs puts a hold on the guest’s credit card throughout the stay. This hold is released seven days after checkout. During that time, he can alert the guest to any damage and charge their credit card.
What are security deposits used for?
Throughout his time managing cottage rentals, Dobbs says he’s never collected a guest’s full security deposit, only the amount necessary to cover the damage. “Last summer, we had a dog chew on a door frame. So, we had a repair guy come out, fix it, and whatever he charged is what we took off the deposit,” he says.
Collecting a security deposit can come with issues—one being unhappy guests. “We’ve had people say that I’m not allowed to take money off their credit card, or that they’ll phone their credit card company and charge me,” Dobbs says. This occurs in instances when guests feel they’re being unfairly charged for damages. That’s why Dobbs clearly outlines the role of the security deposit in the renter’s terms of agreement and only collects for legitimate damages.
But not every host is as diligent as Dobbs. From a guest’s perspective, sending an additional thousand or so dollars on top of the booking fee can leave you feeling vulnerable, especially if the security deposit isn’t sent through a booking platform. If you’re e-transferring the money to the host, you have no recourse for getting that money back.
How do security deposits work with Airbnb and VRBO?
This is an issue that even the major booking platforms grapple with. To help balance the power between guests and hosts, Airbnb introduced Aircover back in May. It’s a free, comprehensive protection policy that ensures guests aren’t cheated out of their rental or have to pay any extra fees. Airbnb doesn’t allow hosts to charge guests a security deposit unless the host manages their listing through Airbnb’s software. The host can then communicate how to submit the deposit through the offline fees feature.
Aircover also covers hosts. Airbnb offers hosts up to $1 million USD in damage protection, including pet damage and deep cleaning. Hosts have 14 days after checkout to file a damage claim against a guest through their resolution centre (hosts are not allowed to request other fees through the resolution centre). The guest has 24 hours to respond to the reimbursement request. If the guest declines or ignores the request, Airbnb will follow up with the guest and host to mediate the situation.
VRBO takes a more traditional route. The booking platform provides hosts with three options: either the host can keep the guest’s credit card on file, having 14 days after checkout to file a damage claim; the host can ask for an upfront refundable security deposit, paid back to the guest 14 days after checkout if no damage claim is filed; or the guest can purchase property damage protection, an optional insurance policy that covers damages caused by the guest.
The property damage protection insurance offers three policies: pay $59 for $1,500 of coverage, $79 for $3,000 of coverage, or $99 for $5,000 of coverage.
As a guest booking through VRBO, if you feel the host has unfairly charged you for damages, you can dispute the charge by contacting customer service. Similar to Airbnb, the booking platform will contact both you and the host, requesting additional documentation to verify the host’s claim.
If used appropriately, security deposits add an extra layer of protection to the rental process. As a guest, just make sure you read the fine print and understand what circumstances cause you to forfeit your security deposit. And, if possible, make sure you send the security deposit to the host through a booking website so that the money can be traced.
As a host, be upfront with the guest about why you collect a security deposit and how much you collect.
“For the most part, I don’t take money off anyone unless there is a real reason to do it,” Dobbs says. “I’m not trying to make money off of the security deposits.”
Lac du Bonnet and the rivers to which the lake is connected (the Winnipeg, the Bird, and the Lee) lie about 100 km northeast of Winnipeg. Tucked between Lake Winnipeg and Whiteshell Provincial Park, this transitional area offers lots of variety: part former agricultural prairie flatland, part rocky Precambrian Shield.
The picturesque Still Cove and Bird River areas are coveted for their access to the bigger lake though they are on quieter adjacent waterways. Overall, there are only a few water-access sites; nearly all properties are accessible by road. A hydroelectric dam to the northwest keeps water levels fairly constant.
Cottagers take their pick of recreation: 60 km of waterways for boating; summer and winter fishing for pike and walleye, including a thousand-hole ice-fishing derby; birdwatching (prairie and boreal species reflect the area’s diversity); a vast network of snowmobile trails; and three golf courses. The towns of Lac du Bonnet and Pinawa in the southern part of the region offer medical facilities, grocery stores, and other amenities. There is also a marina at a private campground on the lake.
Clipping north along Highway 400 towards Sudbury, you may catch a glimpse of a red Tesla Model 3 plugged into the Supercharger station outside the Parry Sound Inn & Suites. Attached to this Tesla, sitting on a trailer, is a 21-foot pontoon powered by solar panels.
The owner of the two vehicles, Ian Graham, is what you might call an electric man. He’s all about pushing the limits of what electricity can do.
The Parry Sound Supercharger station is a 20-minute pit-stop on Graham’s six-hour journey from Kitchener to his Charlton Lake cabin north of Manitoulin Island. With 500 kilometres of range, Graham’s Tesla could almost make the journey in one shot, but towing the pontoon eats up about 60 per cent of his charge, forcing him to make a quick stop.
Photo courtesy of Ian Graham
The hesitation to adopt electric vehicles (EVs) puzzles Graham. To him, driving his Tesla to the cottage isn’t just feasible, it’s old news. “It’s been seven years that I’ve been driving electric vehicles north to the cabin, and it’s a bit funny to hear people go on about range anxiety because my cabin is over 500 kilometres away. I stop once for 20 minutes,” he says. Along Graham’s cottage commute, which takes him through Barrie, skirts Muskoka, and then heads north towards Sudbury, there are more than enough charging stations, he says, Tesla or otherwise.
Most cottagers are hesitant to adopt the EV lifestyle, voicing concerns about affordability, availability, and limited charging infrastructure. But rapid developments in battery and charging technology are bringing prices down while allowing EVs to drive farther on a single charge. EVs are no longer the stuff of science fiction, they’re a viable option.
This, at least, is the stance the federal government is taking. In 2022, the Liberal government released their sales requirement plan for car manufacturers, specifying that by 2026, 20 per cent of passenger vehicles sold must be electric. By 2030, the goal is 60 per cent, which is expected to play a major role in helping Canada achieve its 2030 climate reduction targets of cutting all greenhouse gas emissions by 40 to 45 per cent of the country’s 2005 levels. By 2035, 100 per cent of passenger vehicles should be EV.
To increase EV sales, the federal government has introduced an incentive. If you purchase an EV car with a base model price of less than $55,000 or an EV truck, SUV, minivan, or station wagon with a base model price of less than $60,000, you could be eligible for a $5,000 discount at the time of sale.
Certain provinces have their own EV incentives on top of the federal government’s, including B.C., Quebec, and the Maritime provinces. These incentives range from $1,500 to $7,000 off of EVs at the time of sale. Combined with the federal government incentive, this means you could get up to a total of $12,000 off of an EV.
While the Ontario government’s rebate was cut in 2018, the non-profit group Plug’n Drive offers an incentive, but it’s only $1,000 off of a used EV. That’s likely why the province ranks third behind B.C. and Quebec in total EV sales. EVs made up 11.6 per cent of B.C.’s total vehicle sales in 2021, 8.9 per cent in Quebec, and 3.1 per cent in Ontario.
But even with the incentives, EV sales in Canada are lagging behind the federal government’s targets. Last year, EVs comprised only 5.2 per cent of all motor vehicles sold, according to Statistics Canada. That’s a three per cent increase from 2018—but not enough to put the country on track for 20 per cent by 2026. So why aren’t EVs flying off the lots?
Zoe Long, a PhD student on Simon Fraser University’s Sustainable Transportation Action Research Team, says that part of the reason EVs are having trouble establishing a foothold in the Canadian market is sticker shock. “People want to consider an electric vehicle, but the electric version is much more expensive than a similar-sized gas-powered version,” she says. “I think there’s some aversion to paying more upfront, even though [the EV] might be cheaper over the lifetime of the vehicle.”
She’s right. The Chevrolet Bolt will cost you $38,000, while the Chevrolet Trax, a gas-powered vehicle, is selling for $24,000. And if you look at Ford, their traditional F-150 pick-up truck costs around $38,000. Whereas the company’s new EV, the F-150 Lightning, costs $68,000.
Long does suspect, however, that the spike in gas prices may start convincing Canadians to look at EVs as a more affordable option in the long term. The price of gas in Ontario this summer eclipsed $2 per litre, with no signs of slowing down. At that price, $1 of gas would allow you to drive approximately six kilometres. EVs, however, offer a much better range for your money. With off-peak charging costs in Ontario at 8.2￠per kilowatt-hour (kWh), you could travel approximately 78 kilometres for $1 in an EV. Plus, EVs require less maintenance—no oil changes and fewer part replacements.
But even if you are swayed to buy an EV, you may have trouble getting your hands on one. Similar to gas-powered vehicles, EVs have been hit with supply chain issues, Long says. This is exacerbated by the fact that very few EVs are manufactured in Canada. Most are shipped from the U.S. The federal government has signed a deal with LG Energy Solution to open an EV battery plant in Windsor, Ont., but it isn’t expected to be operational until 2025.
“Fifty per cent of dealerships in Canada don’t have an electric vehicle on the lot to test drive,” Long says. “Motivated buyers might face wait times of several months, even up to a year or more after they’ve ordered an EV and put money down.”
The wait is a major deterrent to buyers. To keep people enticed, automakers are introducing new EV vehicle types. “Eighty per cent of the new vehicle market is dominated by SUVs and pickup trucks,” Long says. “If automakers are required to sell electric vehicles, I think they will sell vehicles that match consumer tastes.”
Most major automakers are in the process of releasing or have already released, EV SUVs. Nissan, for instance, which won the 2019 and 2020 Canadian Green Car of the Year Award for its Leaf, is releasing the Ariya this fall. François Lefèvre, a senior manager with Nissan Canada, says it will be an ideal vehicle for cottagers and families. Since the SUV’s battery is in the centre of the vehicle’s floor, the Ariya offers a lot of storage space, he says. The other feature that will please cottagers is the SUV’s increased range. The Nissan Ariya will be able to travel up to 482 kilometres on a single charge—not far off gas-powered vehicles.
As charging infrastructure in Canada improves, concerns about range anxiety diminish. According to the Electric Vehicle Society’s 2020 Annual Report, Canada had a total of 15,619 public charging stations; 4,972 of which were in Ontario, many in cottage country. For people stressed about making the cottage commute, there are apps now, such as ChargeHub and PlugShare, that show stations in your area and help you map out your route.
Many of the public chargers are level 2, the type you install in your house or cottage, says Mark Marmer, the founder of Signature Electric, a company that installs EV charging stations. This type of charger requires a 240-volt input, similar to your oven or dryer, and adds approximately 35 kilometres of range to the battery per hour. With a home or cottage level 2 charger, you can plug your EV in overnight and be ready to go in the morning. But if you’re stopping at a level 2 public charger, it’s best to use it as a quick top-up, otherwise, you could spend eight to 10 hours waiting for a full charge.
Buying your own level 2 charger will cost between $350 to $900, depending on the brand and extra features. Having a professional install the charger will cost in the ballpark of $1,000. Marmer does add that it’s usually as easy to install a charger at an on-grid cottage as it is at a house.
If you’re looking for a cheaper charging option at home and at the cottage, most EVs come with a level 1 charger. This is a cable that plugs into a 120-volt outlet, similar to a phone charger. The only issue with a level one charger, Marmer says, is that it charges the EV much more slowly than a level two charger, averaging approximately six kilometres per hour.
A level 3 charger, which needs a 480-volt input, is much faster than both the level 1 and level 2 chargers, charging approximately 250 kilometres per hour. But a level 3 charger costs can cost $50,000 or more and is typically reserved for public charging stations. According to the Electric Vehicle Society’s Annual Report, there were only 2,349 level 3 chargers spread across Canada in 2020—915 of them in Ontario, including cottage country towns such as Parry Sound, Huntsville, Bancroft, Gravenhurst, Norwood, and Kincardine.
Public chargers, with the exception of Tesla chargers, can charge any type of EV. (The Tesla ones are designed to only charge Tesla models; though each Tesla vehicle comes with an adapter that allows it to connect to a regular charger.) The average cost of using a level 2 public charger is $1.50 per hour, and level 3 is .33¢ per minute, says Marmer, who is also on the board of directors of Canada’s Electric Vehicle Society. But, he says, if you have chargers installed at your home and cottage, it’s rare that you’ll have to use a public one.
Charging infrastructure continues to improve in Canada. By 2025, CAA estimates that an EV with a 600-kilometre range will be fully charged at public stations in 10 minutes. And concerns about waste from dead EV batteries are also being solved. Companies such as Li-Cycle have figured out ways to recycle lithium, cobalt, and other key minerals in the batteries.
With rapid developments in range and charging infrastructure over the last four years, EVs have become a real option for the cottage commute. They’re no longer the future, they’re the present.“People are still so reliant on gas and don’t realize that they can convert so easily,” says Ian Graham. “This is so possible to do, to live this electric life.”
