4 January 2009 www.NorthCountryBusinessNews.com
B
Donald Smith, Publisher Melissa Kosowan, Editor
USINESS
Martha Gillan, Director of Sales
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EDITOR’S NOTEPAD
Learn about your active chamber
By Kelly Haywood mation and ideas and promote your
Charges will have
Huntsville/Lake of Bays
Chamber of Commerce
Chamber
business. No other event regularly
brings together 125 or more business
The Huntsville/Lake of Bays
wide-reaching impact Report
and community people in one place,
Chamber of Commerce is an associ- at one time. Mark the date on your
Muskoka won’t soon forget the horrific crash last
ation of business and professional calendar and plan now to attend our
summer that killed three Toronto youth. They had
men and women who have joined been identified by destinations from next Business After Hours, hosted by
been drinking at the Lake Joseph Club before one of
together to ensure Huntsville and as far away as Hong Kong. Muskoka Traditions Retirement Res-
Lake of Bays is the best community As a result, we have identified idence, 16 Legacy Lane, on Thurs.
them lost control of their car and the trio perished in
in which to live, work or visit. A event tourism as the vehicle to drive Feb. 19. Please confirm your atten-
the Joseph River. A fourth passenger was injured but membership in the chamber of com- more activity to our community. dance to the chamber at 705-789-
escaped.
merce is a secure investment with Events benefit our tourism stake- 4771 ext. 21 or e-mail cham-
It’s a tragedy that’s still fresh in people’s minds and
guaranteed returns. You establish holders along with our service indus- ber@huntsvillelakeofbays.on.ca.
credibility as a member in good try. Events also benefit our commu- Business Discounts
it continues to make headlines. This time the story is
standing, which tells the public that nity socially by enabling our resi- As a member, you have the oppor-
related to charges laid against 16 individuals and they can do business with you with dents to become involved as volun- tunity to participate in group health
Clublink, operating as the Lake Joseph Club.
confidence because you have made teers and develop new skill sets. and life insurance packages that are
While the charges aren’t criminal, this case raises
an investment in your company and Improving our online presence is for small businesses at rates normal-
in the future of Huntsville and Lake also vital in this day in age, as the ly reserved for large firms; providing
questions about who is ultimately responsible in cases
of Bays. percentage of travellers researching direct cost saving measures for your
of alcohol related deaths. In the matter currently Why join your local destinations for vacation continues company. In addition, preferred TD
before the courts, charges went right across the board,
chamber? to rise. An external marketing com- Visa, MasterCard, American Express
affecting many who likely have never even met the
As a member of your local cham- mittee chaired by Jeff Suddaby is and debit merchants rates are avail-
ber of commerce, you and your busi- heading an initiative focusing on able to chamber members.
youths who died.
ness will be in an advantageous posi- media campaigns, and “earned Advocacy
While anyone working at a premise that serves alco- tion to grow and prosper because of media,” to draw more attention to The chamber promotes the contri-
hol can potentially be held accountable when patrons
the many benefits offered through our incredible communities. We are butions and importance of the busi-
become intoxicated, shouldering most of the responsi-
membership. By becoming a mem- also co-operating closely with ness sector to our economy. As a
ber, you will be a part of the largest tourism stakeholders as a united partner of the municipal economic
bility is the servers. Although they must have Smart
chamber in the Muskoka region and team to leverage our marketing dol- development committee, our organi-
Serve certification, determining whether someone is
join over 600 other business mem- lars and have a larger impact on our zation makes the views of business
intoxicated is sometimes easier said than done.
bers who are committed to making target market. known to governments, legislators,
Servers are instructed to look for signs of intoxica-
northern Muskoka a better place to Business exposure the media and the public.
tion, such as slurred speech, swaying and loss of fine
live and do business. Huntsville and Lake of Bays Visi- Chamber members have the
Along with providing valuable tor Guide and Coupon Book for exclusive opportunity to attend our
motor skills, but everyone is an individual and reacts
tools to our many visitors, such as 2009 is currently being produced. annual special events that include the
differently to alcohol. Furthermore, these signs usually the chamber’s visitor guide, map, The guide is a comprehensive listing President’s Ball, Business Excel-
are associated with severe intoxication.
website and information centers, the of member companies and their serv- lence Awards on March 26, Golf
It is also quite possible for a patron to be over the
chamber is proactively seeking to ices acting as a marketing piece to Tournament on June 4, 2009, and the
attract new business to our area as a visitors once they arrive. The guide End of Summer Dock Party.
legal blood alcohol limit for driving and show no
result of the Marketing our Commu- is distributed across Ontario, and If you are interested in becoming a
signs whatsoever. nities program. available for download on our web- member of the chamber, contact gen-
Then there are variables that factor into the equation.
Again in 2009, the chamber will site www.huntsvilleadventures.com. eral manager, Kelly Haywood at
Medication, lack of sleep and whether the individual
focus heavily on promoting our area This piece is a great opportunity to 705-789-4771 ext. 22 (kel-
as a destination during the shoulder market your business. ly@huntsvillelakeofbays.on.ca) or
has eaten can all impact the affect one drink can have
season. The tourism sector requires a Networking Trish Kruusmagi at 705-789-4771
on them. great deal of attention. Our target Business After Hours and Busi- ext. 32 (trish@huntsvillelakeof-
To top if off, servers must contend with patrons who
market (Greater Toronto Area and ness at Lunchtime receptions offer bays.on.ca). Or, visit our website at
are unhappy to be cut off. At some venues, withhold-
the Golden Horseshoe) has become you the opportunity to make new www.huntsvillelakeofbays.on.ca to
increasingly competitive, and has business contacts, exchange infor- review the benefits.
ing drinks is no doubt very difficult to do gracefully.
Unfortunately, servers and bar owners cannot per-
sonally escort patrons home, which leaves the door
The new state of civil litigation
open for alcohol-related deaths and injuries. Does this
mean they shouldn’t be held accountable for how
By Donald Lange The policy behind the simplified
It is not easy to give a clear defini-
much their customers drink? When do responsibility
Lange rules is to reduce the legal cost of
tion of civil litigation in one sentence.
for one’s own actions end and the responsibility of
Civil litigation is a lawsuit that does
on Law
suing or defending for smaller claims
by reducing the amount of procedure
others take over?
not involve family law or criminal
By Donald Lange
required in such cases. Less proce-
No matter what the outcome of this court case, it is
law. It involves virtually every other dure means less expense to the par-
aspect of the law. Thus, for example, ties. For example, there are no exam-
bound to have a wide reaching impact and will forev-
civil litigation involves the areas of $40,000 and $50,000 to the end of inations for discovery prior to trial
er change things going forward. It has the potential to
negligence, insurance, banking, prod- pre-trial for lawyer’s fees, out of (oral evidence disclosure) under the
change laws regarding young drivers and the legal
uct liability, construction, collections, pocket expenses and taxes. simplified procedure.
drinking age, as the father of one of the deceased boys
partnerships, estates, leases, real With the new $25,000 limit in the There will be other changes on Jan.
is lobbying for, and it throws into question the respon-
estate, land disputes, injunctions, Small Claims Court, many cases will 1, 2010. Those cases in the Superior
wrongful dismissal and fraud. now be brought to court more quickly Court that are entitled to examina-
sibility and liability of servers and bar management.
As of Jan. 1, 2010, there is a dra- with less cost to the parties because tions for discovery will be limited to
matic change to civil litigation. The the Small Claims Court has a straight- one day of examinations. Civil litiga-
monetary jurisdiction of the Small forward procedure to get to the trial tion will also be subject to the princi-
Claims Court will increase from door. ple of proportionality. This means that
We welcome your feedback
$10,000 to $25,000. This change is There is also a companion change the time and expense involved in a
fuelled by the need for citizens to in the Superior Court for cases using lawsuit must reflect what is at stake.
on our articles
have affordable access to justice and the “simplified procedure” rules in So in 2010, if your claim is just
because of the present high cost of that court. These rules are a scaled over $25,000, you should abandon
Send us an email at:
civil litigation. In the higher court, the down version of the complicated the extra amount to sue in the Small
Superior Court of Justice, the cost of Superior Court rules used in lawsuits. Claims Court or, similarly, if it is just
info@northcountrymedia.com
a civil lawsuit varies from case to case They will now apply for all lawsuits over $100,000, you should abandon
depending on its complexity. An aver- involving money between $25,000 the extra amount to sue under the sim-
age lawsuit could cost between and $100,000. plified rules in the Superior Court.
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