Grenville-sur-la-Rouge (GSLR) council has approved multiple amendments to its agreement with Camping des Chutes de la Rouge (CCR), a 140-lot campsite located at the confluence of the Rouge and Ottawa rivers.
The changes, finalized during a special meeting on January 23, remove several provisions related to financial reporting, operational planning, and budget estimates.
Additionally, the maximum length of rental contracts—previously set at 14 months—will no longer have a specified limit.
The decision drew concerns from residents in attendance, particularly regarding transparency. Some questioned why certain financial reporting obligations were being eliminated.
“Why are you removing the financial statements from the agreement?” one citizen asked. Mayor Tom Arnold responded, stating that while some reporting requirements were removed, the council would still have access to financial accounts.
Another resident expressed concerns about the potential impact on public oversight.
“It is not adequately transparent because we would like to know, as citizens, whether these funds are really put back into the campground. For me, it is a main asset of my camping town. We have the right as citizens to access information, especially for transparency.”
According to a report by The Review, Arnold reassured attendees that CCR, as a non-profit, must reinvest any surplus funds into the campground.
He also noted that two council members sit on CCR’s board of directors, providing continued municipal representation.
François Rioux, the municipality’s director general, explained that the amendments were necessary to address a taxation issue, ensuring that CCR operates independently of the municipality’s financial structure.
Despite opposition from Councillor Manon Jutras, the council approved the amendments. Jutras, who cited concerns about reduced oversight, was the only member to vote against the changes.
Councillors Patrice Deslongchamps, Natalia Czarnecka, and Isabelle Brisson were absent from the meeting.
For campground operators and outdoor hospitality professionals, the case underscores the importance of clearly defining financial and operational oversight in municipal agreements.
As local governments adjust policies to balance fiscal responsibility with regulatory compliance, business owners should consider how contractual changes might impact their operations and long-term viability.
Understanding the financial framework of public-private partnerships can help operators navigate similar situations and ensure transparency in their own agreements.
