These leases in this park…

These leases in this park are the biggest scam to taxpayers in the local area ever devised, which is why cottagers fight so ferociously to protect them. These properties if outside the park with similar lakeshore frontage would be worth 2-5 million dollars each easily. With the current municipal tax rate they would be paying 40 to 100 k a year in taxes. But in the park, considering their leases are endlessly renewed for the last 80 years or so (after the appropriate amount of hand-wringing each time of course to appease the public) with their special "ownership" they pay a fraction of that for leases in a gated community with not only a gate but an admission fee to keep the riff-raff public out. They enjoy all the perks, including free policing, with almost none of the cost. All they have to deal with is a little angst every couple of years for the public's benefit. Imagine the popularity of that park if those cottage lots were each multiple campsites with lake frontage. This would no doubt be the most popular park in all of Ontario. Tens of thousands of visitors per year would camp at the park, generating millions and millions of dollars in tourism in the local area. Frankly forever changing Chatham-Kent's economy. Or they could be converted back to wilderness, making this park a gem for nature lovers. Or perhaps a bit of both, but instead we will all subsidize the lucky few who "own" and live in this park and continue to pay their share with our admission fees and taxes. Yes I admit I'm jealous, but also sick of seeing the privileged few take advantage of this situation for their own benefit. At least increase the leases to reflect the cost of a valuation outside of the park if they are always going to be there with their unending leases.