I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my support for the proposal for the two-year lease extension, however, I also want to express my frustration regarding a change in wording that represents a significant backward step in resolving the issue. The current proposal now seeks “to consult on a future option for the continued leasing of cottage lots."

We have moved past that stage.

In 2019, negotiations with senior officials of the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (up to and including then-Minister Yurek) concluded with an agreement in principle to transfer the Rondeau cottage lands to the Municipality of Chatham-Kent at fair market value.

Chatham-Kent offered to transfer ANSI designated lands to Ontario Parks so that the total amount of Provincially protected land would increase substantially. A fair price and a timeline were agreed upon, however, inaction by Ontario Parks wasted the entire three-year lease extension, which had been allotted to accomplish the transfer to the Municipality.

The present proposal for another two-year extension should not have been necessary.

Leasing was a 1920’s solution that is no longer practical in 2022. A permanent sale solution must be reached.

I request that the land transfer proposal on the table be implemented by Infrastructure Ontario. This solution is fair to all concerned. It is time to move forward.