Dear Director and Review…

Dear Director and Review Team,

I would like to formally request that the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) considers including a community compensation condition as part of the Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) issued to Searchmont Ski Resort Inc. if approved to discharge treated effluent into the Goulais River.

Residents living downstream and adjacent to receiving waters (Goulais River) experience ongoing and cumulative impacts associated with effluent discharge, including potential effects on water quality, ecological health, recreational use, property enjoyment, and long-term environmental risk. These impacts persist for the duration of the approval and are borne disproportionately by nearby residents and river users.

I respectfully request that MECP require the proponent(s), Searchmont Ski Resort Inc., as a condition of ECA approval, to provide annual compensation or community benefit funding to affected residents and/or the community. This could take the form of:

- A yearly honorarium or payment to nearby residents, especially those whom live on the river
- A community environmental stewardship or monitoring fund (there is big interest in this from the community and local residents)
- Financial support for local conservation, water testing, or river restoration initiatives both proactive, ongoing and reactive following the expansion phase out of this proposal. Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy, NORDIK Institute and Algoma Highlands Conservancy are a few options that would help facilitate these efforts if engaged
- A community benefit agreement administered transparently and independently

Such a condition would align with principles of environmental responsibility, fairness, and precaution, while recognizing that regulatory compliance alone does not eliminate localized and long-term impacts.

Including this type of condition would also:

- Encourage higher standards of operational care and accountability
- Acknowledge the social and environmental costs borne by host communities
- Support public trust in Ontario’s environmental approval process
- Repair and increase public trust, confidence and engagement in the proponent following the lack of consultation, transparency and communication during preparation of this proposal and the MECP order issued in March 2024

I urge the MECP to consider this request seriously as part of its review for this ECA application proposed by Searchmont Ski Resort Inc. involving effluent discharge into the natural waterway that so many of us love, live and rely on.

Thank you for your consideration and for your ongoing commitment to protecting Ontario’s water resources and communities.