My family loves our cottage…

My family loves our cottage and would love nothing more than to continue to enjoy the memories that we have built at our beloved safe space. Please consider the below!

I am writing regarding ERO Notice ID 019-6142, the proposal to extend the existing leases/licenses for the cottage lots in Rondeau Provincial Park to Dec. 31, 2024. Instead, I believe a solution must be found for the permanent occupancy of the cottage lots, and a sale under Section 9(3) of the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act (2006) as directed by Minister Jeff Yurek. Rondeau Provincial Park was chartered in 1894 specifically for the purpose of cottaging. Cottagers have proven time and time again to be excellent, and actually, the best stewards of the park. The MNRF/MECP's own studies have repeatedly proven our cottage community benefits the park's ecology. Only 0.56% of Rondeau will be affected by this transaction; 99.44% will remain entirely untouched.
In 2019 Minister Jeff Yurek ordered a sale of the cottage lots to Chatham Kent. The lot prices were independently set by Infrastructure Ontario as being fair to the province. This process was started but then obstructed and stopped by Ontario Parks bureaucrats in 2022 with little progress made. An online petition seeking to end cottaging in Rondeau withheld important information such as a net gain in protected parkland, as it didn't fit the petition author's opposition to the cottages. It is possible that many who signed the petition would not have, had they known the truth. The best interests of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent are being ignored. Two previous short-term lease extensions were issued already so we could talk about a long-term solution, however Ontario Parks refused to follow the Minister's orders. We respectfully request assurance that Ontario Parks will actually meet with us now. In conclusion, Rondeau cottagers are a close-knit community. Many families have been here for generations, and we all share the same love and devotion to our humble community and the beautiful park that surrounds us. We must continue to exist permanently.