I am writing as an…

I am writing as an individual with close connections to Rondeau over many years, which include working for the park as well as enjoying the park at a cottage as a child with my parents and now as an adult with my children. I strongly support a solution, as previously agreed to, for a sale of the cottage lots under section 9(3) of the Provincial Parks & Conservation Reserves Act (2006), as previously directed by Minister Yurek.

After years of discussion and negotiation, all parties had agreed to this and deviating now is moving backward. Cottagers are stewards of Rondeau and leaving everyone limbo with piecemeal lease extensions does not serve any involved party. Cottagers would like to invest with certainty in the care of the cottages and the park. This is impossible with the backtracking of an agreed upon solution. So much time and effort by the province, the ministry, the municipality of Chatham-Kent and the cottagers has been put in to get us to the point where there was an agreement to sell the lots which is allowed under the corresponding regulations and was agreed to by the parties. It is confounding as to why this has suddenly changed. What will happen that is so drastically different within the next two years than what has already occurred? More than likely there will be another short term lease extension and we will all find ourselves continuing in this cycle. Please let us put an end to this and act upon what has been agreed. The endless drama causes a lot of stress for the families involved as important decisions are put on hold indefinitely.

I have already lived through decades of indecision and watched my parents wait for a solution. Let us now take advantage of the fact that there has been an agreement so we can all move forward together.