We are writing to tell you…

We are writing to tell you that we are against the proposal to extend the leases of cottage holders in Rondeau Provincial Park to 2038. By doing this, the province is putting the recreational pastimes of a few ahead of the the environment and the benefit of the majority of Ontarians. Cottage leaseholders have had ample to time to make other arrangements; the majority are new to this area since the 2017 deadline was set in 1986 and were fully aware that their privileged use of this provincial resource was for a defined and limited time.

Specifically,

- The cottages have a negative ecological impact. They are located on some of the most environmentally significant portions of the park. They are of direct harm to wildlife and they are responsible for introducing invasive non-native plants to the park.

- Rondeau is renowned for its biodiversity. Protected areas are key to conservation and the protection of biodiversity. To the extent possible, its unique vegetation-landform features should be free of human structures and manicured landscaping and restored to a natural state where wild, native species thrive.

- Maintaining ecological integrity, is enshrined as the guiding management principle for Ontario’s provincial parks in Ontario’s Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, passed in 2006 under the McGuinty government.

-The current park management plan for Rondeau Park, which has a termination date of 2017 for the cottage leases, is the result of considerable public consultation regarding the best management direction for the park. The extension of the cottage leases was a highly contentious issue during the preparation of the plan 30 years ago and the extension of the cottage leases to 2017 was a huge concession to cottagers at the time made despite strong opposition to conservation organizations.

Surely 30 years is ample notice to cottagers of the end of their leases and the province can finally put the environment first.

[Original Comment ID: 128917]