A short-term extension of…

A short-term extension of the Rondeau cottage leases is necessary and inevitable given the government’s lack of action on a long-term solution since the last extension. The cottage community has existed for a century and was in fact one of the pillars supporting the creation of the park. Cottagers have proven to be responsible stewards of the park, much more than so many in the transient community of campers who use the park as a party destination or a trailer park. As cottagers who live near the campground, we have seen many first-hand examples of campers who do not treat the ecosystem of the park with nearly as much respect as the cottagers. It would be an illusion to say that the removal of the cottages, which occupy such a small percentage of the Rondeau lands, would be a positive step for the environment. The environmental impact of all of the deconstruction and waste that removal would require would be significant, and would far outweigh the environmental impact of keeping the cottages with their responsible caretakers. Ontario Parks has been excellent at ensuring that the cottagers act in ways that promote the delicate ecosystem, and they will continue to do that until the long-term solution is found.