Mr. Feilders…

Mr. Feilders

Please consider the following in relation to the MNR Policy Proposal relating to New Cottage Leases in Rondeau Provincial Park:

1) The Policy Proposal is predicated on the false assumption (conclusion?) that Leaseholders and the rare Carolinian tract cannot co-exist. As an Ontario Taxpayer, I reject that assumption/conclusion. When will the Ministry meet face-to-face with Leaseholders and taxpayers and negotiate in good faith?

2) The greatest opportunity for the protection and preservation of Rondeau Park is through education. First-hand exposure to Rondeau can yield the collective will to do what's right for Rondeau - by and for Ontario taxpayers. Note that in 1966, over 800,000 people visited Rondeau, while in 2007 only 150,000 visited. If the mandate of the Ministry of Natural Resources is ""the sustainable development of Ontario's natural resources to meet today's needs, and to ensure these resources are available for future generations"", then the policies of the MNR of the last 44 years have been an abject failure. The population of Ontario has doubled, but the visits to Rondeau are 1/5. Whatever the costs and benefits associated with Rondeau Park - it is being enjoyed by fewer Ontarians. What is the Ministry's plan to reverse this trend and legitimize the costs and spread the benefits associated with the Park?

3) Thomas Jefferson said "The will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government". On behalf of the Ministry of the Environment, and the Government of Ontario, what evidence can you provide to support that this MNR Proposal is based on the will of the people of Ontario?

4) The Policy Proposal Notice indicates that ""All comments and submissions received will become part of the public record. You will not receive a formal response to your comment, however, relevant comments received as part of the public participation process for this proposal will be considered by the decision maker for this proposal."" Exactly who is the ""DECISION MAKER"" for this proposal?

While I will acknowledge that I will not receive a formal response to my comment, I am hereby informing you that I am also sending this letter to Pat Hoy MPP for Chatham-Kent-Essex, because unlike you, he IS accountable to the people of Ontario for the actions of the Government of Ontario.

Thank you.

[Original Comment ID: 129018]