Given that Rondeau is a…

Given that Rondeau is a Natural Environment park in addition to the Ontario government's goal to "Protect the genetic, species and ecosystem diversity of Ontario" and "the need to pay attention to ecosystem health" as quoted from the strategic document "Ontario's Biodiversity Strategy", the government needs to specifically address how it will reconcile the NUMEROURS CUMULATIVE EFFECTS of 287 private cottage leases on species at risk and their habitat. Specific examples include but are not limited to: an increase in human subsidized competitors within the park such as the house wren which are pushing out the endangered prothonatary warbler, raccoons which depredate species at risk turtle nests and inflated traffic mortalities of species at risk reptiles due in part to increased traffic associated with 287 private cottage leases.

Additionally, given that general habitat provisions under the Endangered Species Act will come into effect in 2013, the government needs to specifically address how it will provide general habitat protection for example for the endangered foxsnake in an environment which includes 287 privatle cottage leases and activities associated with these leases including jet skis, boats and vehicles parked and launched on the beach, driveway improvements, lawn maintenance activities and landscaping materials/projects.

In summary given the significance of habitat found in Rondeau Provincial Park, its Natural Environment classification and the government's priority on biodiversity and species at risk, the government needs to specifically address how it will balance these priorities with maintaining 287 private cottage leases in the park in the absence of a plan to phase out private cottage leases from the park.

Lastly, from a financial perspective the government needs to specifically address how it will reconcile the cost of maintaining and servicing 287 cottage leases in the park which do not pay property taxes and whose lease fees are not reflective of the costs they incur on the park.

[Original Comment ID: 129053]