Barton Feilders…

Barton Feilders

Manager, Parks and Protected Areas Policy Section

Cottages have been an integral part of Rondeau Provincial Park for more than a century. After listening to the pros and cons of keeping or removing cottages, I have come to believe that it is more beneficial for the park to keep the cottages and extend the lease for a longer time span.

The cottages make up less than 1% of the entire park area and I have seen little ecological damage to the park from this segment. In fact the cottages provide part of the charm of this area for visitors to the park. If the ministry chooses to isolate certain areas of the park with the exception of access to the beaches, I think most people could accept that provision.

In fact, the best part of the park is the diversity of activities that this area provides for the people that make use of the park. As tax payers we should be allowed to enjoy this area as we are the ones who essentially are financially supporting its operation.

The proposed policy regarding cottage leases has some basic flaws which should be addressed. Many of these have already been discussed such as lease transfers, and the conditions surrounding fair market value. As well, I think as the policy stands now, the beauty and the ecological state of the park will be negatively impacted by continual cottage tear downs as the leases expire. It would be better to have them all end at the same time as opposed to the slow death that has been proposed.

I would like to trust that this policy and the concerns expressed will be looked at again.

[Original Comment ID: 129063]