HUNTSVILLE-LAKE OF BAYS – The leases of about 300 Algonquin Provincial Park cottages are coming due in the next five years, but these cottagers are not about to let their family getaways slip through their fingers.
Cottagers have so far approached the District of Muskoka, Town of Huntsville, Township of Lake of Bays, Muskoka Algonquin Health Care and the Huntsville District Memorial Hospital Foundation asking for letters of support to renew the leases for the next 21 years. The letters would be sent to the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), which is gathering public feedback to help it determine whether to renew the leases.
The MNR said leases were established in the early 1900s to promote tourism, meet a growing demand for recreational opportunities in the park, and to generate additional revenue for the provincial government.
When the Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare board of directors was asked to send a letter in support of cottagers renewing their lease in the park, members were hesitant about what they were being asked to do.
While they appreciate the financial contributions from the Algonquin park residents’ Association, the board didn’t think it was their place to support or not support a lease renewal.
“I feel a little strange putting forward a personal support for something I don’t have anywhere near enough information on,” said Dr. Adam MacLennan. “I don’t mind if the chair of the board writes a personal letter but as a board I really don’t have any understanding and I’m a little reluctant.”
Others echoed his resistance.
“I have some serious concerns with the request,” said Evelyn Brown. “I can certainly see where the (hospital) foundation would be very supportive … I think the concern I have at the hospital board is I would view this as a special interest group and I think we’re setting ourselves up. What if other requests from other special interest groups come and ask for our support … I think it’s very inappropriate for us to support a group of cottagers in this way. I find no problem with them getting the foundation’s support.”
“We’re here to run a hospital not support interest groups,” said Gregg Evans.
Members decided the request was appropriate to be made of the hospital foundation rather than the board.
“I personally have no trouble as I know the long history and many of them personally and hope they can renew them … I can appreciate the degree of uneasiness,” said Sven Miglin. “If a commercial developer who had supported the hospital came to us and said, ‘I want you to support zoning across the street for a new mall because I give you $100,000 every year,’ that’s a very slippery slope to go down,” he added.
Leaseholder Tim Withey, who also sits on Huntsville council and is a past member of the hospital board, made a delegation during the Nov. 13 Lake of Bays council meeting, asking members for support as well.
“Many of these leases represent more than one family, as in my case for example where there are three,” he said.
He said most of the leases are situated in the southeastern part of the park close to the municipality.
“We feel we are privileged to be benefactors of our forefathers foresight, but that we are also a large consumer group that brings positive economic benefits to many businesses and organizations in the surrounding areas,” he said. “We have visited and spoken to many area businesses that have told us their businesses would be negatively affected if the leases were not renewed.”
Mayor Bob Young who talked about his years of camping and hiking in the park was not in favour of supporting the motion, as he said the issue was not being looked at from the park perspective.
“A park is where you don’t want to see modern life or motor boats and cottages, it’s remote. Now if you go on Canoe Lake, Tea Lake or Smoke Lake it’s busy. So I struggle with this,” he said, noting it’s not a personal vendetta with anyone who owns a cottage in the park.
When the leases were established Withey said it was a way to populate the park and that it is a multi-use park with a lot of rules on what cottagers can and can’t do.
Councillors Nancy Tapley and Shane Baker had no issue providing support to existing leases as they have been there since the park’s inception, they said. However, if the motion was to support new leases they would take issue with that.
Council narrowly passed the motion to support the lease renewals by a 4-3 vote.
Port Sydney residents Jill Matthews and Mara Hallman approached Huntsville’s council on Nov. 19 and made an argument similar to Withey’s, who declared a conflict at that council meeting and did not vote on the issue.
Matthews’ family has had a lease in the park since 1950 and she told council five generations of her family have enjoyed summers there.
And Hallman said her grandfather has had a cottage in the park for close to 70 years, which the family continues to visit.
The pair explained the park has had leases for more than 100 years. The government’s intent with creating the lease opportunity was to draw people to the park, but in 1994 the province stopped allowing new leases.
Any renewal would be for existing leaseholders only, said Matthews. No new cottages can be built and restrictions have been placed on those that exist.
Huntsville council then approved a letter of support for the cottagers.
Huntsville coun. Scott Aitchison also brought the issue to District of Muskoka council on Nov. 12. District council approved a letter of support at that meeting as well.
And the Huntsville District Memorial Hospital Foundation provided a letter of support, too. It cited the cottagers’ dedication to financially supporting the foundation’s work over the years.
“This public consultation will help the government arrive at a decision that maintains the ecological integrity of the park, considers appropriate land use and provides a fair return for any such use,” said Jolanta Kowalski, MNR media relations.
The public has until Dec. 13, 2012 to submit comments on the lease renewals.
Poll
Write a Comment