Editorial Says: "Cottage Issue Should Be Closed" Posted on 2008-08-01 12:41:30 The following editiorial appeared in the Chatham Daily News, August 1st. It is reprinted here with permission. As with any human presence in a natural setting, Rondeau Provincial Park's cottagers have an impact. To a small extent, their cottages limit access to the lake, plant growth is interrupted for a patch of lawn, and you have to put up with lawn mowers and tools every once in a while. If that's the worst of it, why is the Ontario government refusing to extend leases past 2017? The impact of 290 cottages is relatively tiny when you consider how much good they bring. First, Rondeau's cottagers occupy only a small fringe of Rondeau's geographic area. It's about one per cent. Second, they are a human presence. This is good thing in deterring theft and vandalism from the park's picnic areas, washrooms and offices. In the same ways hunters are in favour of conservation, cottagers want to protect the park and its natural heritage. A generation ago, they were among the first to recognize the damage that deer overpopulation was doing to vegetation. Third, there is history and heritage. Some of the cottages are historic sites, with tales of early settlers. Many cottages have been held by the same family for generations. Fourth, there is community. When cottages are full on a long weekend, it's where memories are made, friendships are forged and where families grow closer. Fifth, it's great public relations. A good chunk of the leaseholders do not permanently reside in Chatham- Kent. But they go home with memories and stories about what beauty and potential we have as a community. Finally, there is the economic impact. This is the card the Rondeau Cottagers Association is using. Literally. They are passing business-sized cards to area merchants and contractors they do business with -- in Ridgetown, Morpeth, Blenheim and Chatham and everywhere in between -- asking for support. They estimate that the cottage owners bring $3 million into the Chatham-Kent economy each year. Not just for retailers, restaurateurs and gas bar owners, but for roofers, carpenters, electricians and plumbers. It's a significant part of our tourism industry. Consider it a gift to our economy. Negotiations between the cottagers and the province have been on and off since 1954, when the province established its intent to remove all cottages from parks. Approximately 200 cottages have been removed by the province. This has slowed to a trickle in the last few decades. Despite having right of first refusal since 1986 to purchase any cottage that comes on the market, only a few have been bought up. You wonder what the ministry's real agenda is. In the interest of common sense -- outlined above -- and out of fairness to those who have invested money and time in their family heirlooms, isn't it time we put this issue to rest? back to main