Northern Ontario puts the pressure on provincial government
Saturday, October 13, 2012 by: SooToday.com Staff
NEWS RELEASE
FEDERATION OF
NORTHERN ONTARIO
MUNICIPALITIES
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Support of ONTC and protection of Northern Ontario Provincial Parks
NORTH BAY - The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities announced Friday that it is ramping up pressure on the government to protect ONTC and overnight camping in ten Provincial Parks in Northern Ontario.
“It seems to many, including myself that the future of Northern Ontario is being negatively impacted yet again,” states Mac Bain FONOM past president.
He continues: “Because we are passionate about our lives here in the North; therefore, we have to again let the Province know of our frustration.”
"We are announcing today that we will be renewing our efforts to protect these key assets to Northern Ontario. We are launching a petition and an extensive direct outreach initiative to ensure Ontarians know what this government is up to," said Alan Spacek, mayor of Kapuskasing and president of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities.
FONOM is working with local municipalities to hold information nights and meetings about the government's plans and will soon be launching a social media campaign to raise awareness about what is at stake for Northern Ontario.
"We strongly believe the plan to divest from ONTC and close ten of our provincial parks hurts all Ontarians and are calling on everyone in our Province to take a stand in support of Provincial parks and public transportation," Spacek added.
Councillor Bain will be bringing a motion to Council on October 15, in support of the ONTC and protecting Provincial Parks in Northern Ontario.
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RLE 10/13/2012 10:25:43 AM ReportHope they succeed.
Thim 10/13/2012 10:27:15 AM ReportThe first prioity should be to ask ourselves if they aren't pricing themselves out of the reach of the average family.
Why are their rates $50 when in Michigan the equivalent site is $28, and they're crying poor.
With all the money the Ontario Government pumps into encouraging people to travel the Lake Superior route why are they surprising them when they arrive with fees to stop and enjoy the sights eg 'Katherines Cove'or 'Batchewana'. In the big picture what are they gaining?
boler76 10/13/2012 11:06:38 AM ReportOnce again we Northerners who didnt vote with the majority are being punished, and it will keep on until we do!
frnlak 10/13/2012 12:34:19 PM ReportWhy stop there ? Why not question the Liberal government on the privatization of crown land in the north ? Why not question the povincial government on denying the public equal access to crown lands by the MNR ? why not question them on their reasoning to allow government employees (MNR) to aquire surpluss crown lands to build lucrative tourist resorts when said lands were to be put up for public auction. Why not question them on the blocking (ditching) of forest roads that have lead into pristine lakes, ponds and berry picking areas for hundreds of years just to keep out the public and protect the area for NOTO (Northern Ontario Tourist Outfitters). It's happening in our own back yard at an alarming rate and this is just a start. Keep informed. We, the people in the north can stop this.
I'm In 10/13/2012 12:53:59 PM ReportYes, we can stop this vote ORAZETTI out of office next election.
geterdun 10/13/2012 1:06:48 PM ReportIts to late.................they dont want us or need us in their province.They will take what they want from the North and to bad for you if you live there....All one has to do is look at what they are doing to us up here unless you live in Sudbury,North Bay or Thunder bay your out of luck suckers......we need our own goverment in the North who no the North and the people who live here not these arrogant meat heads from down there telling us what we can and cant do its a joke people....
Dictionary 10/13/2012 2:45:57 PM Reporthey! looks like all the "Orazoonies" are flowing south these days eh David?
tcowen 10/13/2012 5:40:41 PM ReportIt's all fun & games until some one loses a vote.. at 50 dollars per night I'm surprised David O hasn't suggested giving our homeless population, now topping nearly 500 people, sleeping bags & bear spray.
If you included couch surfers and those currently holding a 30 day eviction notice that list begins to look more like 1500.
Compared to 5 homeless and 500 immediately at risk in 2005.. I'd say homelessness has become the fastest growing industry in Northern Ontario.
Since they began "raising awareness" in 2006, they've tripled the statistics.
With our hotels and motels currently filled to capacity as drop zones for seniors, mental health and addictions services..
Where do they propose to put all these so called "tourists & travelers" passing through our beautiful Northern Communities?
Step outside people.. winter is quickly approaching. In 2007 I predicted 5 people will succumb to exposure, no one listened.. they downsized CTV.
In 2009 I predicted 10 & the response was to encouraged the media to list frost-byte as 'natural causes'.
This year after every one is done playing politics & harvested all the good will they could from Harper & McGuinty's "Action Plan"
15 people will be subtracted from our municipal census.. the parks will remain closed and nearly 500 people will be running out of EI benefits in the coldest part of winter.
geterdun 10/13/2012 6:31:35 PM Reporttcowen: Do you really think politicians who make 200,000 a year care about people who are homeless and living on the streets????? When was the last time you saw a politician walking around on the street??? They dont care about them,the homeless or mentally ill,old,poor, and it is made very clear by their political actions........To bad so sad if you live in Canada or Ontario..........You are not a priority to politicians,they have their own agendas trust me.......
Thim 10/13/2012 6:47:59 PM ReportHEYYYYY...back to the parks.
Price'em out and you'll see where our provincial campgrounds are rapidly becoming out of reach to the average family and maybe a reason for the low occupancy rates.
An auditor should be looking at them instead of the same people who created this mess. A private campground must sustain the owners over the off season while Provincial park staff work in other areas of the government so where is the money going?
Some of you are are just ranting to blow off steam.
Jack Ford 10/13/2012 8:52:55 PM ReportThe Parks staff is seasonal, as is most of the OMNR at the moment. Great work for 3 months, maybe 5 and then you collect EI for the off season. The Superintendent is the person to keep their job and they make the most money and perform little operational support. This fish is rotten from the head on down. Pancake Bay was once a great place to spend a weekend, 2 weeks or even a summer season......now it is a resort with ego heavy Management and pricing that makes spending a 3 day weekend out of reach for most....and if you listen to your music too loud,play a guitar around the fire too late or have a beer in your hand off your site or heaven forbid pluck a stick out of the woods to roast a marshmallow...then you can spend another 100-200 in fines...what a great way to spend Canada Day weekend!They call the stick thing removal of habitat....LMFAO!...how big a fine do they pay when they install a road or building in a camp ground for removal of habitat??!!
Perhaps the Government of Ontario should just sell or lease the land to private companies to operate them....The service would increase, the prices would come down and the wanna be enforcement staff would lighten the eff up...oh and to enjoy a day at the beach it is now 11.25.....that's for parking..at a beach....in Ontario for Ontarians....this doesn't make sense..
Jack
CampingRox 10/19/2012 4:29:17 PM ReportThe camping ban that will be implemented in our northeastern Ontario parks will not only jeopardize our local economy, it will damage the core foundation on which our communities are built. Our parks have always played a significant role in teaching our generation to love nature. When a child gains respect and love for our northern outdoors, he develops a lasting relationship with his community and environment. He might even stay in the north instead of heading to the big cities. This is how our communities survive, and we need our parks to be fully functional.
Note: Comments that appear on the site are not the opinion of SooToday.com. Keep discussions civil and on topic. Refrain from obscenity and don't post anything that your grandmother would be ashamed to read. Those who do not abide by these guidelines will have their membership revoked without notice. If you see an abusive post, please click the link beside the post to report it.
