Batchawana Bay Provincial Park cuts reversed - Mantha takes some credit
Monday, January 14, 2013 by: SooToday.com Staff
NEWS RELEASE
NDP COMMUNICATIONS
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NDP: Public pressure reverses Batchawana Bay cuts
ELLIOT LAKE - As a result of an ongoing public appeal by Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Michael Mantha and concerned Ontarians, Batchawana Bay Provincial Park will resume its regular operating hours in 2013.
“This is a victory for the people who love Ontario’s provincial parks,” said Mantha. “The government ignored us when they cut hours and services at our parks, but this announcement proves we can succeed in fighting back against those cuts.”
As a part of the 2012 budget, the Ministry of Natural Resources made over $7 million in cuts, resulting in closures and loss of service in many parks, including several in Algoma-Manitoulin.
Batchawana Bay operated with significantly reduced hours in 2012.
“My constituents and I rallied to save the park,” said Mantha. “I sent many letters and hundreds of petitions to the Minister. Community members held peaceful protests, signed petitions, and voiced their concerns.”
Minister Michael Gravelle told Mantha about the reversed cuts in conversation yesterday.
Further discussions will be held between the Ministry of Natural Resources and community stakeholders to look at options for enhancing services at Batchawana Bay Provincial Park.
“I’m thrilled by this victory for Batchawana Bay and visitors to the park,” said Mantha. “However, there are still many communities affected by park closures in Algoma-Manitoulin, and across the North, who are suffering the effects of reduced tourism and investment. I urge this government to invest in the North by reinvesting in our parks, which provide valuable opportunities and tourism dollars for many communities.”
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Wicket 1/14/2013 3:58:02 PM Reportwoo,hoo, thanks to everyone who contributed to this victory.....
Left Winger 1/14/2013 4:09:03 PM Reportyikes...not more peaceful protests...at least it wasn't in towm eh mallet
Left Winger 1/14/2013 4:09:20 PM Reportopps wicket
mallet 1/14/2013 4:52:57 PM ReportLOeft Wing..
Nope, held at the park ... and didnt even have to block the highway. :)
Prrrrrrr 1/14/2013 5:21:23 PM ReportSimply amazing...
cemeterygates 1/14/2013 7:18:49 PM ReportOpening a beach on Lake Superior early in the spring and staying open later in the fall. Just genius! What a wonderful way to waste even more government money and resources. I'm all for having parks available to the public, but does a few whiners justify an extra couple months of operation and the time and fees associated?? Pretty stupid idea....
GoulaisMa*Pa 1/14/2013 8:08:10 PM ReportI think that unless you frequent the parks, you cannot know how much they are utilized in the spring and in the fall. Take a look at the listing for Ontario Parks and many of them open in April and stay open until the second week of October. Why is it unreasonable for Algoma district to ask for a similar approach. It is NOT really about money. We are few votes here, easy to mess with. A little fair play would be appreciated.
RonBes 1/14/2013 9:03:08 PM ReportNow, what about Ivanhoe, Obatanga, Mississaugi, and the other northern parks that were affected by this?
BrianTheDog 1/14/2013 9:05:58 PM ReportMantha, Mantha, Mantha...
I don't recall a petition, i never saw you up there, i don't even recall seeing anything in the news...so can you get some verification of how wonderful you think you are from a third party?...not your own self congratulating press release...
Polis 1/14/2013 10:11:06 PM ReportGreat news! I have heard that the other parks will be staying open too, at least for a time to see if sustainable with just a few modifications. Thanks for listening to constituents, Mike Mantha!
lodgekeepers 1/15/2013 5:37:06 AM ReportMike Mantha was most definitely present at Batchawana Bay. He joined the residents of the bay in a stroll thru the closed park on a Sat. morning.
Mike also organized a petition with local residents, and presented it into the legislature.
Mike and his office staff also wrote numerous letters to the Minister of the MNR making a case to keep this park open.
Thanks Mike - the people who use Batchawana Park appreciate your efforts.
It is great to see a politician who works for his constituents.
JCH 1/15/2013 9:17:04 AM ReportNow that you have this park back to it's former operating schedule it would be nice to see people actually pay the fees that are expected.
Many users go into the park and do not pay, on the honour system, the user fees.
To keep a park area beautiful costs money.Washroom maintenance and trash collection, trimming grass and painting funding, do not come out of thin air.
Look after it now that you have it back or you will lose it again.
JCH
gr84u 1/15/2013 12:07:01 PM ReportTo "cemeterygates". Maybe if you got off the couch and away from the tv long enough to stick your head into the great outdoors you would know that these parks are not only used in early spring and late fall but are actually used year round by some.
Cormorant 1/15/2013 3:18:00 PM ReportTo Brian the Dog
Hey, Dog! You need to do a little investigating before you speak out. When called upon Mike Mantha showed up one morning after driving from Elliot Lake to Batchawana day park. He fine tuned the writing of the petitions, collected them, and presented them in the legislature. He spoke on behalf of the residents of Batchawana Bay at the park gates to help garner media attention to this issue. He's the first member of the Algoma Manitoulin riding in years to actively show up and fight for something Batchawana folks felt strongly about.
If you had done your homework before making your lame statement it might have saved you from the foot you're chomping on right now!
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.
