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Group lobbies province for more cottage lots

A group pushing for up to 2,000 new Crown land cottage lots in northwestern Ontario hopes talks with the province will lead to a pilot project.
cottage on lake shutterstock_219892363
File photo

A volunteer group based in Dryden hopes to work with the Ontario government to open more Crown land for summer cottage lots in the northwest.

But group spokesman Roger Valley says those efforts have stalled for some time, and he’d like to get back to the table with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to discuss opportunities.

Valley said there's  “a huge demand” for lakefront lots among area residents as well as people from the Winnipeg area and the United States. He envisions 2,000 new sites being created in the Dryden district alone.

Valley said besides satisfying the wishes of people wanting summer properties, approving more cottage lots would bring significant economic benefits to communities such as Dryden, Ignace and Machin.

He believes there would also be cost savings for the government. 

“For far too long we’ve relied on the government to do everything for us," he said.  "Give us the tools, give us the opportunity, and we’ll start looking after it ourselves in a much more efficient manner with a lot less costs to the MNR and the provincial government.”

The volunteer group is promoting a pilot project that could ultimately be rolled out across northern Ontario. 

Volunteers would help run the program and do so, he said, in an environmentally responsible manner.  

“If we were able to develop a model that works here in Dryden, and provides access to people, we think it would be a way to alleviate the government of some of its challenges looking after our area.”

Valley added that there's been almost no cottage lot development in the Dryden district despite it having a large capacity, with thousands of available lakes outside municipal boundaries.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry says it “acknowledges the importance of Crown land in supporting economic development” and is working with northern municipalities interested in developing cottage lots to support local economic development.

In a statement to TBNewswatch, the ministry said it has helped a number of communities, including Pickle Lake and Elliot Lake, on development plans, and “will continue to work with northern municipalities to identify available Crown land.”

Valley acknowledged that the MNRF has “made some efforts” within municipalities where there is Crown land, but added “that doesn’t do Dryden any good.”  

He said communities such as Dryden need cottage lots freed up on lakes outside their boundaries.

 



Gary Rinne

About the Author: Gary Rinne

Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Gary started part-time at Tbnewswatch in 2016 after retiring from the CBC
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