Bay of Quinte MP Ryan Williams expressed disappointment at the federal Environment Minister’s response to a call to reinstate a family’s lease for a summer home at Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area.
Canadian Wildlife Service took over the land decades ago but fishermen were told their building and cottage leases would remain and commercial fishing could continue.
The lease for the last remaining cottage on the land, the McCormack family’s summer fishing home, was terminated in August.
Williams presented a petition in the House of Commons on October 31 asking the government to restore the lease.
A response from Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault on Thursday states that Canadian Wildlife Service provided plenty of notice in advance of the termination of the lease and that terminating them does not impact anyone’s ability to fish commercially in Lake Ontario.
Furthermore, the Minster states the buildings have no heritage value or designation and termination of the lease will allow the area to be restored to its natural state, implement visitor amenities and keep all visitors and staff safe.
Also included in the Minister’s response:
Given its relatively low activity, the Port Traverse Harbour has not been designated as part of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Small Craft Harbour program. The boat launch and dock are now managed as part of the National Wildlife Area for public access.
The purpose of national wildlife areas is wildlife conservation, research and interpretation. The Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area is a Connecting Canadians to Nature site where public visitation is encouraged. The Government of Canada will ensure safe and equitable public access to these public lands and amenities to the benefit of all Canadians.
Williams called it another disappointing response with unreasonable excuses but says, “We will continue to push forward on our opposition to this.”
