Dear Minister,
As member of the South Peel Naturalists’ Club, I represent a group of citizens concerned with the welfare of Bronte Creek Provincial Park. The club, established in 1952, has over 200 members in Oakville, Mississauga and to a lesser extent Burlington. Through our affiliated status with the Federation of Ontario Naturalists we represent a much larger cross-section of the province.
I am writing regarding the proposal to sell a large portion of Bronte Creek Provincial Park to the Royal Canadian Golf Association and your recent response to Dominic Agostino the member from Hamilton East during question and answer period on October 29. I am very concerned that you met with representatives of the RCGA and set out a series of procedures required to complete the project. To me and I would think many other voters this is not appropriate behavior for the minister responsible for Ontario’s parks.
I am extremely concerned about this proposal feel strongly that it should not considered period. Bronte Creek is a provincial park owned by all the people of the province. It not a land bank for local interests. Your comment in the house stating that "what’s required is extensive public consultation on how a park is used that meets local needs" has validity but the provincial park system is for the entire province and any precedent setting change to the system would also have include provincial wide public consultation.
Your government has made great strides in creating new park land in Northern
Ontario. It must realize that the challenges and needs for park land in
Southern Ontario may be even greater. It appears that the Greater Toronto
Area will continue grow into the foreseeable future. Demand for natural
areas is part of that growth. We all will be greatly diminished, if at the end
day we have only satisfied short-term municipal interests.
Sincerely,
South Peel Naturalists’ Club