BITS & BYTES
A few pictures from our AGM that was held on March 17, 2010
October 22, 2009 Property Service Fee Update
In a reversal of what had been recently indicated to us, Fred Meier, Assistant Deputy Minister of Conservation, today confirmed that there will be no increase in property service fees billed to cottagers this year.
The WCA considers this an appropriate decision based on the fact that legislatively mandated consultations regarding the level and cost of services provided to owners and occupiers in provincial parks have yet to resume, and since the promised more fairly apportioned service fee system is still not in place.
Consultations were discontinued by the current provincial government and have already been the subject of one legal action initiated by the WCA. These consultations are a crucial component of the responsible management of our provincial parks and must be re-instated without further delay. Serious issues such as wastewater management in parks are closely inter-related to that consultation process.
Grant Ferens
President, Whiteshell Cottagers Association
LAGOONS: The following lagoons cannot be used by cottagers: Dorothy, Otter Falls, Opap, and West Hawk
PARK REGULATIONS
Minister Struthers responds to our concerns regarding consistent regulations for all park users..
Minister of Conservation
Legislative Building
Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada
R3C 0V8
Mr. Grant Ferens
President
Whiteshell Cottagers Association Incorporated
Suite 2D - 1975 Corydon Avenue
Winnipeg MB R3P 0R1
Dear Mr. Ferens:
Thank you for your recent letter regarding development regulations for businesses and other non-cottage developments in Manitoba's provincial parks.
As with all cottage associations throughout our provincial park system, input from the Whiteshell Cottagers Association is appreciated and will be considered when we move forward with guidelines to govern businesses and other non-cottage developments, such as special consideration organizations. After the newly revised Cottager's Handbook is completed, Parks and Natual Areas staff will solicit input from stakeholders, such as your association, in developing these guidelines.
Thank you again for writing.
Yours sincerely,
Stan Struthers
Minister
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Lake level data for 2008 and 2009 can be found on the website for Manitoba Water Stewardship at http://www.manitoba.ca/waterstewardship/floodinfo/levels_flows.html or in the following charts which also include additional data.
WhiteshellLake-2008-2009.xls.xls
Manitoba Hydro Pointe du Bois Modernization Project
Whiteshell Cottagers Association Incorporated
1975 Corydon Ave , Suite 2D, Winnipeg , Manitoba , R3P 0R1
July 29, 2009
Manitoba Conservation
Environmental Assessment and Licensing Branch
123 Main St Suite 160
Winnipeg MB R3C 1A5
AND
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Suite 101
167 Lombard Ave.
Winnipeg , MB R3B 3T6
Re: Manitoba Hydro Pointe du Bois Modernization Project
Dear Sirs,
This is in follow up to my letter of May 20, 2009 wherein I requested your assurance that Pointe du Bois area cottagers and residents will have an opportunity for further input and participation in the regulatory process with respect to the environmental licensing of the Pointe du Bois Modernization Project once the project EIS has been finalized.
On June 2 the Whiteshell Cottagers Association met with representatives of Manitoba Hydro to review our concerns and attempt to ascertain the full impacts of this project on area cottagers. Many of our questions remained unanswered as Manitoba Hydro stated that the final form of the project has not yet been determined. We are informed that this remains the case at the time of this writing.
We are also concerned with the staged licensing approach that Manitoba Hydro has adopted for the project, with sub projects presented as independent and with misstatement of their primary purpose. For example, it now appears that the most significant usage of the Slave Falls Tramway Project road will be as an access to quarry sites for the Modernization Project. As stated in my previous letter, this is vastly different from what was stated in public presentations. Recently, a bridge project has been separated from the Modernization project for independent licensing. Although Manitoba Hydro states in the project EIS that the bridge is required for “emergency repairs” to the existing structures that “are necessary,” Hydro representatives have confirmed that no such repairs are planned. No emergency situation currently exists and the primary functional purpose of this bridge will remain that it is a component of the Modernization Project. It appears that these projects have been submitted for licensing approval under false pretences.
As stated by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, the naming of the Modernization Project is in itself misleading. This misnomer appears designed to diminish the perceived scale and scope of the project. We expect that additional sub projects are planned, including the upgrading of transmission lines.
Based on the preceding pattern, it appears that the full expected impact of the Modernization project on area cottagers and residents may be concealed or only quantified in the final EIS. Hence, we again request your assurance that full and honest disclosure of the nature of the project and any sub projects, and the addressing of any resultant public concerns, are incorporated into the licensing process.
A response is requested.
Sincerely,
Grant Ferens President, Whiteshell Cottagers Association Inc.
This is a link to a pdf document with the final Pointe Du Bois vehicle access bridge:
ABSENCE OF REGULATIONS
May 22, 2008
The Honourable Stan Struthers
Minister, Manitoba Conservation
330 – 450 Broadway
Winnipeg , MB
R3C 0V8
Dear Minister Struthers,
Thank you for your response to our concerns regarding the absence of regulations for business and other non-cottage park user categories.
Although we are pleased to hear that this will be rectified, we stress that there must be uniformity in regulations for all user categories. This becomes particularly apparent in situations where different user categories are located on adjacent parcels of land. Where there are regulations that can be made universally applicable, there cannot be different regulations on either side of a lot line. This only results in unnecessary conflicts as is the case with the current lack of regulations on one side of that line. For example, development that may adversely affect the environment in any manner cannot be deemed appropriate for a business property, while it is not allowed on a cottage property. The development of all regulations and policies should include consideration toward minimizing disputes between neighbors, regardless of the adjoining property types.
You have stated that commercial operations and Special Consideration Organizations are sufficiently different from cottages to necessitate separate but combined regulations, yet those user categories are at least as distinct from each other as cottages are from either of them. This would suggest that, if one handbook cannot be applied to all groups, then at least three separate handbooks must be developed.
It is important that regulations be clear, fair, equitable and applied equally to all users.
Where an external policy is adopted that is not included in the regulations, that policy should be written, dated and publicly available in order to minimize the potential for future disputes. Changes in policy should be publicized appropriately. Any matters of regulation should be as transparent as possible.
Variances should be handled in a manner similar to the procedure followed by municipal governments.
We look forward to participation in the development of the new Cottagers Handbook with the same consideration given to our input as that which you indicate will be given to other groups with respect to regulations governing their activities.
Sincerely,
Grant Ferens
President, Whiteshell Cottagers Association Inc.
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Letter to the Honourable Gary Doer
Premier of Manitoba
204 Legislative Building
450 Broadway Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3C 0V9
The Honourable Gary Doer
August 19, 2008
Re: Letter from Manitoba Conservation, August 2008 related to Park District Service Fees
Dear Premier Doer:
The Whiteshell Cottagers Association Inc. has received many inquiries regarding the letter from Manitoba Conservation which requests the assistance from cottagers, commercial operators and special consideration organizations " in the calculation and apportionment of shares relating to the municipal type services ". The letter requests that the above parties provide an updated site plan of their properties in order to assist with the compiling of Manitoba Conservation's database information on cottages.
The letter states, in part, that should Manitoba Conservation not receive a response by September 19, 2008, they will assume that " your cottage has four (4) bedrooms and that your vacation home " footprint " is (the total square footage of buildings on your lot and the public reserve in front of a lakefront lot) is the maximum allowable."
The WCA Inc. has received many responses from our members expressing much concern over the contents of the letter. Some comments received are: " heavy handed", "feel threatened" and "smacks of negative billing".
The WCA Inc. wishes to bring to your attention the following concerns:
1. How can a database that has the potential to be complied with inaccurate information be used to apportion shares in a system that has been characterized as "fair"?
2. What are the credentials of the two students that are compiling and verifying service user information across the province for Manitoba Conservation? This is important as the information will have far reaching implications for the users of Provincial Parks.
3. The Manitoba Conservation website 2008 Property Service Fee invoice states:
"Starting in the spring of 2008, a capacity collection exercise will begin. The purpose of this exercise is to gather capacity information from cottagers, commercial operations, special consideration organizations and Manitoba Conservation. This information will be used to determine share allocation and calculate costs for municipal type property services for the October 2009 invoice."
Why were these letters not sent in the spring of 2008? The letters were sent out the second week of August with a deadline of Sept 19, 2008. I will suggest that this is an insufficient amount of time provided for cottagers to send in their site plans.
The WCA Inc. requests that cottagers are allotted more time to comply with the survey and without the veil of a threat. The WCA Inc. also requests that Manitoba Conservation take a professional approach in compiling this information.
The WCA Inc. wishes to continue to cooperate with Manitoba Conservation on issues and programs in the Whiteshell Park. However this has been very difficult when the last two letters that were written to the Government with our concerns have gone unanswered.
Sincerely,
Werner Toews
President
WCA Inc.
CC The Honourable
Stan Struthers
Minister of Conservation
WEB SITES FOR OTHERS:
URL address for Parks District Service Fee
http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/parks/cottaging/pdsf/index.html
web site for the WALLACE LAKE COTTAGE OWNERS ASSOCIATION
http://www.wlcoa.homestead.com/WLCOA.html
Cottagers Handbook
http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/parks/cottaging/documents/cottagers_handbook.pdf
Manitoba Government is committed to regularly testing beaches for Escherichia coli or E coli and reporting the results to the public
Test results can be found on their web site at
http://www.gov.mb.ca/waterstewardship/index.html
Rules and regulations for On Site Waste Water Systems
On Site Waste Water System
Canada's Fisheries Act
The habitat protection and pollution prevention provisions of the Fisheries Act
Under the Federal Fisheries Act, the harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat is prohibited without prior authorization and no person may pollute water frequented by fish.
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans-habitat/index_e.aspDocks and Boathouse Construction:
http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/parks/cottaging/documents/dock_boathouse_construction.pdf
LIST OF COTTAGE LOTS UP FOR SALE
Conservation’s web site at http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/cottaging
History & Folklore of the Whiteshell Park North
The book titled History & Folklore of the Whiteshell Park North by Ann Cott is now on the internet.
It includes Brereton, Red Rock, Jessica, White, Big Whiteshell, Betula, Barrier Bay, Nutimik, Dorothy, Otter Falls, Eleanor, Pointe du Bois and George Lakes.
If you are interested in acquiring it, please click on the link below:
http://www.ourroots.ca/e/toc.aspx?id=10482
NATIVE ORCHID CONSERVATION INC.
Native Orchid Conservation Inc. is a non-profit organization, founded in April of 1998, whose purpose is to protect unique mini-ecosystems and their plant communities. This primarily involves native orchids but can also extend to other rare and/or other rare and/or endangered plants.
Rare and uncommon plants that may be found in the Whiteshell
http://web2.gov.mb.ca/conservation/cdc
To view water lilies
click here to view water lilies:
To view very rare water lilies
click here to view a very rare water lilie
PHONE NUMBERS FOR THE
South End Of the Park
911 Emergency Telephone Service is now available in the South End of the Park effective March 13, 2007.
CAUTION: When trying to use a cell phone, remember not all phones work in all locations. Land Lines will work.
If you cannot get through by using 911, then call 0, an operator will patch you through.
Non-Emergency numbers are:
RCMP: 349-8035
Ambulance: 349-3099
Fire Dept: 349-3019
South Whiteshell - Includes the following lakes
Barren Falcon West Hawk
Caddy Star Hunt
North end of the Park
Ambulance: 348-7700
RCMP: 348-7177
North Whiteshell - Includes the following lakes:
Barrier Bay Dorothy Margaret
Betula Eleanor Nutimik
Big Whiteshell Green Otter Falls
Brereton Jessica White
For all of the Park
Environmental Accident Reporting line: 945-4888
Forest Fire Report Line: 24 hours: 1-800-782-0076
TIP Turn in Poachers: 24 hours: 1-800-782-0076
Bill Blaikie Minister for Conservation billblaikie@shawlink.ca
Constituency office: 204-415-4802
Legislative Building 450 Broadway, Wpg.
Bruce Bremner: Assistant Deputy Minister 945-4842 bruce.bremner@gov.mb.ca
Fred Meier: Assistant Deputy Minister 945-7008 fred.meier@gov.mb.ca
Barry Bentham: Director of Parks & Natural Areas 945-4362 barry.bentham@gov.mb.ca
Greg Shabaga: Chief NRO 345-1449
Jeff Colpitts: Manager Parks 945-4406 jeff.colpitts@gov.mb.ca
John Irwin: Director, Eastern Region Operations Division, 345-1435 john.irwin@gov.mb.ca
Larry Teetaert: Regional Parks Specialist, Eastern Region 345-1455 larry.teetaert@gov.mb.ca
Sue Atkin: Regional Parks specialist, Eastern Region 345-1454 sue.atkin@gov.mb.ca
Rick Cline; North Whiteshell, District Park Supervisor 348-4006 rick.cline@gov.mb.ca
General and enforcement inquiries for North Whiteshell
Sean Federspiel, NRO 369-3150
Dawson Keen, NRO 369-3151
Seven Sisters Office 348-4004
General and enforcement inquiries
Andrew Prokopchuk, NRO 348-4008
South Whiteshell
Enforcemnt inqiries:
Jamie Davison, NRO 349-6018
Vacant: Regional Forest Manager, Eastern Region 345-1453
Kelly-Anne Richmond: Manaager of Planning and Development, Conservation 945-4382
Mitch Walker: Assistant Regional Director Conservation 345-1433 mitch.walker@gov.mb.ca
Christine Melnick: Water Stewardship 945-1133
Diane Oertel: Environmental Officer/Public Health Inspector 345-1486 Diane.Oertel@gov.mb.ca
Pat Martin: Engineer Development 945-0169
Bill Watkins: Biodiversity Conservation Section, Wildlife and Ecosystem Protection Branch. 945-8481 william.watkins@gov.mb.ca
Melanie Betsill: Drinking Water Officer, Whiteshell: 346-6062
VACANT: Park Superintendent, South Whiteshell: 349-6014,
Kelvin Kowaski: District Park Supervisor, South Whiteshell 349-6015 kelvin.kowaski@gov.mb.ca
Heidi Kroeger: Environment Officer - 345-1490 Who you should call when you see holding tank abnormalities: Responsible for the Whiteshell Prov. Park NORTH OF RENNIE Heidi.Kroeger@gov.mb.ca
Jason Lasuik, Environment Officer - 346-6359 Who to call to report holding tank abnormalities: Responsible for the Whiteshell Prov. Park SOUTH OF RENNIE Jason.Lasuik@gov.mb.ca
Farrah Anderson, Provincial Park Lot Development Inspecotor, North Whiteshell, Seven sisters, 348-4007 farrah.anderson@gov.mb.ca
Park District Offices
Falcon Lake: 204-349-2201
Rennie: 204-369-3153
Seven Sisters: 204-348-4004
West Hawk: 204-349-2245
CONTACT US:
Our office e-mail address is wcai2@mts.net
Our mailing address is
Whiteshell Cottagers Association Inc.
1975 Corydon Avenue
Suite 2D
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3P 0R1
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