Letters: Feb 21/13

Jeff Green | Feb 21, 2013

Re: Algonquin Landclaim

Thank you, David Bate (Letters, Re: Algonquin Landclaim, Feb. 14/13), for expressing the frustration associated with the long history of broken promises and dashed expectations. No one wants to wait a further 21 years or 21 decades to rectify what has been so wrong for so long. Here's my simplistic (simple-minded?) suggested action.

It calls for establishing an Algonquin Community Trust (I like to call it 'ACT') to accept responsibilities for the management, conservation, preservation of the land air and water resources to be assembled as follows :

1. The Provincial Parks -- Algonquin Park east to the Ottawa River.
2. All crown property in the area.
3. Privately owned land adjacent and intervening if and when the owners are willing to sell. I suggest valuations consistent with transaction prices over the previous 5 years for similar land. Note: I have lake frontage near the headwaters of a watershed, that I have maintained in pristine condition for 45 years. I would sell when I was certain that the resource will continue to be protected from destructive or overuse.

Funding for the above? A provincial budget for the management responsibilities. No property taxes to be levied. Federal funding for endowing the community trust and ensuring health and educational facilities. These from money created by the Bank of Canada free of interest. And, no interference from the lawyers or Ottawa civil servants.

Jerry Ackerman

Frustration with some NF councillors

We no longer live on waterfront, in large part due to high taxes. Now there is another reason to not live along the water if you reside in North Frontenac. If you see anyone in distress on the water/ice - good luck to you. I hope your First Aid is current; you have rope, blankets, and raft at the ready so that you are prepared to save the individual.  Either that or be prepared to turn your back and walk away as many NF councillors seem capable of doing. The only other recourse is to call Sharbot Lake EMR and hope that in the 45 minutes it takes water rescuers to arrive the individual does not drown. NF council seems to have no problem with charging a waterfront resident $4 - $5,000 per year in taxes, but NF does not see the need to rescue one of these taxpayers if they need assistance on the ice or in the water. 

NF council - what are you willing to do for us in exchange for these high taxes? Councillor Betty Hunter does not live by the water and so obviously does not think that emergency situations arise, nor does she seem to care. At the very least there could be a user fee charged for rescue situations - don't just turn a blind eye and pretend the problem may not arise.

Mavis Wade

Algonquin Landclaim Coverage

We should all be grateful to Jeff Green for excellent coverage of the Algonquin Land Claim issue, since we get no information from our paid local government. This division of land affects many of my neighbours and readers of this paper. This is the largest land transaction in Ontario history and will affect future generations.

Marie Anne Collier