GREENSTONE — Council has decided to end its agreement to operate MacLeod Provincial Park.
After much debate Greenstone council regarding their service delivery review of recreational campgrounds and the marina, they have decided to terminate their MacLeod Provincial Park operating agreement with Ontario Parks.
Coun. Alan Ouellet stated that he agreed with the majority of the service delivery review, but wished that “some of [the] recommendations were separated.”
“The one in regards to cancelling the agreement with Parks Ontario for McLeod Park, I feel is almost like quitting a job before having one lined up,” said Ouellet.
During the council meeting on Sept 1, Ouellet and Coun. Vicky Budge brought forth a motion for the municipality to contact the province before giving their termination notice. However, the motion was defeated.
By terminating the contract with Ontario Parks, Greenstone will no longer be in charge of operating MacLeod Provincial Park, which over the last three years has resulted in an average annual deficit of around $45,000 to the municipality.
In 2022, McLeod Provincial Park operated at a net loss of $64,000 and several upgrades to the infrastructure of the park came out of the municipality’s capital budget.
As part of the contract, the municipality must invest $5,000 for major capital expenses. However, municipal CAO Mark Wright pointed out that it can be a challenge to get the province to reimburse the municipality for capital costs they put into the park.
“I should also note one of the challenges here is oftentimes we have to pay upfront. Chasing down Ontario Parks to get paid takes a surprising amount of resources to do so and a surprising amount of time. So, while at the end of it, it only may have been $5,000, there were several hours of staff time involved in actually getting the payment,” said Wright.
In addition to the termination of the contract agreement with Ontario Parks, Greenstone municipal campgrounds user fees will increase by 30 per cent in 2024, High Hill Harbour Marina will no long provide fuel services at the end of the 2023 season, online reservation system for campgrounds will have transaction fee to cover costs for the system, and a full electrical assessment of Popular Lodge Park be included in the 2024 capital budget to determine future replacements, upgrades and costs for continued electrical services.
