Connecting two Manitoba communities
The city's of Winkler and Morden will soon be connected by a paved pathway. Joseph Bernacki has more.
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CBC
10 minutes ago
- CBC
Clear Lake boat ban faces backlash amid new scientific claims
Social Sharing A group advocating for the return of motorized boats to Clear Lake says their scientific evidence suggests the ban may not be effective in stopping the spread of zebra mussels in the Manitoba lake. Fairness for Clear Lake hosted a packed town hall Tuesday in Wasagaming that gathered to hear from an independent biologist they hired and discuss getting boats back on the lake, which is just inside the southern border of Riding Mountain National Park. "You've got generations of people that have lived and been on the water … that their family members have [said] we're not coming home this year," member Trevor Boquist said. "I have a son that's out in Vancouver. He says … 'If I can't go in the boat, I'm not coming home this summer.'" Mark Lowden, AAE Tech Service senior biologist, said at Tuesday's meeting that zebra mussels are being spread in the lake by natural forces like wind and wave action — not boats. Fairness for Clear Lake hired Lowden to study the zebra mussels and their impact, how they move and the role boats play. "Ecologically, those mussels are still going to move around that lake, with or without boats," Lowden told the crowd of around 400. "It is just going to be a matter of time, in my opinion, that zebra mussels are going to essentially be all throughout the whole lake." Adult zebra mussels were first found in the western Manitoba lake in November 2023, near Boat Cove on the south shore at Wasagaming, inside the park. An effort to contain the invasive species with an underwater curtain in the summer of 2024 did not succeed. That fall, hundreds of live juvenile zebra mussels were found attached to docks and other structures outside of Boat Cove near the east end of the lake. In January 2025, Parks Canada said it planned to allow watercraft on the lake on a "one boat, one lake" basis. However, Parks Canada later reversed that decision and shut down motorized boat access over the May long weekend, citing the urgent need to protect the ecosystem from further zebra mussel contamination. The move sparked widespread backlash from cottagers and business people, who weren't consulted, Boquist said. "I'm a boater myself, and I don't think it always has to be all or nothing," Boquist said. "We're even open to having those conversations about what that looks like. The problem is we can't get the other side to sit down and talk to us about it." Lowden said the greater threat now is the spread of the aquatic invasive species to other lakes, something he said can be managed with strict controls. He recommended the "one boat, one lake" policy, along with mandatory inspections and decontamination to prevent cross-contamination. This would allow boating to resume without increasing ecological risk, he said. A Parks Canada official at the meeting said the ban was necessary, which brought on boos and questions from the audience. Andrew Campbell, Parks Canada vice-president of external relations and visitor experience, told attendees that boat access to the lake needs to be approved by the park's superintendent, and during the initial consultation, they were told at least one group would challenge approvals in court if boats were given the go-ahead. "We make decisions based on would we be able to, with the one boat, one lake, be able to survive a judicial review," he said. "The courts could take the action to say they would immediately suspend the decision until the judicial review was done." He declined to name the group threatening the "one boat, one lake" policy with court action. He did tell the crowd Parks Canada received the information at the beginning of May, and they believe it meant that no matter what, boats would not have been able to get on the water this summer. Consultations had been taking place but were interrupted by the federal election in April, he said. Now, Parks Canada is studying how boats affect the spread of zebra mussels, while addressing a judicial review filed in June by Fairness for Clear Lake. The group wants a judge to declare the ban invalid and let motorized watercraft back on the water. Transparency Wasagaming Chamber of Commerce president Jason Potter said many local businesses have felt left in the dark, because there's been a lack of communication with Parks Canada. The uncertainty is discouraging investment, with business and property owners hesitant to spend money when the future feels so unclear, he said. He hopes the town hall is the start of mending the relationship with Parks Canada. "Nobody wants to have a bad relationship," he said. "This is just a stumbling block right now." Longtime cottager Judy Marvin said the meeting felt like the first time the community received clear information about the zebra mussels. "We've been hearing little bits from various people, and we just really had no firm idea of what was going on, what's real," she said. Marvin feels like the advocacy group is listening and has a plan, and the meeting gave her hope for the future of the lake, she said. Attendee Brian McVicar said he feels better informed, but he questions Parks Canada's approach. "The science basically says motorboats are not the issue," he said. "It begs the question as to what really drove the banned boat decision." During the meeting, Conservative MP Dan Mazier encouraged attendees to sign a petition seeking the removal of the superintendent of Riding Mountain National Park and the return of motorboats. Boquist said while the community's relationship with Parks Canada has eroded over the last several years, he's hopeful it can still be repaired through transparent conversations. "Cottage owners, businesses, cabin owners, like, we all have vested interests," he said. "We're here because we want to be here."
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Plans unveiled for homeless veterans' village at Parkwood
For those who served, the return to civilian life is not always smooth, says Jamie Hackland. 'A lot of fellows come away from their service with many problems, and I suppose that has a lot to do with it,' he explained. The Canadian navy veteran and resident of the Veterans Care program at Parkwood was in the crowd at Parkwood Wednesday, where plans for a new veterans' village were unveiled. The initiative aims to support the estimated 200 veterans in the London region who are living on the streets. 073025 - London veterans village Plans for homeless veterans village. (Source: St. Joseph's Health Care London) 'To our veterans, this project is for you,' said Brad Field, President and CEO for the Homes for Heroes Foundation. 'You have served our country, and now it's time to serve you, with care, with dignity and with lasting support,' said Field. The village will be built on a 1.8 acre site on the grounds of Parkwood along Western Counties Road. It will house 25 homes, along with a resource centre, community gardens and recreational area. Each home is 300 square feet and fully furnished. But it's so much more than that, says Lt. Col. Joe Murray (retired) of the 1st Hussars, London. 073025 - London veterans village Plans for homeless veterans village. (Source: St. Joseph's Health Care London) 'And more importantly, it's a community, and it's right here on Parkwood, where historically the veterans have been looked after,' he said. The homes will come with wraparound supports, said Lt. Col Bob Buchanon of the 1st Hussars, London, and a member of the Homes for Heroes London steering committee. 'Add some structure to their life. Assign a social worker, a case worker to rebuild that citizen, so filling in those gaps wherever they might be,' he explained. More than two thirds of the $4 million project has been funded by all three levels of government. Private contributions are being sought to cover the balance. Construction begins next year, with an opening date set for next spring. 'Some of these guys can be stubborn, and hopefully you can get the place filled up, and a lot of these guys can have a better quality of life because of it,' said Jamie Hackland.
CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
Mobile homeowners say they feel 'trapped' as rising lot rents scare off buyers
Social Sharing Residents in an Essex mobile home community say they feel "trapped" living in the Hidden Creek mobile home community, after they say large increases to land lease and maintenance fees are scaring off potential buyers. Facing the loss of her home and inching toward bankruptcy, Sarah Battersby says she had to surrender her mobile home in McGregor to the bank after being unable to sell it since September. "Me and my kids, we built this home together and it feels strange not being able to just go in," she told CBC standing outside her former home, trying to withhold her tears. "It's just really upsetting. It's sad and has taken quite a toll on me." The single mother of two bought her modular home in April 2022, leasing the lot it is on for about $675 a month. Following health conditions and long-term disability, when Battersby went to sell last fall she said the lot rent went up to $895 and that potential mobile homeowners were looking at a new maintenance fee of $140 a month. Battersby said a total of $1,088 for such a small area of what "is supposed to be affordable housing just doesn't make any sense." "My realtor had people calling and just hanging up as soon as they heard the amount of land rent because no one can afford it," she said. Consequently, she lowered her asking price "several times" from $219,900 to $149,000 before eventually surrendering it to the bank in July. "I have health issues and I've had to use the food bank as well." 'Where's the money going?' Battersby and others CBC spoke with in the community say they feel the park is not properly maintained, with crooked pavement, potholes in the road and unkept grass, despite their maintenance fees. "Where is the money going? Because it doesn't seem like they're putting it back into the park where it should be going," Battersby said. Another resident Reg Major, who has lived there since 2018, said many in the community are worried. "We do not walk on the sidewalk here. We walk on the roads because it's a tripping hazard… the roads are nothing but potholes and sidewalks are uneven," Major said. Hidden Creek is run by SunPark Communities, the manufactured housing division of Toronto-based Firm Capital Properties, a private equity real estate firm. The company said they strictly adhere to the rules and regulations outlined in the Residential Tenancies Act of Ontario. In an emailed statement, Michael Phillips, the asset manager for SunPark Hidden Creek Residences Corp, said all maintenance responsibilities fall under the purview of the condo corporation, Essex Vacant Land Condominium Corp. No. 163. "For absolute clarity, Sunpark Hidden Creek Residences Corp. is not responsible for the maintenance of the common area grounds," he said. But Major said he and others haven't heard of that condo corporation. Referring to Battersby' case, the company said her asking price "does not reflect that housing has declined by no less than 20 per cent." Some of the residents noted that while their homes were at one time mobile, they're now more modular because they can't be moved. 'We are basically trapped in our homes' Major said there are 240 deeded residents who own their land and 242 who, like him, lease their land. He said many of those 242 who have been trying to sell their mobile homes have been struggling with the lot rent increases. "I'm trapped. I can't sell the place. It won't sell," he said. "When we pass on and my daughter takes possession, she's gonna be stuck with the hell, instead of being stuck with a benefit." He has approached the Essex County council on this issue and said attempts to get the Premier's office involved have fallen on deaf ears. He urged the province to introduce some kind of control to help the situation, and asked the landlord to be understanding of the low-income residents' situations. "I don't see how I'm going to get out of here. We're trapped. We are basically trapped in our homes." 'Ontario-wide problem': Essex mayor Sherry Bondy, mayor in the town of Essex, said they have been noticing for a year now that home sales in their land-leased properties are not happening as fast as they used to. "It's not unreasonable to have the land rent go up a little bit between home sales. But when it's going up so much, that's when there's cause for concern," she said. She said the Town of Essex held public meetings earlier this year to hear from residents at Viscount Estates on Victoria Avenue in Essex Centre and Hidden Creek Residences in McGregor. Together, the communities have about 875 homes. She said about 100 people at each community raised concerns similar to Battersby and Major around increasing maintenance costs and cutbacks in services. "Because right now if you're buying, you're in a lose-lose position. And if you're selling, you're in a lose-lose position," she said. "My feeling would be that this is happening in all of Essex County, all of Ontario, probably all of Canada, anywhere corporations can raise money, they're likely going to do so." MPP Anthony Leardi sent notices to residents explaining what residents should do to address the situation. Leardi advises that residents who sell their homes can ask the landlord to sign an "assignment of tenancy," which transfers the current lease to the new homeowners, avoiding the increase sought by the mobile home parks' owners. The company says that all landlords reserve the rights to buy a home and set rents accordingly. 'Vacancy control critical' Yaroslava Avila Montenegro is the executive director of the Federation of Metro Tenants' Associations She says rent increases for mobile home lots upon tenant departure are legal — because Ontario does not have vacancy control laws in its Residential Tenancies Act (RTA). Vacancy control limits the increase a landlord can apply to a property when it becomes vacant between tenants. "If there were vacancy control legislation involved in the RTA, then the landlord would not have the right to ... increase the rent as soon as they sold their homes," she said. "It does help in maintaining the social cohesion of that community." Windsor landlord says tenants who haven't paid 16 months of rent have now paused eviction order Edmonton mobile home owners ask politicians for help addressing concerns Another solution, she said, for Essex mobile homeowners is to transfer their lease to a potential buyer to save on the rent increase. "We need action at the provincial level to be able to help stop the housing and rental crisis from exploding."
