Letter: Mayor Weber from B. Collins

Subject: Ipperwash Beach vehicle barriers

Dear Mayor Weber,

I am a property owner on East Ipperwash Beach. My properties are very close to Army Camp Road and have been in the uninterrupted ownership of my family for 100 years.

Owning substantial beachfront, down to the water’s edge,  I am very concerned and distressed at the removal of the vehicle barriers along the length of Ipperwash Beach. My concerns relate to safety issues of cars on the beach (no ability on private property to enforce speed limits, DUI issues etc.), the liability I am exposed to as a property owner, and the environmental impact of motorized vehicles on the beach and foreshore dune area (an environmentally sensitive area and designated Area of Scientific and Natural Interest).

I asked you, in a Q and A session at the CICA meeting December 20th, at what point did you know that Kettle & Stony Point First Nation was going to take action to remove the barriers. You replied that the municipality had known about it for a year.

I would like to ask you some further questions. Did the Municipality of Lambton Shores involve MAA, CICA  or SCRCA at that time? What action did the municipality take in response at that time? What will be the municipality’s involvement going forward? How does the municipality plan to involve, consult and inform landowners along the beach with regard to discussions taking place with the municipality, Kettle & Stony Point First Nations and MAA and do those discussions involve SCRCA and or Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation?  As directly impacted parties to the action of the Kettle Point & Stony Point First Nation, I believe all property owners deserve to be advised and consulted on the discussions taking place.

The Premier has said that she believes “that disputes should be settled through proactive relationships – and that it is only through positive discussions, held in an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding, that lasting solutions will be found”.

I think you must understand that as a property owner down to the water’s edge, I have the legal right to limit the uses of my property and to fence it.

Our family has owned these properties for over 100 years and never in that time have we prevented the First Nation or the public from using the beach that fronts our properties. I wouldn’t want to be the first generation that felt compelled to do just that for public and personal safety, landowner liability, and environmental protection.

As responsible and liable property owners we simply cannot allow cars on the beach. The barriers should be replaced immediately until the issue is resolved, as it is unclear how speed limits, impaired driving and other public safety laws would be enforced.

The Premier has suggested that property owners report concerns to the OPP; this would be the same OPP that stood by while First Nation destroyed public property. I hope you can understand why I may not have faith in that recommendation.

For all of these reasons (public safety, liability, environmental impact), I request that barriers to prevent cars from accessing the beach be replaced immediately while talks are ongoing until such time that the issue between the Province and the First Nation is resolved, so that we as property owners aren’t forced to be the only ones responsible and sensible enough to limit this access by putting up our own barriers.

I look forward to your response to my questions.

Sincerely, B. Collins

Disclaimer: The opinions in this published letter does not necessarily reflect the opinion and/or stance of CICA. Accuracy of facts have not been verified by CICA.