Barrie council wants to know MNR’s park plans

By Bob Bruton, Barrie Examiner

Springwater Provincial Park’s fate remains on Barrie city council’s agenda.

Council passed a motion Monday asking Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) to provide a written outline of the province’s plans for the 477-acre park, just north of the city limits, which was effectively closed by the MNR last year.

“This is an issue which our council has consistently requested information on, as it is a park and a resource that is frequently visited by Barrie residents and taxpayers,” Coun. Alex Nuttall said. “From that perspective, we as a city deserve to know what the province’s intentions are. . .and if in fact there is a plan, currently.

“I haven’t seen anything. I don’t even remember us getting a response (to previous questions).”

Nuttall said he just wants to know the MNR’s intentions, whether it’s the politicians’ or the civil servants’ call.

“The politicians are the ones who provide the strategic direction to staff, and therefore the buck ultimately, you know, stops with them, as it does with us (city council) in Barrie,” he said.

“So whether it’s a political one or a bureaucratic decision, at the end of the day there is somebody somewhere who signs off on that in a political sense.”

Nuttall said the current Ontario election campaign isn’t a factor in his request.

“I’m not trying to play politics with it during the provincial election,” he said. “But a response would be nice, and if it happens to be a response that they’re going to re-open the park under certain guidelines or criteria, then that’s a good news story and hopefully we hear that.

“Otherwise, at least tell us what’s going on.”

Council also approved a motion Monday by Coun. Bonnie Ainsworth, that the Foundation Fund Volunteer Committee for Springwater Provincial Park make a June presentation to the city’s finance and corporate service committee regarding funding for the operation of Springwater Provincial Park.

“There is a movement for Springwater Park to continue without costing the city one dime,” she said. “They are a very credible group.”

This is not the first time council has appealed to the MNR about Springwater Provincial Park’ future.

In March of 2013, Barrie city council approved a direct motion to ask Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources to keep the park operational for another year – to allow interested citizen groups and others to collaborate with the MNR to keep it open even longer.

The park, located in Springwater Township, was slated to become non-operational on April 1 – remaining a protected area but with no vehicle access. People could still to walk in and use the park during the day, free of charge.

But council’s appeal fell on deaf ears.

The MNR changed the status of Springwater Provincial Park’s status to non-operational last year. After 107 years in operation, the day-use park’s 29 orphaned animals that were receiving care were removed and sent to other wildlife sanctuaries across Canada.

Elizabeth Brass-Elson and several other First Nations people quietly moved in to occupy the park in early April and remained there for duration of the year, leaving just days before Christmas 2013.

Talks with the MNR and Beausoleil First Nation continued, and in December, Brass-Elson said they were assured they would be given a voice in the planning and development of the park lands for the continued use of all.

Jolanta Kowalski of the MNR, wrote in an e-mail “the ministry is pleased to be working with Beausoleil First Nation to discuss a future partnership for the operation of Springwater Provincial Park.”

Kowalski also wrote that “the ministry is not considering selling Springwater Provincial Park. Maintaining public ownership keeps the park regulated under the Provincial Park and Conservation Reserves Act and ensures this land is protected for future generations.”

Brass-Elson named their campground Camp Nibi – the native word for fresh or spring water – and ran instructional classes on native culture, sweat lodges and full moon ceremonies. They also cleaned up after walk-in only visitors and called police when teenagers started fires and vandalized buildings.

Although the gates have been chained shut, Les Stewart of the Springwater Park Citizens’ Coalition said dozens of people took to the trails on Family Day.

And in February Springwater Township set aside $10,000 to eventually re-open the provincial park.

With files from Cheryl Browne