The comment period for the Quetico Park Plan is now open to the public. I'm always a bit wary of opportunities to comment since I don't fully trust the whole process. I'm not sure how much good it does and feel sometimes minds are made up regardless of what the public has to say. That is why I would like to encourage all of you to let the Quetico Provincial Park know what you think of their plan.
After reading much of the Quetico Park information I have a difficult time seeing how any of the proposed changes are consistent with the guiding principles of the Quetico Park. Their first priority is the maintenance of ecological integrity although it appears as though their priority is only to make visitors to the Quetico Park drive to Atikokan, Ontario and to enter from the North end of the Quetico Park.
I understand economic times are difficult and Atikokan, Ontario is not exempt from these times. It's the canoe capital of Canada situated on the north end of the popular and wonderful Quetico Provincial Park. It must be discouraging to have the southern entry points into the Quetico be more popular than the ones in Canada itself since that is where the Quetico Park is located. It must also be discouraging to see visitor use drop over 20 percent in just a few years.
The first step the powers that be at the Quetico Park need to take is to accept accountability. The implementation of rules regarding barbed hooks and no live bait were not received well by the many anglers that canoe and camp in the pristine wilderness area.
The other unpopular change Quetico Park Management made was to raise overnight camping fees substantially. What the management isn't taking into consideration is the fact the vast majority of the Quetico Park users are from the United States. These people have paddled the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in the United States and do so for a reasonable rate. Arguments can be made that the US Dollar is no longer as strong as it once was in Canada but the increase in camping fees was after the US Dollar went down yet Quetico Park Management did not decrease the $20 Cnd/night/person camping fee.
The Quetico Park Superintendent realizes the increase in the price of gas may have had an effect on the decrease in visitors to the Quetico Park. Then why would the Quetico Park make access to the closer entry points(on the south side) more difficult and more expensive to enter at? Forcing visitors to travel farther by vehicle to get to Atikokan and spend more money on gas just doesn't make sense to me.
The border issues discourage a few people but most people are more than willing to get a Passport, an RABC and check in with Border folks in Grand Marais. What they aren't willing to do is put up with the Quetico Park's Management Plan that strong arms them into driving the extra day to get to Atikokan so they can enjoy the Quetico Park.
Did the Quetico Park Managers forget where their vast majority of their visitors came from? They came from the United States after first paddling the BWCA, then entering the Quetico Park through the South and then decided to give the north end a try. If they make entering the Quetico Park from the South so difficult then how will future paddlers get to Atikokan?
I do understand how the proposed changes could indirectly protect the ecological resources of the Quetico Park. The new regulations will make it such a hassle to visit the Quetico Park from the South then the use will fall off another 40 percent resulting in far less ecological impact. If the goal is to decrease visitors, lose money, lose jobs and deter all US citizens from visiting the Quetico Park then I guess they are heading in the right direction.
I would hope the Quetico Park Management would want to make it easy for people to enjoy the natural world. In a world where technology and constant communication are necessary and where people are completely out of sync with nature it is more important than ever to get people out into the woods. As long as the camping fees are going to the Quetico Park should it really matter whether people enter in Canada or from the US?
The Quetico Park Management needs to realize the Quetico Park itself is their responsibility not the town of Atikokan or the people and businesses who live there. The Quetico Park will survive with or without Atikokan but Atikokan will not survive without people visiting the Quetico Park.
After reading much of the Quetico Park information I have a difficult time seeing how any of the proposed changes are consistent with the guiding principles of the Quetico Park. Their first priority is the maintenance of ecological integrity although it appears as though their priority is only to make visitors to the Quetico Park drive to Atikokan, Ontario and to enter from the North end of the Quetico Park.
I understand economic times are difficult and Atikokan, Ontario is not exempt from these times. It's the canoe capital of Canada situated on the north end of the popular and wonderful Quetico Provincial Park. It must be discouraging to have the southern entry points into the Quetico be more popular than the ones in Canada itself since that is where the Quetico Park is located. It must also be discouraging to see visitor use drop over 20 percent in just a few years.
The first step the powers that be at the Quetico Park need to take is to accept accountability. The implementation of rules regarding barbed hooks and no live bait were not received well by the many anglers that canoe and camp in the pristine wilderness area.
The other unpopular change Quetico Park Management made was to raise overnight camping fees substantially. What the management isn't taking into consideration is the fact the vast majority of the Quetico Park users are from the United States. These people have paddled the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in the United States and do so for a reasonable rate. Arguments can be made that the US Dollar is no longer as strong as it once was in Canada but the increase in camping fees was after the US Dollar went down yet Quetico Park Management did not decrease the $20 Cnd/night/person camping fee.
The Quetico Park Superintendent realizes the increase in the price of gas may have had an effect on the decrease in visitors to the Quetico Park. Then why would the Quetico Park make access to the closer entry points(on the south side) more difficult and more expensive to enter at? Forcing visitors to travel farther by vehicle to get to Atikokan and spend more money on gas just doesn't make sense to me.
The border issues discourage a few people but most people are more than willing to get a Passport, an RABC and check in with Border folks in Grand Marais. What they aren't willing to do is put up with the Quetico Park's Management Plan that strong arms them into driving the extra day to get to Atikokan so they can enjoy the Quetico Park.
Did the Quetico Park Managers forget where their vast majority of their visitors came from? They came from the United States after first paddling the BWCA, then entering the Quetico Park through the South and then decided to give the north end a try. If they make entering the Quetico Park from the South so difficult then how will future paddlers get to Atikokan?
I do understand how the proposed changes could indirectly protect the ecological resources of the Quetico Park. The new regulations will make it such a hassle to visit the Quetico Park from the South then the use will fall off another 40 percent resulting in far less ecological impact. If the goal is to decrease visitors, lose money, lose jobs and deter all US citizens from visiting the Quetico Park then I guess they are heading in the right direction.
I would hope the Quetico Park Management would want to make it easy for people to enjoy the natural world. In a world where technology and constant communication are necessary and where people are completely out of sync with nature it is more important than ever to get people out into the woods. As long as the camping fees are going to the Quetico Park should it really matter whether people enter in Canada or from the US?
The Quetico Park Management needs to realize the Quetico Park itself is their responsibility not the town of Atikokan or the people and businesses who live there. The Quetico Park will survive with or without Atikokan but Atikokan will not survive without people visiting the Quetico Park.
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