An educated response from a landowner who orginally bought the OLA lemonade unquestioned
To the Expositor:
I was very confused last week when I received an email (or a re-direct) from an organization naming themselves as the Ontario Landowners Association. In this email one Elizabeth Marshall wrote a very long letter of concern for my rights as a private landowner and the affect Bill 100 “In Support of Ontario Trails, 2015” was going to have on me, my family and our properties, not only on Manitoulin but also in Bruce/Grey and Wellington Counties.
Elizabeth Marshall stated that Bill 100 would allow various “groups or organization, including snowmobile clubs” to place easements on my land. I will quote: “Bill 100 leads the private property owner into thinking they can allow things like snowmobile trails, ATV trails, hiking trails etc. across their property and yet retain the right to shut these trails down if they want or need to. They will not be able to if Bill 100 is passed.”
Well, I was madder then, well you know, to quote Peter Finch from the classic movie ‘Network,’ “I’m mad as hell and not going to take it anymore!” No one is going to tell me who can come and go on my property!
Ok, I’m over that. I did my homework. I consider myself a reasonably educated fellow, never buy a car without kicking the tires and looking in the trunk, ask for printed details and honestly, never believe what one person tells you, unless of course it’s your wife.
So, over the weekend I’ve done my homework. Should have listened when my kids said, “Dad, take a chill pill.”
My research has brought me to the “educated” conclusion that Bill 100 has no negative impact (is that a double negative?) on me or my rights as a landowner. At present as a landowner that allows OFSC trails, I sign an agreement with the club, a Land Use Permission form, I believe it’s called. It says right on that form that I have right to revoke and that the land is still mine and mine only. Bill 100 does not change that.
Elizabeth Marshall says well if you do this and if you do that, and she’s right but that requires my written consent and a registered easement. But this is stuff I as a landowner would have to agree to and there is a cost associated to register. Notice I said my written consent to allow easement. Nothing to do with snowmobile trails.
So, okay, who else would have an opinion or thoughts. Well the OFA, Ontario Federation of Agriculture, recently posted a media release in support of the bill as did the Ontario Trails Coalition
So, I looked some more. The OLA, in my humble opinion, is mudding the waters, picking and choosing words and phrases, giving just enough of facts without actually telling me or you as landowners why this is a bad thing.
I found that this Bill actually gives me as a private landowner more protections or rights from trespassers and the associated liabilities.
In research, this bill was, in original concept, targeted to protect heritage trails such as the Bruce Trail, or others that probably won’t mean much to your readers. I see no infringement of anyone’s rights or freedoms, and Lord knows I would tell you otherwise.
So, now I feel like Arthur Carlson from the TV show WKRP in Cincinnati when he stated “as god as my witness I thought turkeys could fly” (YouTube it kids)!
Or, I jumped to a poor uneducated decision, and, not that this hasn’t happened before or won’t happen again, my daughter walked past yesterday, finger in mouth, “hooked again, eh Dad?”?
Charles Walker
Silverwater and Chesley
