LETTER: Shape up Shuniah

To the editor:

In regards to Shuniah Township’s O’Connor point lawsuit and temporary order, and especially being an election year coming up soon I wanted to remind Shuniah residents of a very important expensive fiasco that we still have to deal with after the new council is elected and pay for.

O’Connor Point in Shuniah has been changed drastically this summer, a temporary settlement with the township and the three individuals who filed a $3 million claim against the township to manage this tiny chunk of land.

Only Shuniah registered residents will have access to that beach, the beach will be locked at 9 p.m. every night.

It’s open at noon with no public outhouse and one trash can. People who reside in Shuniah will be able to get or purchase a permit to access the property and will be monitored by police or security guards. There is no drinking, fires, camping and a maximum of 20 people are allowed on this beach. Thus far costing Shuniah residents in excess of $150,000 and climbing, this will rise since it could be up to two more years to finalize.

Now that being said, it is mind-boggling to me that such a tiny piece of land, especially this year with water levels being so high, that Shuniah did not just sell it, as they had contemplated in years past.

It’s beach front, about 15 feet wide and maybe 50 feet long, full of weeds, reeds and muskeg.

It’s fenced in, trees haphazardly knocked down to accommodate a so-called path. It actually looks like a bomb went off andd incredibly unattractive.

There’s another option in Shuniah’s inventory. Approximately a quarter of a mile up the road is a property designated as a public beach with proper parking available.

Just add water and a bit of developing from the sale of this tiny chunk of land that has been a thorn in the side of the township and you`ve got a public beach to satisfy everyone.

All this because three councillors refuse to work directly with the residents living in and around the parcel of land.

No one is interested in refusing lake access. In fact we all want to encourage it.

So why, why is this happening? I have personally sent many requests in to Shuniah council asking as well as bringing up many deficiencies in the due process for the last 15 years with no response.

I have personally requested transparency in Shuniah`s own code of Conduct with no response.

So my Shuniah friends please consider carefully whom you want in this year’s election, it’s going to cost all of us a great deal more money if we make the wrong choice.

I am personally asking for people interested in stepping up to the challenge that is facing us to run as council members. There is great need of council in Shuniah right now.

The Ontario Ombudsman is investigating Shuniah council members for closed meetings and a report will be read at  a council meeting soon.


Marcel Tardif,
Shuniah