Lyle Stewart

I have been sending him emails in as many different ways as I can, but his secretary called tonight to say that he is too busy campaigning in other constituencies to respond. What?! Either he wants my vote or he doesn't want it!

A Response from the Sask Party

They aren't promising anything either! I got a response from Brad Wall's office :

"... I am very disappointed to hear about the challenges facing you and other cottage owners at East Trout Lake. It is unacceptable for Lorne Calvert and John Nilson to ignore your request for assistance. They should have provided a response to your request."

The NDP Are Reading My Blog!

The NDP are voting in my poll! Which means they are reading about our concerns. Wonderful!

Now if they would be brave enough to make a comment and explain why they will not respond one way or another to our requests to keep "Land of Living Skies" at East Trout Lake!

Media Interviews

Written by Evan Wright - 600 Action News-Local First
Friday, 19 October 2007
Cabins could begin falling into the lake, about 140 kilometres north of Prince Albert, in the near future.
In East Trout Lake, shoreline erosion is threatening as many as 30 cabins.
But the president of the community's Cabin Owners' Association, Brian Dueck, says efforts to contact the government over the last six months haven't produced a response.
The Association is looking for 100-thousand dollars to complete a rock dyke to protect the bank and cabins.
Dueck is frustrated after Waldsea Lake received funding.
He says East Trout Lake haven't been able to get a single return phone call [from the government].

Where Do Your Taxes Go?

This resort community is located in the Northern Municipal Region. Its taxes go to Northern Municipal Services and are held in trust for the cabin owners’ association. The education portion of taxes is assigned to Northern Lights School Division. The municipal portion of taxes generates only about $3500 annually, and from this the community pays town site road maintenance, landfill cleanup and other expenses. As a result, the financial capacity of the cabin owners is quite limited even though substantial amounts of tax money are generated by the community.

On the one hand, I agree that we should be paying taxes for government services and our fair share of supporting health and education in this province. On the other hand though, it does seem to be a lot to ask that we send over 90% of our tax money to support a school system that is two hours away.

What do you think?

Reply from Larry Hall

Larry Hall is running for the NDP in our riding. He called me today and here is what he had to say about the East Trout Lake erosion problem:

• Saskatchewan Environment has studied the situation and has concluded that the shoreline erosion is a naturally occurring action which would have been escalated by human activities along the beach front area (e.g. people accessing the lake from their cottages).

• The department is encouraged by the cooperative approach of the present executive of the East Trout Lake Cottage Association and their interest in seeking alternate remediation options.

• Saskatchewan Environment believes it has no legal or financial responsibility for the erosion problem.

So, it appears once again as though the NDP refuse to offer funding. None of this is new, but any comments?

Extent of the Damage

This is what the bank looks like now and how it endangers the cabins which are behind the trees at the top of the bank. Some 50 feet of shoreline has already been lost to wave, wind and ice action. An indpendent engineering report concluded that the erosion most probably began during the 1960's when the vegetated shoreline was mowed down by Sask Environment in order to create a recreational beach.

Erosion Problem

My resort community at East Trout Lake in northern Saskatchewan is currently experiencing a shoreline erosion problem which is undermining the soils on which many of its cabins are built, and as a result, the cabins are in danger of falling into the lake. The sand coming off the bank is also threatening the ecological wellbeing of the lake.

This past winter a short test area was completed to stabilize the shoreline and reduce the amount of erosion, but the community has exhausted all means of generating more funds in order to complete the project. Over the past six months the NDP government refuses to respond to requests for funding. President Brian Dueck says that $100,000 more is needed to finish a rock dyke.

This is an election issue, folks!

All About East Trout Lake

East Trout Lake is located near the geographic center of Saskatchewan about 140 km north of Prince Albert. The East Trout Lake town site is located about 2 km from the lake`s east end, along a section of north-west facing shoreline.

Northern Saskatchewan is one of Canada's best-kept secrets. With over 10,000 lakes, Saskatchewan is one of the last true wilderness areas in North America and truly representative of "land of living skies". What a beautiful location, paradise on earth!