Calabogie, Ont. residents win initial fight in battle to keep docks
Residents along Madawaska Street in Calabogie, Ont. have, for now, won the fight to keep their docks in the water.
At the beginning of the summer, waterfront residents on the street were told their docks had to be permanently removed by Oct. 1.
After non-waterfront residents in town came forward requesting to install docks along Madawaska Street, the township decided that no residents should be favoured over others when it comes to dock access on the township owned land.
"Do we have the right to refuse them and accept others," questioned Greater Madawaska Mayor Brian Hunt.
"So it needed a study and that was our intention from the beginning."
Waterfront resident Kevin Lentz is the last of his neighbours to still have his boat and dock in the water, and says he has no plans to permanently remove it.
"We pay waterfront taxes down here," Lentz tells CTV News.
"That's why you can't have every person in Calabogie come down and build a dock because they don't pay taxes to have waterfront privileges."
Following community consultations at the end of August, it was agreed the docks could remain until October 2023.
"I'm very grateful that they came to their senses a little bit," said Lentz
"They can put them back in again next year," said Hunt. "The committee will look at what should be done with them."
Others on the street are not happy the status quo is being challenged.
"The township wants to control what we've been doing for the last 20 years," says Luke Goulette, who has a dock on Calabogie Lake.
He says despite beating the Oct. 1 deadline and having their docks in for another year, they do not consider it a win for residents on the street.
"It's still a fight simply because the letter that we received from the township states that they can rescind this offer at any point in time," said Goulette.
Many residents are hopeful new faces to the municipal council will change their fortunes following the Oct. 24 election.
"It will be interesting to see what happens next year should people want to stick with the fight and put their docks back in," said Goulette, "or where it will go from here."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.