Pinery Provincial Park. Photo courtesy of  @PineryProvPark via twitter.Pinery Provincial Park. Photo courtesy of @PineryProvPark via twitter.
Sarnia

MPP Fed Up With Pinery Park 'Hooligans'

An area MPP says he's sick and tired of the people of Ontario being held ransom by what he calls "hooligans."

Monte McNaughton, the Progressive Conservative member for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, is frustrated that, for the second time in less than six months, protesters are blocking the entrance to Pinery Provincial Park.

A group, led by Maynard T. George, parked a trailer outside the Grand Bend park on Monday.

George claims the land belongs to his great-grandfather's descendants.

McNaughton says the land claim is baseless.

"The hooligans who are blocking the entrance to the park are scaring individuals," says McNaughton. "This is hurting our local economy because people won't book at The Pinery because of this uncertainty every couple of months and this is an issue that the Liberal government has to deal with. They can't back down, people are sick and tired of this."

Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources says a month-long protest that began November 9, 2017 cost the park about $20,000 in lost revenue. George staged a similar protest in 2014 as well.

"The Liberal Government, a number of years ago, determined that this was a grievance, not a land claim," says McNaughton. "That's why they need to ensure that the rule of law is properly and fairly enforced and that the people of Ontario should not be held ransom and that park should remain open."

Ministry spokesperson Jolanta Kowalski says they're continuing to communicate with the protesters to try to resolve the situation.

"The park is open, however access may be impeded by protesters and the safety of the public and staff is our first priority and that will guide our ongoing operation of the park," says Kowalski.

It's unclear at this time how long the protesters plan to stay at the park gates.

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