While the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests (MRNF) is working to modernize the definition of summary shelter leases, the Quebec Federation of Hunters and Fishermen is asking that users of these leases be consulted instead of everything being decided in the higher spheres.
“The ministry wants to modernize leases and study the place they occupy in the development of public land.
The problem is that only the municipal sector is consulted, so we fear that decisions will be made by municipalities and MRCs with the aim of increasing their revenues and not with the aim of improving the situation of holders. summary shelter leases,” we can read in the press release issued by the Quebec Federation of Hunters and Fishermen.
For the Federation, there are two aspects that are to be feared for lease holders.
Initially, during a tour in December 2020, officials from the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, who were then responsible for managing the territory in the state domain, suggested “the possibility to offer certain holders of summary shelter leases the possibility of converting their lease into a vacation lease. This avenue may seem interesting to some, but it must still be on a voluntary basis, in order to avoid some finding themselves against their will with resort leases which are much more expensive to own,” explains the Federation.
The other aspect of the project which causes fears for the Federation is the question of overbidding the value of summary shelter leases.
DEFINITION AND MODERNIZATION
According to the current definition, a basic shelter is a building or structure serving as a shelter, with no outbuilding other than a dry toilet, devoid of any electrical installation and any water supply.
It has no permanent foundation, with a single floor, the surface area of which does not exceed 30 square meters in Abitibi and 20 square meters elsewhere in Quebec.
The building must retain a rudimentary character and not be permanently habitable.
In its requests, the Federation includes a modernization of these facilities, which meets an essential need for many vacationers.
She suggests offering the possibility of improving comfort, through the use of some new technologies.
PRIVILEGE OF CITIZENS
Thus, according to the organization, we could allow an independent source of electricity such as solar energy, and the installation of a water reserve powered by rainwater would be appreciable. The government could allow the construction of a firewood shelter and the possibility of setting up a mezzanine.
For leaders, beyond the tax issue, there is the privilege of citizens to be able to benefit from the forest at low cost while limiting the ecological footprint. According to them, “before going any further in this project, the MRNF must meet all the stakeholders concerned, including the FédéCP”.
To support its approach, the Federation invites amateurs to send a letter to the minister responsible for the matter. To help you, we have created a letter template that you will find on the fedecp.com website.
New accommodation at Sépaq
The Société des establishments de plein air du Québec (Sépaq) has opened reservations for new accommodations, during the summer and fall seasons, in certain national parks, campgrounds and certain wildlife reserves.
You have the choice between a camping stay or an Étoile ready-to-camp.
In different sectors, the Plaisance (6) Yamaska (15), Frontenac (6) and Mont-Tremblant (14) parks offer you these new accommodations.
In the Saint-Maurice wildlife reserve, you will find eight traditional ready-to-camp units which have been converted into Étoile ready-to-camp units.
For the stay in a rustic camp, the Pointu refuge in the Grands-Jardins national park has been transformed.
The Port-Cartier–Sept-Îles reserve has transformed two campsites into rustic camps on Lake Arthur.
To find out more: 1 800 665-6527 or sepaq.com.