HAGI accessibility camp garners support from outside Thunder Bay area

The anticipated closureof theLakeShebandowanwilderness camp for people with disabilities in Ontario's Northwest has made its way into the provincial legislature afterattracting attention from people outside the region.

The NDP MPP for Algoma-Manitoulin, a riding east of Thunder Bayand encompassingSault Ste. Marie, asked at Queen's Park this weekif the province would step in to help save theWilderness Discovery Resort, which is operated by the nonprofitHAGI Community Services.

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Even though the issue is outside his riding, MichaelManthasaid he's been hearing from people all over Ontario aboutkeeping the facilityopen.

"So that these families and these individuals that benefit from these centres have the ability to return and enjoy some of our northern Ontario nature and by having all the facilities prepared for accessibility issues, we need to maintain those," he said.

"It gives us the opportunity to showcase all the resources and the environment that we have in Northern Ontario to all these individuals and these families with disabilities, so, you know, this is a gem that we have,"said Mantha.

HAGI offers new programs instead

In response, Liberal MPP Bill Mauro, who representsThunderBay-Atikokan, said it was HAGI'sdecision to close the facility this fall.

"It is not in any way a decision that's being forced upon them. They have decided, on their own, to take the resources that they have, that theyfundraised. There's never been operational support for the facility from the government of Ontario," he said.

The nonprofit organizationhad been renting land to run its wilderness camp from the Ontario Realty Corp.,the real estate service arm of the government. When its long-term lease ended in 2013, the organization began renting it month-to-month.

The issue arose when theOntario government said itwants to sell the 6.8 acres of land at market value for over $860,000 a priceHAGI can't afford.

The organization saidthe facilitycosts about $200,000a year to run, and they're putting those resources into new programs instead.