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Manitoba freezes cottage fees in provincial parks for 2 years

Cottagers with property in Manitoba provincial parks will have their service fees and Crown land rental fees frozen for the next two years, the provincial government has announced.

Sustainable Development Minister Cathy Cox announced the two-year fee freeze on Wednesday, meaning cottage owners in provincial parks won't see an increase in fees in 2017 and 2018.

"The ability to enjoy our provincial parks is part of the fabric of our province," Cox said in a news release.

"Cottage owners know this very well and we made a promise to partner with them in reviewing current cottage fees. We believe cottage owners are prepared to pay their fair share and we want to take the time to develop a fee system that more accurately and transparently reflects service costs."

Cottagers pay fees that go toward garbage disposal, water and waste water treatment, road maintenance and other services.

Crown land rental fees are based on a percentage of appraised land values, while service fees are calculated annually based on the costs of delivering services over the previous season, the government says.

Cox said cottage owners and associations will be consulted on future fee changes.