An Update On The Crown Land Access Meeting With MNR Minister

[Guest ThisPlaceSucks]

OntORA posted a news release on last weeks meeting with the minister. What side of the debate you fall on is moot at this point so keep your opinions to yourself... maybe this one won't get locked down.

 

http://OntORA.ca/news-release-meeting-mnr-minister/'>http://ontora.ca/news-release-meeting-mnr-minister/

 

OntORA NEWS RELEASE: Meeting with MNR Minister 28 Jan. 2011

JANUARY 31, 2011 · 0 COMMENTS

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario – 31 Jan. 2011

 

In a recent meeting with Minister of Natural Resources, Linda Jeffrey, the Ontario Outdoors Recreational Alliance (OntORA) has gained new concessions in the manner in which the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) will operate their Crown Land Use Atlas Harmonization (CLUAH) in the Wawa District. OntORA, which had previously refused to get involved with CLUAH because of a long list of irregularities in the CLUAH mandate, was invited to participate by the Minister after she promised that the stalled CLUAH process would be reopened by what she called “a new process, where everything is on the table”. Minister Jeffrey said that this was a pilot project and if successful, may be initiated across the province. The Minister instructed MNR District Manager John Peluch to issue a letter to OntORA detailing that the CLUAH Steering Committee process would be re-opened as a new process with “everything on the table”.

 

OntORA President Tom Brason had directed a list of 18 serious flaws with the former CLUAH process after he and other OntORA officers received a briefing on the project one year ago, including a clear preferential bias for the remote tourism industry. Brason informed the Minister that OntORA’s concerns were contained in a letter to District Manager John Peluch over one year ago and were never addressed nor replied to. Minister Jeffrey said that she would personally look into and reply to OntORA’s concerns. Brason also asked Oriazetti about his invitation for OntORA to meet with the MNR and “possibly saving OntORA some legal fees”, but there was no reply. Brason also brought up the issues of a racial slur by an MNR Wawa Supervisor which the MNR has ignored, that legal concerns would not permit OntORA to discuss or negotiate certain items, as well as the legality of special interest groups sitting on MNR committees.

 

OntORA Officers Tym Barker and Bob Rollins, along with Brason, informed the Minister and MPP David Oriazetti of the unacceptable public access situation across Ontario. Using an example in the Wawa area, they displayed a map showing 135 of its 146 major lakes with large areas circumscribing each of the 135 “tourist” lakes, virtually closed to the public and reserved for remote tourism guests. They also briefed the Minister on the problems with the MNR’s Algoma Headwaters Plan, and various access problems in the area of Timmins, Chapleau, and the remainder of Northern Ontario causing a great deal of anger and mistrust among local residents.

 

OntORA told the Minister that they would consider her invitation to join a “new CLUAH process with everything back on the table” after reviewing her offer. OntORA’s experience in dealing with the Wawa MNR office has not been very productive, but OntORA stated that they would discuss the Minister’s proposal with the executive board before reaching a decision.

 

OntORA is a grassroots organization on the side of all outdoors people in Ontario, fighting to restore equal public access to Crown Land in Ontario. OntORA believes that there are millions of Ontario residents and visitors who should be allowed to enjoy the wonderful outdoors without being relegated to second class status as a result of the selfish demands of the remote tourism industry. To learn more about the Ontario Outdoors Recreational Alliance visit http://OntORA.ca

[Jonny]

Thanks for the information, Doc. I will watch with great interest to see where this goes.

 

This could be a "flagship" process now that it has been re-tooled.

[chessy]

should we be calling our mp or mpps on this one . or both ..

[Guest ThisPlaceSucks]

For now I'll approach the situation with cautious optimism.

[Guest ThisPlaceSucks]

should we be calling our mp or mpps on this one . or both ..

 

your mpp, specifically any liberal mpp, or sault ste. marie mpp david orazietti whom is the parliamentary assistant to the minister of natural resources.

[Grimace]

Interesting. This has spurred me to learn more about this. The idea that I could be issued a ticket for being on public land is repulsive to me.