Town of Cochrane Strategic Plan – Final Report October 2014
Municipal leaders have called for the government to allocate specific resources to the Growth
Plan, claiming that there has been little progress on its initiatives. In December 2013, Premier
Kathleen Wynn and several cabinet ministers met in Timmins with municipal leaders from
Northern Ontario to determine how the Growth Plan might be better implemented. They also
discussed northerners’ perceptions that Queen’s Park has shown little regard for northern Ontario
concerns.
Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement70
In 2010, nine national conservation groups and 21 forestry companies signed the Canadian Boreal
Forest Agreement (CBFA) to support sustainable logging in the boreal forest. Caribou conservation
is one of its key goals. Woodland Caribou are designated as threatened under Ontario’s
Endangered Species Act.
Ontario’s Woodland Caribou Conservation Plan71
Ontarians have expressed considerable concern about the province’s plans for Woodland Ca ribou
conservation, and the consequences to forestry in particular. Caribou habitat regulation has been
an issue of heated public debate, especially in northeastern Ontario, where politicians and forestry
leaders have criticized the Ontario Government for not conducting socio-economic impact
analyses prior to developing the plan.
Ontario’s Far North Act72
In 2008, the Ministry of Natural Resources announced plans to legislate land use planning in
Ontario’s Far North prior to further resource development. The Far North represents 42% of the
province, and consists largely of First Nations traditional lands. One of the goals of the Far North
Act (Bill 191) is to protect at least half of the region from development. The Act was adopted in
2010, and mandates that First Nations and the Ministry of Natural Resources work together to
develop Community Based Land Use Plans. These plans will identify areas that can and cannot be
used for sustainable economic development opportunities.
The Bill has been controversial, and has been criticized by First Nations, Northern Ontario
municipalities, and the private sector. 73 First Nations leaders have criticized the lack of
consultation and called on the government to revoke the Bill claiming that it violates their treaty
rights. Municipalities, resource companies and the provincial NDP have claimed that the Act
jeopardizes several significant economic development projects, such as the Ring of Fire chromite
deposit in Northwestern Ontario.
70
The Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement. (2014). Why It’s Important. Available at:
http://canadianborealforestagreement.com/index.php/en/why-its-important
71
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. (2012). Woodland Caribou. Available at
http://www.ontario.ca/environment-and-energy/woodland-caribou
72
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. (2012). Far North of Ontario. Available at
www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/FarNorth/
73
The Globe and Mail. (2010). Ontario passes Far North Act Despite Native Objections. Available at:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario-passes-far-north-act-despite-native-objections/article4326804/
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