Approved Land Use Strategy

Approved Land Use Strategy > Resource Industries

4.0 PROVIDING INCREASED CERTAINTY FOR RESOURCE INDUSTRIES

The Land Use Strategy outlines the general land use intent for all Crown lands in the planning area, providing direction on the permitted uses. The land use intent can only be altered through an amendment to the Strategy. It provides increased certainty for resource industries because it ensures continued access to an identified resource base.

The more flexible approach on mineral exploration in new protected areas addresses the need of the mineral exploration sector to keep land open for exploration, while ensuring that environmental values are protected. In addition, the Strategy clarifies that:

existing Mining Act tenure (e.g., claims and leases) will not form part of the new protected areas;
necessary access to existing claims or leases for mineral exploration or development purposes will be permitted; and
the current rules about the implicit right to develop and to mine continue to apply to existing claims and leases.

Several initiatives have been defined to address the needs of the forest industry. Initially, the Strategy recognizes the importance of the forest industry, and attempts to support the long term continuity and security of wood supply.

In addition, as part of the implementation of the Strategy, MNR will work with a range of sectors to develop a plan to increase forest productivity through a variety of sustainable forest practices. The Strategy defines a new land use category, Enhanced Management Area - Intensive Forestry, that can be applied in subsequent planning (Section 7.3.7). These areas have the potential to increase the quantity and quality of Crown timber grown there. The areas that would be subject to the intensive management will be determined through a planning process with broad public consultation.

To provide further certainty, the Ontario Government is implementing a compensation program associated with areas that are removed from forest licences for the establishment of new regulated protected areas as a result of the Strategy, or future unilateral withdrawals, where these withdrawals cannot be mitigated through other means. This compensation will cover capital investments for permanent infrastructure and assets directly related to the withdrawn lands.

The Ontario Government has established a new Living Legacy Trust that will support resource industries and communities in a variety of ways. Funds can be allocated to cover loss of use of existing forest roads and bridges resulting from the Ontario Living Legacy decision, improve multi-purpose resource access, develop new forest management opportunities in the far north, enhance forest science, increase forest employment through improving the quality and quantity of the wood supply from Crown forests, and encourage the manufacturing of value-added products.

The Strategy encourages and supports forest certification programs.

Next: Enhancing Angling, Hunting and Other Crown Land Recreation

Table of Contents