Boreal forest plan big in scope, short on details: mineral industry concerned and lukewarm to Far North land-use plan.The McGuinty government's plan to protect the Northern boreal forest boreal forest Noun the forest of northern latitudes, esp. in Scandinavia, Canada, and Siberia, consisting mainly of spruce and pine [Latin boreas the north wind] has left leaders in the mining and exploration industry wanting to know more. In July, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty Dalton James Patrick McGuinty, Jr., MPP (born July 19, 1955, in Ottawa, Ontario) is a Canadian lawyer and politician and, since October 23, 2003, Premier of Ontario. He is the twenty-fourth premier of Ontario, and the second Roman Catholic to hold this office. announced that half of the province's Far North boreal forests, some 225,000-square-kilometres, will be set aside for permanent protection. The government says it will work with scientists, First Nations, communities and the resource industry to "create a broad plan for sustainable development Sustainable development is a socio-ecological process characterized by the fulfilment of human needs while maintaining the quality of the natural environment indefinitely. The linkage between environment and development was globally recognized in 1980, when the International Union ." Ontario Mining Association (OMA (1) See Object Management Architecture. (2) (Open Mobile Alliance Ltd., La Jolla, CA, www.openmobilealliance.org) An organization formed in June of 2002 by the consolidation of the WAP Forum group and the Open Mobile Architecture Initiative. ) spokesman Peter McBride says the Premier's "surprising" announcement was wide-ranging in language but short on specifics. McGuinty's conservation-oriented pledge covered a broad range of topics including climate change, endangered species endangered species, any plant or animal species whose ability to survive and reproduce has been jeopardized by human activities. In 1999 the U.S. government, in accordance with the U.S. , modifying Ontario's Mining Act and relations and revenue sharing revenue sharing Funding arrangement in which one government unit grants a portion of its tax income to another government unit. For example, provinces or states may share revenue with local governments, or national governments may share revenue with provinces or states. with First Nations. "This announcement was wearing a whole bunch of sets of clothes that I don't think go together," says McBride, whose group represents 59 mining companies, suppliers, consulting firms and research organizations. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] While there is no immediate impact on their mineral-producing members, McBride says "there's concern about what it means for the future." Though the government is far from determining what particular areas will be protected in this country roughly north of the 51st parallel, the process is expected to take 10 to 15 years. McBride says it could take longer since there's a lack of "accurate and reliable" data on what natural resources, wildlife habitat, and even basic community infrastructure is up there. "It's going to be an open-ended process that's going to take a long time." McBride says industry has been one step ahead of Queen's Park on the revenue sharing front with 40 impact-benefit agreements signed between miners and First Nation communities. Thunder Bay prospector Garry Clark says if the province is committed to mapping the Far North and taking action on reviewing the Mining Act, "we're happy the government is finally moving forward on this." Some of this scientifically - based data collection of the region has already been started under the Northern Boreal bo·re·al adj. 1. Of or relating to the north; northern. 2. Of or concerning the north wind. 3. Boreal Initiative. As head of the Ontario Prospectors Association, Clark says any land use planning
Land use planning is the term used for a branch of public policy which encompasses various disciplines which seek to order and regulate the use of land in an efficient and ethical way. that removes the uncertainty about Ontario as a favourable mining jurisdiction is good for investment. "If we're involved from the beginning, I think it mitigates any loss of high potential mineral lands." Though curious about what areas will be protected, he doesn't expect huge swaths of land to be closed off to exploration. "We don't see a change in the way we operate there. It didn't say we can't stake claims. It's a green light to still explore and mines take a long time to develop anyway." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] He expects the province will back up this kind of effort with a large-scale geological study to determine where the best mineral deposits are. Many remote communities are lobbying for all-weather roads which may cross into ecologically sensitive areas. Proper planning between mining, forestry and environmental interests can create a road network between future mineral deposits that can benefit all, Clark says. "Ecological stuff doesn't trump good rocks and vice versa VICE VERSA. On the contrary; on opposite sides. ." Clark says the industry has plenty of common ground with the environmental movement in working toward more conciliatory con·cil·i·ate v. con·cil·i·at·ed, con·cil·i·at·ing, con·cil·i·ates v.tr. 1. To overcome the distrust or animosity of; appease. 2. and practical solutions. "The days of us throwing rocks at each other are gone. They garner a lot of public support, so we try to work with them." He supports revenue sharing for First Nations as long as it's drawn from taxes already assessed to mines. www.premier.gov.on.ca www.oma.on.ca www.ontarioprospectors.com By IAN ROSS Northern Ontario Business Northern Ontario Business is a Canadian magazine, which publishes monthly in Greater Sudbury, Ontario. The magazine covers business news and issues in Northern Ontario. |
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