The election of the executive members for the Temagami Stewardship Council for 2007 plus the discussion of the Temagami Integrated Plan were the main issues on the agenda for the August 28th meeting of the TSC. The meeting began with the introduction of Hilton Young, a temporary representative from the Temagami Lakes Association, who is replacing Marge Fryer as she has resigned her position due to family health issues.

The Council voted unanimously to accept the reinstatement of representation from the Municipality of West Nipissing. Councilor, Paul Finley, has been appointed as their Director. The West Nipissing representation on the TSC had previously been withdrawn due to a lack of attendance at meetings as is stated in the bylaws. The lack of attendance by several other TSC Directors was noted and it was agreed by the Directors that a letter be sent to their respective organizations asking for more conscientious representation.

All Directors were invited to a meeting in North Bay on September 8th to discuss the role of the coordinator on the TSC. Directors unable to attend this meeting were asked for their ideas and expectations of the coordinator’s role in supporting the Stewardship.

Chairman Gaye Smith read a letter received from Chuck McCrudden, MNR biologist, stating his resignation as a director from the Council. Sighting the value of MNR representation and the fact that the move was nothing more than another reduction in MNR service, the Chairman asked for a motion to reject the resignation. Several Directors felt that the move might provide a better arms length from the MNR. No decision was forthcoming.
Rick Calhoun, MNR District Planner, and his assistant, Andrew Healy, presented the Temagami Integrated Plan to the Directors and answered questions on the process. The advantage of having input from an organization representing all the user groups of the resource was expressed. Many of the Directors had already been involved in creating TIP responses to the MNR on behalf of the organizations that they represent. The TSC was unanimous in their support that the Temagami Land Use Plan, which was created by the Municipality of Temagami, being the basis of any new plan that is to be developed. It was obvious that representatives of local groups who have lived in the North because of the fishing, hunting and recreational lifestyle were having problems with the restrictions proposed in the TIP. Other groups recognizing the inevitability of an influx of visitors from the South and the need to protect the resource from overuse and degradation were more open to regulations to control access and fees charged to pay for necessary maintenance and upkeep. The exercise, even if a deadline for input cannot be made, was valuable in educating the various user groups to the views of the other users.

In the election of the TSC officers for 2007, the positions were all filled by acclimation. Gaye Smith will return as Chairman, Dick Crum will return as the Vice-Chairman and Mark Johnson will return as the Secretary Treasurer.
During a review of the previously held Annual General Meeting, the Chairman asked for input and ideas on how attendance at that event might be increased. The Directors were supportive of continuing to bring the best possible speakers and presenters to provide the most current information on issues of natural resources and the environment. The location of Bear Island or the Municipal Auditorium hasn’t seemed to affect the size of the audience and after trying an evening meeting, there also was no effect in changing the time of day for the meeting. Several of the Directors seemed resigned to the expectation of a poor turnout for any such event in Temagami. The TSC would appreciate any input as to how it might interest more people in attending the AGM to hear the valuable information provided.

The Chairman expressed his disappointment in the inability of the TSC to have the rehabilitation of the spawning area at Aston Creek or the OFAH Invading Species testing conducted by the Stewardship Rangers this summer. Volunteers will now be responsible for conducting these activities.

The TSC, in partnership with the MNR, will be conducting SPIN netting on Lake Temagami during the early part of September to assess the health of the lake trout fishery. Later this fall, the TSC in partnership with Laurentian University and the MNR, will be conducting a FWIN netting to assess the health of the walleye population.

The Temagami Stewardship Council will be holding a special meeting of the Directors on Tuesday, September 12th to deal with a myriad of administrative issues. The regular monthly meeting of the TSC will be held on Monday, September 25th.

The public is most welcome to attend.