Report on the July AGM Meeting of the Temagami Stewardship Association

The 7th Annual General Meeting of the Temagami Stewardship Council was held on Monday,
July 28th, in the Temagami Municipal Auditorium. A good crowd showed up to hear special speakers,
Gord Miller, Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, and George Morgan, of Laurentian University.
The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario and Cassels Lake summer resident, Gord Miller,
began the afternoon’s presentations by explaining the role of the Environmental Commissioner. He
continued with a discussion on environmental issues that the Commissioner’s office has seen to a
successful resolution, such as the Clean Water Act, the Protected Area Law and the Whitefeather
Forest. Mr. Miller went on to discuss issues his office is presently involved with such as the Usage of
Road Salt, Pit and Quarry Rehabilitation and the Portland’s Energy Centre. Mr. Miller concluded by
talking about “The Challenge of Creating Sustainable Communities in Southern Ontario” and “The
Challenge of Creating a Sustainable Planning System in Northern Ontario”. The crowd was left with an
understanding of the value and accomplishments of the Commissioners office. However, when
discussing how to create a “Sustainable Planning System for Northern Ontario”, one might have
expected the Commissioner to explain how the government will include the local community in the
management of the local natural resources and environment. Since the Commissioner is responsible for
the implementation of the EBR legislation and some Ministries have been accused of not living up to
the requirements as set out in the EBR legislation, it would be good to know how these Ministries will
better accommodate public involvement.

The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, Gord Miller presenting to the 7th Annual General Meeting of the
Temagami Stewardship Council.

Gord Miller receiving home grown maple syrup from the Chair of the TSC Gaye Smith as a thank you for presenting to
the TSC's AGM.

In his presentation, George Morgan, Aquatic Systems Analyst, Cooperative Freshwater
Ecology Unit, Department of Biology at Laurentian University in Sudbury, provided the audience and
the members of the Temagami Stewardship Council with the most positive input they have had in
years. The walleye fishery in Lake Temagami is recovering! In 2002 the TSC sat down with the
MNR and created a walleye regulation based on the input of local expertise and the best available
science. According to the data gathered by the Freshwater Ecology Unit of Laurentian from FWIN
netting studies (funded by the TSC) conducted in 2001, 2006 and 2007, the slot is in exactly the right
location for the walleye population on Lake Temagami and the recent data shows this fish species to be
on the increase. George explained how the data had been gathered and how it was interpreted. He
pointed out that a continuing recovery would be more evident in 5 or 6 years as the present walleye
population passes through the slot size and continues to propagate. George did caution that the positive
recovery is contingent on several factors, such as, a substantial increase in fishing pressure, netting of
the protected slot size fish with a 31/2 inch mesh, or unforeseen environmental problems which could
impede any recovery.

George Morgan of Laurentian University's Freshwater Ecology Unit is presented with Temagami maple syrup as
a thank you for his presentation to the TSC's Annual General Meeting

The Chairman of the TSC took the opportunity at the end of the meeting to express the delight
that he and fellow members of the TSC felt with the revelation that the community created walleye slot
size regulation is working on Lake Temagami. How much more proof do the bureaucrats in the MNR
need that community involvement in the management of our local natural resources and environment
through community based Stewardship works? The Chair went on to express his frustration with the
lack of support from the MNR and the very real possibility that the TSC, the First Stewardship in
Northern Ontario to enter the Ontario Stewardship Program, may be forced to end operations because
of that lack of support provided by the MNR and the OSP.

Gaye Smith
Chairman Temagami Stewardship Council
705-237-8709