The Temagami Stewardship Council is pleased to submit this response to the Management Options Document; Temagami integrated Plan (TIP). The Board of Directors of the TSC includes a cross section of the user groups of the natural resources and the environment of the Temagami area with a number of Directors who have contributed to a TIP response on behalf of their member organization. Because of the differences in the vested interests of the various user groups it was agreed at the onset that we would not strive for a unanimous consent on each question but rather record a vote on the options.

At the end of the process it was observed that there was a definite split between the representatives of Lake Temagami specifically and the local representatives of more northern parts of the area. The Temagami representatives were supportive of more restrictive management options and a management plan involving a partnership of the MNR, the Municipality, the Native Community and local stakeholders. The option would not only manage the resource but also create local employment and economic benefit. The Temagami representatives have seen the overuse and degradation of the resource and have had resource users ask to be charged so that the fees might be used to clean up the resource. The more northerly representation are not in favour of any restrictions to the historical recreational use of land.

The discussion on the TIP began with the Directors of the TSC expressing unanimous support for the concept that any new management plan (TIP) for the Temagami area must include full consideration of the implications of the Municipality of Temagami’s Official Plan as outlined in the Temagami Land use Plan (TLUP).

2.0 Crown Land Recreational Plan

2.1 Maintenance of the unregulated Crown land Recreational Plan
Option 1 (2)
Option 2 Strategy 1 (5)

2.2 Private and commercial caching of boats on unregulated Crown land
Option 1 (4)
Option 2 (3)
It was the consensus of the TSC that an option using the status quo with the stipulation that all boats be properly registered would provide adequate management.

2.3 ATV Conflicts on Existing Portage Trails on Crown Land
Option 1 (4)
Option 3 (1)
It was again a consensus that ATV use is regulated under the TLUP and that regulation is adequate.

2.4 A Visitor Management System for Unregulated Crown Land and Conservation Reserves
Option 1 (2)
Option 2 (5)
The consensus was that the municipality and local stakeholders develop a plan to collect fees that would be used to pay for the cost of the maintenance.

2.5 Use of Lake Temagami Campsites by Houseboats
Option 1 (5)
(2) abstain
It was the consensus of the TSC that regulation of house boats would come under the management of Municipal bylaws

3.0 All Conservation Reserves Within TIP

3.1 Maintenance of Recreational Facilities in Conservation Reserves
Option 1 (2)
Option 2 strategy 1 (5)

3.2 ATV Conflicts on Existing Portage Trails in Conservation Reserves
The use of ATVs is already regulated in the TLUP and any future regulation should follow that regulation. Possibly there should have been an option 4 with that content.

3.3 Unregulated Crown Land and Conservation Reserves Visitor Management System
Option 1 (2)
Option 2 (5)

3.4 Adventure Racing and Extreme Sports
Option 1 (6)
Option 2 (1)
The TSC Directors felt that this would be better served under the TLUP and Municipal jurisdiction

3.5 Protection of Sensitive Features such as the parabolic Dune Complex or Esker Complex in East
Lady Evelyn Lake CR.
The TSC Directors felt that there was no real option here to deal with what was really causing the degradation of the resource.

4.0 East Lady Evelyn Lake, Sugar Lake, Bob Lake, Smith Lake CRs

4.2.1 Private and commercial caching of boats
Option 1 (7)
Again the TSC felt that a system where all boats have proper registration would be sufficient

5.0 Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Wilderness Park and Four Waterway Parks: Makobe-Grays River, Obobila River, Solace and Sturgeon River.

5.1 Aircraft Landing in Provincial Parks
The TSC consensus was that the MNR has had since 1983 to act on this (landing aircraft issue) and has done nothing. If there are to be access zones for airplanes there should be access zones for all motorized vehicles.

5.2 Future Use of the Liskeard Lumber Road in Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park
Option 1 (5)
The TSC consensus was that keeping the winter access for the snowmobile trail through the park was important

5.3 Motorboat Use in Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park
The TSC consensus was that there should have been a status quo option

5.4 Boat Caches Within the Wilderness and Waterway Parks
The TSC Consensus was that caches of boats should be allowed provided the boats are properly registered

5.5 Wilderness Snowmobile Trail (former TOPS A206) Through Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater
Option 1 (7)

5.6 General All-terrain vehicle (ATV) Use
Option 1 (7)

5.7 Commercial Land Use Permits Within the Provincial Parks
Option 1 (7)
The consensus of the TSC Directors was that all (private and commercial) LUPs should be treated the same and be phased out over the same period of time.

5.8 Other Topics

5.8.1 Forest Fire management in Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Wilderness Park

5.8.2 Angling and Fisheries Management in the Wilderness and Waterway Parks
The consensus of the TSC Directors was that the management of both of the above topics is essential to the overall well being of the entire area. Management should be the responsibility of the MNR and partners.
In conclusion it was the feeling of the TSC Directors that:
a) Some of the options were designed in such a way as to achieve a desired response. Local representation on the committee creating the document would have been beneficial in recognizing and correcting this problem before the document went to the public.
b) Many of the options seem to be worded in such a manner as to justify a downloading of MNR responsibility in looking after the natural resources and environment of the area. The TSC representatives see this as simply continuing a trend in reduced service and involvement of the MNR in the natural resources and environment of Northern Ontario.

Gaye Smith
Chairman Temagami Stewardship Council
705-237-8709, 519-353-7275