The Temagami Stewardship Council (TSC) continuously endeavoured to educate the public on
issues concerning the natural resource and environmental from the fishery to water quality and septic
systems. It was frustrating how few people were interested enough to get informed or involved. It is
however, time for the citizens of Northern Ontario to become informed as to what is happening to our
right to access on public crown lands.

At the present time there is an MNR policy to provide a privileged few in Northern Ontario with
access to large tracts of crown land and restrict access to the public. The people who live in Northern
Ontario do so because they love the lifestyle. A lifestyle that includes hunting, fishing, snowmobiling,
berry picking and all those activities that make living in Northern Ontario special. Consider the village of
Dubreuilville in Northwestern Ontario where 85% of the crown land surrounding the village is now
restricted to public access. Forests and lakes where citizens have grown up fishing, hunting and berry
picking are now closed to the public by gates and signage.

The MNR is using the questionable validation of Local Citizens Committees (LCCs) to justify this
policy while at the same time paying no regard to the public input provided to and by the LCCs. The
Ontario Recreational Alliance (OntORA), sponsored by the Ontario Steelworkers will be manning a booth
at the Toronto Sportsman Show March 18-22 in an effort to inform the public. If you can’t make the show
check the web page at www.crownland.org or the TSC page at www.temagamistewardship.ca . Please be
informed.

Gaye Smith
R.R.#3, Paisley, Ont.
Former Chairman Temagami Stewardship Council
519-353-7275