If you have read any of my recent comment you may have the idea that I have changed my tune
and am now a staunch supporter of the Ministry of Natural Resources. Nothing could be further from the
truth. I support the concept of a strong, viable adequately funded MNR because I believe that the natural
resources of Ontario are important and deserve the best possible care. The ecosystem, which is our natural
resources, cannot be best managed if it is fragmented. Nor can our natural resources be protected,
preserved, restored or improved if there is not sufficient funding allotted to do the job.

I blame an antiquated, incompetent administration in the North Bay, MNR for the demise of two
of the most viable Stewardship Councils in Ontario. Both the Temagami Stewardship Council and the
Lake Nipissing Stewardship Council were lake based councils because the number one most important
economic natural resource in both areas was their lakes. Both Stewardships had accomplished
phenomenal resumes of research, studies, rehabilitation projects etc designed to preserve, protect, restore
and improve their respective lakes. You can still read the list of accomplishments of the Temagami
Stewardship Council at temagamistewardship.ca and click on TSC Info to see the projects and activities
completed. Unfortunately, the MNR wanted control and stewardships created in their image of what
Stewardship should be. On Lake Nipissing directors quit and the Stewardship continues, a shadow of its
former self. On Temagami the Stewardship continued for 2 years before folding.

When you have an under-funded Ministry that cannot afford to do the job it is supposed to be
doing how do you justify not supporting volunteer organizations that are doing your job for you? Was
someone’s ego injured, were the Stewardships doing too good a job?

You cannot, however, solely blame the MNR administration. Former MNR Ministers, David
Ramsay and later Donna Cansfield had the opportunity to evaluate the accomplishments of the
Stewardships and provide direction to the MNR they were supposedly running. The Liberal government
chose to ignore the plight of the Stewardships as they had ignored the plight of other organizations and
issues across the North from; poor science in moose regulations, to loss of the spring bear hunt, to an
overly restrictive crown land use policy, to an inability of the MNR to provide proper and fair public
involvement in the management decisions involving local natural resources. It should be noted that had
the MNR been adequately funded maybe some of these issues could have had positive and productive
outcomes.

As a grandfather I would pray that there are others out there that care enough about our natural
resources to stand up and demand that future governments protect, preserve, restore and improve our
natural resources so that they still exist for our grandchildren to enjoy.

Gaye Smith
Former Chairman Temagami Stewardship Council
R.R.#3, Paisley, Ontario
519-353-7275, 705-237-8709