Environmental Commissioner berates MNR over Algonquin Park logging

Posted on October 5, 2006

Conservation groups applaud the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario for bringing attention to logging in Algonquin Park. In his report, the Commissioner berated the Ministry of Natural Resources for refusing to include the Algonquin Forest Authority Act under the Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR).

"It's absurd that Ontario's flagship Algonquin Park doesn't fall under legal environmental scrutiny. What is the MNR afraid of?" said Evan Ferrari, Director of Parks and Protected Areas for CPAWS Wildlands League.

Following up on an Application for Review of this situation by CPAWS Wildlands League and Sierra Legal, the ommissioner went on to say that he "believes that the [Act] should be prescribed for the full rights under the EBR."

"Algonquin Park represents some of the best and most beautiful natural heritage in Ontario. But the zones where logging is banned aren't much more than a few "islands" within the Park ..."

"Algonquin Park is promoted throughout the world as a major tourist attraction because it is perceived as a pristine wilderness area," continued Ferrari. "Like a Hollywood set, the park's lakes and forests hide the industrial zone over the next hill," he continued.

A year ago, CPAWS Wildlands League and Sierra Legal uncovered more than 8,000 kilometres of logging roads, roughly 4 kilometres for every kilometre of canoe route, hidden from public view in Algonquin Provincial Park.

"The law applies different rules for Ontario Parks - one that allows logging in Algonquin and another that prohibits it from all other parks," said Dr. Anastasia Lintner, lawyer for Sierra Legal. "How can the public hold the province accountable when the legislation is so confusing and contradictory?" she continued.

The report went on to say that "The ECO urges MNR to proceed with a comprehensive public review of its policy to allow logging in the Park and to consider how the proposed park management goal of ecological integrity would be achieved if this policy is allowed to continue."

The groups assert that along with logging, access roads within the park are creating major problems for wildlife. The roads not only drive away species that previously existed in abundance but also bring in new species that out-compete native plants and animals for the same habitat.

"The Minister needs to begin a comprehensive public review of logging in Algonquin Park immediately," concluded Lintner.

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For more information:
Evan Ferrari, CPAWS Wildlands League, 416-971-9453 x43 or 416- 986-4147, www.wildlandsleague.org
Dr. Anastasia M. Lintner, Sierra Legal Defence Fund, 416-368-7533 x30, www.sierralegal.org

Environmental Commissioner's Report: http://www.eco.on.ca/english/whatsnew/index.htm