PRESS RELEASE by Friends of Temagami

In November 2011, the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario (ECO) submitted his Annual Report to the Ontario Legislative Assembly. It is important to note that the Commissioner placed significant importance on the need for preservation and maintenance of historic canoe routes in the Temagami and Sudbury forest areas. He noted that the concerns of Ontarians regarding the need for Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) to officially recognize the historic routes and environmentally sensitive canoe routes were not being fully met.

The commissioner has strongly endorsed not only the recreational value but also the cultural and historic importance of these routes to all Ontarians. He goes on to point out in the Report that it is wrong for MNR to deny the existence of these traditional routes and portages simply because the MNR chooses to ignore them by not placing them in their data base. Therefore the Commissioner supports the position that MNR should rectify this anomaly and ensure that traditional routes and portages should be protected as part of Ontario’s cultural legacy.

It is important this issue is brought to public attention in the expectation of government action to rectify the current policies and procedures that lead to the incongruity of recognizing these assets. It is also good that the results of many years of public support are now being recognized.

Alex Broadbent

President

Friends of Temagami

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it