Letter to MPPs Re Northern Framework

Dear name new MPP,

We are writing to you as part of our collective efforts to raise awareness about what we believe to be some of the most critical issues facing northern Ontario today.  We also want to point out to all new MPPs the growing gap between the attention being paid to these issues by our northern political representatives and the growing concern among northerners about these issues.

To help close this divide, we have developed a list of the top environmental priorities for northern Ontario politicians to consider and respond to as you enter into your new mandate.  They are:

1) Making the most of the north’s clean energy potential: Ontario should develop an energy plan that makes energy conservation its first priority. Reducing energy use through efficiency costs taxpayers nothing and improves productivity and efficiency.  Once the power of efficiency has been tapped, we can turn to sustainable, renewable and clean energy sources, such as wind, water and biomass to more cleanly meet our energy needs.  In order to reduce this region’s contribution to climate change and air pollution, we must also have a good plan for replacing the Atikokan and Thunder Bay coal generating plants with more sustainable energy sources.  And to enhance the region’s economic competitiveness, we should forgo public subsidies for large, inefficient power users and focus instead on integrated conservation management programs that financially reward energy conservation and encourage investment in local, small-scale and renewable energy sources. Retraining workers for this emerging field would create new jobs. 

2) Say no to nuclear. Northern Ontario will in no way benefit from the construction of inefficient, costly and risky nuclear power plants.  Consumers are already paying for the costly mistake of investing in nuclear power in the past through the provincial debt retirement charge on electricity bills and through foregone opportunities to invest in innovative renewable energy projects.  We are particularly concerned about northern Ontario being used as a dumping ground for nuclear waste that will remain radioactive for up to a million years.  Similarly, uranium exploration and mining poses many risks, including major water pollution threats as well as producing significant greenhouse gas emissions.  We believe the Ontario Mining Act should be reformed to ensure that all aspects of proposed mining projects undergo a comprehensive and integrated environmental assessment.

3) Make the connection between human health and our environment. Aboriginal communities are particularly at risk for exposure to industrial pollution that originates outside of their communities – airborne toxics elements can travel hundreds and even thousands of kilometres.  Because First Nation peoples generally rely on hunting and fishing more than non-aboriginal communities for food, they are at a higher risk of being exposed to persistent toxic pollutants that accumulate in the food chain. First Nations need a commitment from the provincial government to eliminate and clean up toxic pollution affecting aboriginal communities.  In fact, passing a pollution-fighting Pollution and Cancer Prevention Act would help protect all northern communities from toxic pollution.

4) Develop world-class forestry practices. Communities throughout the north need a larger say in forest planning and a larger share of the benefits than they currently receive through the mostly closed-door forest tenure system.  We believe it is critical that our Provincial leaders investigate opportunities for greater ecological, social and economic sustainability by committing to a dialogue on community-based forestry, beginning with endorsement of the Northern Ontario Community Forest Charter.  This will also require no further commitment to increased wood supply for the forest industry until the full spectrum of forest opportunities is investigated.  Furthermore, forestry practices should continue to be improved to lessen environmental impacts and to ensure the long-term survival of species at risk, such as woodland caribou.  Woodland caribou are considered the forest equivalent of the “canary in the coal mine”: Their need for large areas of undeveloped older coniferous forest to sustain healthy populations makes the health of caribou populations a good indicator of forest health.  We must ensure that forestry practices do not further degrade caribou habitat or endanger remaining southern populations. As we consider opening the last stronghold of caribou – the northern boreal – to forestry, we must also embrace conservation-based land-use planning before development for this region in consultation with First Nations.

5) Keep Superior great. Legislation must be enacted to protect Ontario’s world-class Lake Superior coastline, waters and ecosystems from pollution and industrial development. Lake Superior has the largest expanse of surface fresh water in the world, and is a global treasure with enormous economic potential through non-destructive uses like ecotourism. The longest stretch of near-wilderness coastline in the entire Great Lakes is found along the northeast shore of Lake Superior: 300 kilometers of parks and protected areas where caribou can still be found wandering along wild, wave-washed beaches, and where pictographs on sheer cliff walls record the passing of First Nations people. We need a government that recognizes, and protects through legislation, the uniqueness of the ecology and history of this magnificent lake and its coastline.  This could be achieved, in part, by renewing and properly funding the Canada-Ontario Agreement, as well as strengthening and implementing the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.

6) Put MNR back to work on stewardship. The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) must have its funding restored in order to ensure Ontario’s species and habitats are protected.  MNR is the primary steward of Ontario’s wildlife, forests, wetlands and aquatic life.  It has suffered crippling funding cuts over the last 15 years and needs proper funding for conservation work restored to 1992/1993 levels in order to properly steward Ontario’s parks, monitor the health of northern forests, protect endangered species and carry out vital enforcement programs.

7) Teach kids a lesson they will never forget. Outdoor education should be a mandatory and fully funded part of Ontario’s school curriculum and should be delivered by professional environmental educators.  This type of education will connect students with the natural world, build their leadership skills, contribute to their physical, mental and social health and complement improved classroom-based environmental education. This will instil a strong desire to protect the environment in young Ontarians and will give our future leaders the knowledge and skills to protect Ontario’s environment and generate future ‘green’ industries in the north.

We hope that as future leaders of our province you will demonstrate your commitment to the long-term protection of northern Ontario's air, water and rich natural ecosystems by adopting the action measures for environmental conservation identified in this document, thus ensuring a healthy, strong and liveable northern Ontario for today and tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Dr. Brian McLaren, President

Thunder Bay Field Naturalists

Thunder Bay, ON            

Ilke Milne, President

Rainy River Valley Field Naturalists

Fort Frances, ON   

Julee Boan   

Ontario Nature – Boreal Conservation Office

Thunder Bay, ON

Graham Saunders, President

Environment North

Thunder Bay, ON

Mary Jo Cullen

Environmental Activist

Wawa, ON

Jim Johnston, President

Friends of Algoma East

Elliot Lake, ON

Al Hills

Past President Friends of Killarney Park

Killarney, ON

Torfinn Hansen

Environmental Activist

Wawa, ON   

Damien Lee

Executive Director

Anishinabek of the Gitchi Gami

Environment Programs

Fort William First Nation, ON

Joan Skelton

World Heritage Site Initiative

Batchawana Bay, ON

Catherine M. Bayne

BayNiche Conservancy

Montreal River Harbour, ON

Gerard MacGillivray, President

Penokean Hills Field Naturalists

Elliot Lake, ON

Lynn Palmer

Community-based Forestry Coordinator

Wildlands League

Thunder Bay, ON

Bruce Murphy

Hilliardton Marsh Bird Wetland Research and Education Center

New Liskeard, ON

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