I heard on CBC radio this…

I heard on CBC radio this morning that a group in Sudbury will be holding a fundraiser to support opposition to Flag Resources (1985) Limited’s application for a permit to do mechanized drilling on its property in Mackelcan Township.

I am submitting this comment to indicate my full support of Flag Resource’s application to drill.

In the Ontario’s Living Legacy Strategy to create new protected areas, MNR designated certain active mining lands as Forest Reserves. Under the strategy, holders of pre-existing mining lands were guaranteed that their rights under the Mining Act were secure and they could continue business as usual provided they met their obligations under the Act.

The subject area of Flag’s application for a permit is one such area.

ENGOs have been actively pushing to have the mining lands in this area regulated as provincial park because of the presence of old growth red pine forest. In previous campaigns, the ENGOs have linked the area to the iconic Temagami area (see www.savewolflake.org and https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2011/12/12/ontario_breaks_temagami_ple…). In fact, it is not in the Temagami watershed, nor is it in the MNRF Temagami Region. This misinformation may deceive members of ENGO communities and encourage unfounded objections to the guaranteed rights of the mining land tenure holder.

The argument used most often in support of designating the area as a park seems to be to that regulating the area will protect it from degradation due to mineral exploration, and from over-use by canoeists and campers.

In fact, the area with the old growth forest has undergone mineral exploration for more than a century, but the forest values remain.

On the other hand, the Chiniguchi Waterway Park – which this area would be a part of – is a non-operating park. Non-operating parks have no activities, facilities, or oversight. This means that there would also be no control on the ongoing overuse by the recreation community, even if the guaranteed rights of those holding the mining lands are abolished and area is regulated as protected area.

For the foregoing reasons, I would reiterate my support of Flag Resources (1985) Limited’s application for a permit. I trust that a permit will be issued without any delay and that, when issued, it will not have any unreasonable terms or conditions attached.