Wolf Lake is a very heavily…

Wolf Lake is a very heavily used recreational lake, as well as a globally significant ecological area. Three
of the four sites on the two applications at Wolf Lake (019-0593 & 019-2230) are favoured campsites. All
of the sites have significant old red pine ecosystems. Exploration activity in this area will have
unacceptably high disturbance to the ecological and social values. This application should not be
approved.
Twenty-one years ago, the provincial government made a commitment to protect Wolf Lake old growth
forest. In 1999, the province committed to bring Wolf Lake into the Chiniguchi Waterway Provincial
Park as existing mining leases and claims lapsed. On March 13th 2012, the Minister of Natural Resources
announced that the Forest Reserve status would remain for Wolf Lake, and that the land would be
protected once the claims and leases lapsed. Further, the Ministers of both MNR and MNDM committed
that Flag Resources claims and leases would not be transferred to any other company. Despite not
meeting the criteria mandated for lease renewal, the leases were extended 21 years in the heart of the
old growth area and Wolf Lake itself (now due in 2031 and 2033). At the time, no reasons were
provided for the extension and the minister refused to meet with concerned citizens.
Wolf Lake Coalition supports the inclusion of Wolf Lake old growth forest within the Chiniguchi
Waterway Provincial Park. We urgently submit that the best course of action would be to move forward
on steps to accomplish this goal, and that this area is not suitable for mining exploration.