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.

This application proposes mechanized stripping, pitting and trenching, and line cutting within the heart
of the old growth, adding to impacts from past applications within Wolf Lake and in adjacent areas. The
proposed activities would cause heavy and unacceptable damage including new access and trails causing erosion and habitat fragmentation, damage to creek beds and shorelines, damage to and removal of trees (including old growth), removal of vegetation and soil, use of heavy equipment, excavation, and disturbance of campsites and canoe routes.

Wolf Lake is the largest known old growth red pine forest in North America, the missing link in the
Chiniguchi Waterway Provincial Park, and, as intended for Forest Reserves, will be brought into the
parks system as existing mining leases and claims lapse. Cumulative impacts of mining exploration
within the Forest Reserve and on adjacent lands should not be permitted to degrade the health of this
unique ecosystem, or its recreational and social value as a park and canoe route.