January 6, 2025 Ms. Kendra…

January 6, 2025

Ms. Kendra Couling
A/Senior Park Planner
Ontario Parks – Southeast Parks Zone
Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks
300 Water Street, 4th Floor
Peterborough ON K9J 3C7

Dear Ms. Couling:
Subject: Environmental Registry of Ontario Policy Proposal 019-9209
Uxbridge Provincial Park Preliminary Park Management Plan

On behalf of the Ontario Conservation Accelerator (OCA), please be in receipt of the following comments regarding the Uxbridge Provincial Park preliminary management plan.

The OCA is a new conservation organization in Ontario committed to accelerating conservation through innovative and collaborative approaches that deliver results. Our focus is on:
• convening private and public partnerships
• supporting partners (e.g. forestry, conservation, Indigenous, government) and
• leading direct land conservation efforts in areas without active land trusts.

For these reasons, the OCA is a keen supporter of the Ontario’s efforts to establish the Uxbridge Provincial Park, forging partnerships between the Province, municipalities, conservation authorities, non government conservation organizations and private landowners. We believe that success lies in working in partnership with others.

The OCA has reviewed the preliminary park management plan and we are very impressed with the document’s commitment to:
• conserving and protecting these lands for passive non motorized recreation and nature appreciation
• working with community partners to advance the management objectives of this new provincial park
• exploring and acting upon potential opportunities to grow the Park through acquisitions and land donations and
• committing to work to advance ecological linkages within the Oak Rides Moraine and with the Rouge National Urban Park.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment. Should Ontario Parks have any questions on this submission or wish to learn more about the OCA, please do not hesitate to contact myself.

Your truly,

Kristyn Ferguson
Managing Director, Ontario Conservation Accelerator
kristyn.ferguson@theoca.ca
519-400-1159