Thank you so much for…

Thank you so much for working to expand the amount of protected natural areas in Ontario. All of the suggested sites in the proposal are wonderful news. I am attaching a report produced by Henry & Quinby that proposes the expansion of Rushbrook Provincial Park to include, per the report (p.7):

"• the ancient forest area identified and confirmed by Quinby and Suski (1995),
• the recommendations made by the OLL Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Round Table,
• a 200-meter buffer around Shakwa Lake,
• adjustments to boundaries to capture old-growth forest and high recreation value forest adjacent to Shakwa and Charcoal Lakes, and
• exclusion of some areas known to be degraded by extensive modern logging.

The proposed expansion would increase the size of Rushbrook Provincial Park to approximately 5,875
ha, which is a 172% increase. This dramatically increases the ecological integrity, old-growth forest
conservation, and recreational value of the Park as described below."

Old-growth forests in Ontario are special places, part of our shared heritage, always highlights of a canoeing or hiking trip (and Ontario is truly one of the best destinations in the world for paddlers), and they are vanishing little piece by little piece. The Province has the power to stop that and expanding Rushbrook Provincial Park would be a beautiful step in that direction.

Thank you.