Subject: ERO # 019-4597…

Subject: ERO # 019-4597 Amendment to Ontario Regulation 315/07 under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006 to create a conservation reserve along the south shore of Prince Edward County

The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) is Ontario’s largest, non-profit, fish and wildlife
conservation-based organization, representing 100,000 members, subscribers and supporters, and 725
member clubs. We have reviewed the amendment to Ontario Regulation 315/07 under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006 to create a conservation reserve along the south shore of Prince Edward County and conditionally support it.

The OFAH understands the desire to protect Point Petre and Ostrander Point from development and supports the creation of a conservation reserve to do so, as long as the current recreational activities are maintained. This provides a balance between protection from disposition or development and sustainable use that benefits the multitude of user groups who value those two areas. Point Petre and Ostrander Point are the only Crown land areas in Prince Edward County and currently permit hunting, fishing, and camping. It is important for these uses to be permitted to continue as the lands are designated as a conservation reserve. Conservation reserves permit hunting, fishing, and camping as a default and we want to ensure that no attempt is made to limit or restrict these activities. Hunting and fishing provide important ecological, societal, and economic benefits to the area that should not be restricted. The proposal mentions that “although most current permitted recreational uses would be able to continue, changes could be made in the future if uses threaten the values of the conservation reserve”. The impetus for the transition from Crown land to conservation reserve was to protect the area from potential development and to ensure that the area stays as natural environment, it was not to restrict sustainable use activities. The OFAH believes that there are almost no reasons why hunting or fishing should be restricted within this area, and any that exist would be addressed through the hunting and fishing regulations, not through the conservation reserve management plan. This should remain top of mind as the Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks (MECP) creates the management plan for the area. It is important that through the management planning process, heritage activities like hunting and fishing are explicitly supported and promoted within the conservation reserve.

The OFAH would like the opportunity to work with the MECP in the creation of the management plan for the proposed conservation reserve to ensure there is no wording that could be used to unnecessarily restrict hunting and fishing. Point Petre and Ostrander Point are multi-use areas, and they should remain as such. Thank you for considering our comments.