I am writing on behalf of…

I am writing on behalf of the Eastern Ontario Natural-History Society (EONS)/Société paléontologique d’Ottawa (SPO) in order to provide feedback on the proposed “Hobby Mineral Collecting Guide.”

EONS/SPO was established in 1991 and has as a mandate to further the understanding of paleontology and sciences in general through educational presentations, collecting trips and workshops. Our club strives to be open to people of all ages, experience levels and backgrounds. In this frame, I would like to request the following changes to the Guide:

A) Title: I would like to request that it be modified to read “Amateur (A person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science) Mineral and Fossil Collecting Guide.” Like mineral collectors, our members carry out collecting on lands where mining rights are open for mining claim registration.
The work done by our members goes beyond hobby collecting, and has a significant focus on supporting both scientific and educational work. Fossil collecting is guided by scientific interest and its aim is to preserve natural history. In this respect, club members have donated valuable specimens to museums. In addition, amateur fossils collectors continue to make significant contributions to science every year in Canada and worldwide. As such, we feel the term ‘amateur’ or ‘citizen’ is more accurate to the broad scope of activities (which are not just limited to personal hobbies).
Alternatively, a separate “Amateur Fossil Collecting Guide” could be created.

B) Background: I would like to suggest that it be modified to read “The ministry recognizes that amateur (instead of hobby) fossil and mineral collecting are legal activities for their recreational, scientific and educational benefits; however all fossils and minerals on, in or under any lands within the province of Ontario are originally owned by the Crown.” Fossil and mineral collecting are legal activities, and we accept and understand that they can be regulated by government policies.

C) About hobby mineral collecting: the fifth bullet indicates “… the amount a person can excavate with hand tools only and carry unassisted from a specific site or location.”
I would like to request that this be modified to read as follow: “the minerals collected do not exceed the amount a person can excavate with hand tools and/or a handheld rock saw and can carry unassisted from a specific site of location.”
The reason for this is that very often significant fossils are encased in boulders weighing several hundred kilograms, which cannot be moved by an individual – the use of a handheld rock saw can allow removing a much smaller amount of rock and increase the likelihood the specimen is retrieved intact. If the specimen is left, it will rapidly deteriorate and ultimately be lost by erosion and exposure to the elements.

D) Where hobby mineral collecting cannot be done: The current text reads “In general, hobby mineral collecting cannot be done on lands where the mining rights are not open for claim registration.”
I would like to request that the text be replaced by the following one: “In normal circumstances lands withdrawn from prospecting, staking, sale and
lease are not considered lands open to the amateur fossil and/or mineral collector. However, in the case of mining rights withdrawn under section 35.1, and consistent with the intent and nature of the withdrawals and the purpose of this Policy, the Ministry will allow amateur fossil and/or mineral collectors who are carrying out their activities as described in this Policy on lands withdrawn pursuant to section 35.1.”

E) Identification system: the amateur fossil and mineral collecting groups in Ontario and elsewhere in the country have identification systems in place which could assist authorities in identifying members, and thus facilitate any work related to the policy’s application. This could be added in the Section “About hobby mineral collecting” (which I would like to suggest that it be renamed as “About amateur fossil and mineral collecting”) on pages three and four, and it could read as follow: “the amateur fossil and/or mineral collector should provide their fossil or mineralogy identification card upon request from the authorities.”

The above-mentioned considerations are submitted on behalf of EONS/SPO’s members.

Thank you in advance for your attention.

Sincerely,

President
Eastern Ontario Natural-History Society (EONS)/Société paléontologique d’Ottawa (SPO)