This notice is for informational purposes only. There is no requirement to consult on this initiative on the Environmental Registry of Ontario. Learn more about the types of notices on the registry.
Why consultation isn't required
The Environmental Bill of Rights 1993 does not require this notice to be placed on the Environmental Registry of Ontario. We are voluntarily posting this notice for information purposes to advise interested parties of the formal public consultation opportunities for this proposal in accordance with the requirements of the Forest Management Planning Manual. To participate in that consultation process, the public is invited to submit comments to the contact person identified in this notice.
Bulletin details
We, along with Greenmantle Forest Inc. and the Local Citizens’ Committee (LCC) invite you to review and comment on the 2020-2030 Draft Forest Management Plan (FMP) for the Lakehead Forest.
The planning process
The Lakehead Forest Management Plan (FMP) takes approximately three years to complete. During this time, five formal opportunities for public consultation and First Nation and Métis community involvement and consultation are provided:
- Stage One – Invitation to Participate: October 26, 2017
- Stage Two – Review of Long-Term Management Direction: March 27, 2019
- Stage Three – Information Centre: Review of Proposed Operations: June 6, 2019
This ‘Stage Four’ notice is to:
- invite you to review and comment on the draft Forest Management Plan, and
- request contributions to the background information to be used in planning.
Comments from the public will be considered in revisions to the draft Forest Management Plan.
How to get involved
The draft Forest Management Plan and summary will be available on our website and at and at the Greenmantle Forest Inc. office at the location noted below, by appointment during normal office hours for a period of 60 days October 16, 2019 to December 15, 2019. Comments on the draft plan for the Lakehead Forest must be received by Vishnu Kowlessar of the planning team at the Ministry Office noted below by December 15, 2019.
To assist you in the review and to provide the opportunity to ask questions, an information centre will be held at the following location from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on the following day:
Wednesday October 16, 2019 – Thunder Bay – Victoria Inn Hotel & Convention Centre, Regency A Boardroom, 555 Arthur Street West
In addition to the most current versions of the information and maps which were previously available, the following information will also be available:
- draft Forest Management Plan, including supplementary documentation
- draft plan summary (copies may be obtained at the information centres)
- the Ministry’s preliminary list of required alterations
During the planning process there is an opportunity to make a written request to seek resolution of issues with the MNRF District Manager or the Regional Director using a process described in the 2017 Forest Management Planning Manual (Part A, Section 2.4.1).
The last possible date to seek issue resolution with the Regional Director is January 14, 2020
About the forest
The Lakehead Forest is located in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s Northwest Region and spans two administrative districts – Thunder Bay and Nipigon. The Forest is administered from the Ministry’s Thunder Bay District office, in the City of Thunder Bay. There have been no significant changes to the boundaries of the Forest since the preparation of the 2002-2022 Forest Management Plan.
The Lakehead Forest occupies approximately 7,668 square kilometres. The area of water within the Forest is 509 square kilometres. Of the land area, 60% is Crown land. It is bordered by other forest management units to the north and east (Dog River-Matawin, Black Spruce, and the Lake Nipigon Forests). The southern boundary follows the shoreline of Lake Superior and the International border with the United States. The western edge abuts Quetico Provincial Park.
The management of Ontario’s Crown forests is the responsibility of the provincial government, and this responsibility is shared with forest products companies or groups of companies and communities. The Lakehead Forest was licensed to Greenmantle Forest Inc., in June 1998, under Sustainable Forest Licence No. 542460. Greenmantle Forest Inc administers its forest management planning activities and operations from its office located in Rosslyn, Ontario.
The Forest Management Plan is in effect for the 10-year period of April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2030.
Stay involved
A final opportunity to inspect the approved plan before it is implemented will take place during the inspection of the Ministry approved FMP(Stage Five), which is tentatively scheduled for February 7, 2020.
The approval date of the FMP is tentatively scheduled for February 1, 2020
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is collecting your personal information and comments under the authority of the Crown Forest Sustainability Act. Any personal information you provide (address, name, telephone, etc.) will be protected in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act; however, your comments will become part of the public consultation process and may be shared with the general public. Your personal information may be used by the Ministry to send you further information related to this forest management planning exercise. If you have questions about the use of your personal information, please contact Alyson Dupuis at the MNRF Thunder Bay District Office at 807-475-1512.
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
435 James St. South, Suite B001
Thunder Bay,
ON
P7E 6S7
Canada
179, 25th Side Road
Rosslyn,
ON
P7K 0B9
Canada
Connect with us
Contact
Neil Graham
435 South James Street, Suite 221a
Thunder Bay,
ON
P7E 6S7
Canada