Amendment to Ontario Regulation 316/07 under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006 to create a recreational class provincial park in the Township of Uxbridge

Public and Indigenous consultation opportunities were provided for 45 days, from October 19, 2023, to December 3, 2023. Consultation included:

• a regulation proposal notice, No. 019-7733, was posted on the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO),
• early awareness notification letter sent to appropriate Indigenous communities
• direct mailing (mail and email) to adjacent landowners, provincial and local stakeholder groups and other identified organizations and individuals on the project mailing list
• social media posts on Environment Ontario and Ontario Parks social media channels and shared by Uxbridge Partners Network organization’s social media channels,
• an open house was held to share information about the proposal and to discuss the interests and concerns of attendees
• the ERO proposal notice was updated to include the open house information displays, as requested by members of the public
• the Township of Uxbridge
  • provided notice in the Uxbridge Cosmos (newspaper) on multiple dates regarding the upcoming open house and provided a link to the online consultation website.
  • posted the public notice at the Uxbridge Town Hall and sent the notice to the public library and public pool for posting
• a Youth Summit was held for grade 11 and 12 students from Uxbridge Secondary School Outdoor Education program

As a result of these consultation efforts, the Ministry received a total of 120 responses, including duplicates. Comments received were through the ERO, by email (16) and phone (3), at the open house (66) and from presentations given (2). Comments included:

• 4 from Indigenous communities,
• 102 from the public, and
• 12 from organizations

Overall, the proposal was received favourably by Indigenous communities, stakeholders and the public.

Of the responses received, 43% commented on the regulation amendment proposal specifically; a large majority of the comments (90%) were supportive of establishing the park.

Most of the responses (57%) received on the regulation amendment proposal were primarily related to management planning (e.g., what uses may or may not take place within the future park). A very small number of comments received did not seem to express an opinion. None of these comments were considered when making the decision on establishing the provincial park since the comments were out of scope. Management planning related comments will be considered during the upcoming management planning for this park.

Concerns/interests raised include:

• impact on ecological integrity (i.e., support for protection)
• impacts to the local community (e.g., traffic, impact on services)
• ​impacts to adjacent landowners
• communication regarding the project
  • requests made for continued engagement and collaboration with local residents, stakeholders and interest groups.
• ensuring meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities during the planning for the park

Although not related to the regulation amendment proposal, the following management planning interests were expressed:

• ensuring Indigenous history and perspectives are respected and integrated into the development, management plan and educational programing for the park
• ensure that development of the park and its operation keeps ecological integrity, hydrology and connectivity a top priority,
• consider accessibility and support ecologically sustainable multi-use recreation

Comments regarding permitted uses will be considered during management planning.

There was a very clear message communicated during the consultation process that local individuals (including adjacent landowners) would like to be kept well up to date regarding the project.

If you would like to be involved in the management planning process for Uxbridge Urban Provincial Park, or have any other questions, please contact Kendra Couling, A/Senior Park Planner at planning.sez@ontario.ca.

Ministry’s response to topics raised

Overall, most of the comments received regarding the regulation amendment were interested in the protection of Uxbridge Urban Provincial Park and were supportive of the proposal. Below is the ministry’s response to other concerns and interests that were raised:

Impacts to the local community and adjacent landowners

Ontario Parks is committed to being part of the communities where our provincial parks are located as well as being a good neighbour to adjacent private landowners. There are many examples across the province where Ontario Parks works very closely with community groups and individuals for the common good of the area. Ontario Parks would be pleased to consider ideas for the park, to work together with the communities and address any potential concerns raised regarding the park and park operations.

Indigenous communities

Ontario respects Aboriginal and treaty rights recognized and affirmed by Section 35 of Canada’s Constitution Act, 1982, and is committed to meeting its constitutional obligations in respect of Indigenous peoples.

Ontario Parks is eager to work with interested Indigenous communities to learn of their relationship with the lands within and surrounding Uxbridge Urban Provincial Park, including any historic or current use of, or future interest in, the park for the exercise of Aboriginal or treaty rights.

Through collaborative discussions, our hope is to share information and better integrate Indigenous knowledge, rights, values, and interests into the development and planning for this park.

Next involvement opportunity: management planning

Management planning is the next step for Uxbridge Urban Provincial Park. Management planning is a complex and multi-stage process where the known values (e.g., provincially rare sand barren) in the park are considered alongside the pressures on those values (e.g., unauthorized trail creation).

We are pleased to let interested parties know that the ministry has begun management planning for Uxbridge Urban Provincial Park. At this time, background information documents can be viewed here on the ERO. Please follow the link to review the Background Information Document and to provide any comments.