Far North Land Use Strategy

Description of policy

First Nations are working with Ontario on community based land use planning as part of the Far North Land Use Planning Initiative. The Far North Act, 2010 is the legislative foundation that provides for community based land use planning at the community level in the Far North, and for a Far North Land Use Strategy (Strategy) to help guide that planning.

Community based land use planning with each First Nation establishes which areas will be set aside for protection and which areas will be open for sustainable economic development . Once developed, the Strategy will provide guidance on the integration of matters that are beyond the scope of individual planning areas and will assist in the preparation of community based land use plans.

The Strategy will provide policy guidance to support planning on matters of common interest across the Far North (e.g., watersheds, all-weather roads and transmission corridors, caribou habitat and migration routes, and climate change). Guidance for land use planning on these cultural, social, environmental, and economic interests in the Strategy will assist planning teams in considering landscape-level interests while developing individual community based land use plans.

The Strategy will also include policies on categories of land use designations and protected area designations, and on the process and requirements for amending community based land use plans.

Once developed, joint First Nation-Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry planning teams will take the Strategy into account as they prepare community based land use plans.

Purpose of policy

To give notice of and invite participation in the development of the Far North Land Use Strategy under the Far North Act, 2010.

Other information

The development of the Strategy will be completed in four stages.

Stage 1: During Stage 1, “An Introduction to the Far North Land Use Strategy” was posted. This introductory paper provided background information and described the concepts, components and intent of the Strategy and how it will relate to community based land use plans. It also set out the next steps in the development of the Far North Land Use Strategy and the future opportunities for participation.

The following weblink provides further information related to Stage 1:

“An Introduction to the Far North Land Use Strategy”

English: http://apps.mnr.gov.on.ca/public/files/er/stdprod_110006.pdf
Cree:http://apps.mnr.gov.on.ca/public/files/er/stdprod_109998.pdf
OjiCree:http://apps.mnr.gov.on.ca/public/files/er/stdprod_109997.pdf
Ojibway:http://apps.mnr.gov.on.ca/public/files/er/stdprod_109999.pdf

Stage 2: During Stage 2, the Far North Land Use Strategy Discussion Paper is being posted. The discussion paper initiates a topic-by-topic discussion of the guidance for land use planning (e.g. climate change, infrastructure, tourism, etc.) that will be included in the Strategy to support the preparation and implementation of individual community based land use plans.

The following web link provides further information related to Stage 2:

Far North Land Use Strategy Discussion Paper:

English: http://www.ontario.ca/environment-and-energy/far-north-land-use-strategy-discussion-paper
Ojicree: http://www.ontario.ca/environment-and-energy/far-north-land-use-strategy-discussion-paper-ojicree
Ojibway: http://www.ontario.ca/environment-and-energy/far-north-land-use-strategy-discussion-paper-ojibway
Cree: http://www.ontario.ca/environment-and-energy/far-north-land-use-strategy-discussion-paper-cree

Stage 3: During Stage 3, the Draft Far North Land Use Strategy (Draft Strategy) is being posted. The Draft Far North Land Use Strategy is a government policy document that sets out a vision for the outcome of land use planning in the Far North. It will guide land use planning and inform decision making to work towards environmental, social and economic objectives as set out in the Far North Act. The Draft Strategy provides guidance on how to apply existing provincial policy and legislation to land use planning in the Far North. It will provide a strategic framework to assist in the preparation of community based land use plans (CBLUPs); guide the integration of matters that are beyond the geographic scope of the individual plans; provide guidance to joint planning teams while preparing, reviewing, and amending plans; and provide supporting information and guidance for developers and resource managers to consider.

The following web links provide further information related to Stage 3:

“Draft Far North Land Use Strategy”:

English: http://apps.mnr.gov.on.ca/public/files/er/draft-far-north-strategy-2015-09-29.pdf
Ojicree: The Ojicree translation is unavailable at this time, but will be posted as soon as possible.
Ojibway: http://apps.mnr.gov.on.ca/public/files/er/draft-far-north-strategy-ojibway-2015-09-29.pdf
Cree: http://apps.mnr.gov.on.ca/public/files/er/draft-far-north-strategy-cree-2015-09-29.pdf
French: http://apps.mnr.gov.on.ca/public/files/er/ebauche-strategie-grand-nord-2015-09-29.pdf

Information on future stages in the development of the Far North Land Use Strategy can be found under “Other Public Consultation Opportunities” below.

The following web links provide additional information related to this notice:

• Far North Act, 2010 - http://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/10f18
• Far North Land Use Planning Initiative - https://www.ontario.ca/rural-and-north/far-north-land-use-strategy

Other public consultation opportunities

Below is a summary of anticipated public consultation opportunities:

Stage 1 – An Introduction to the Far North Land Use Strategy (December 13, 2013 to January 27, 2014)
Stage 2 – Far North Land Use Strategy Discussion Paper (October 17, 2014 to November 28, 2014)

• Discussion paper will invite input on what guidance should be included in the Strategy
• An online collaboration tool is now available to support dialogue. It can be accessed from www.ontario.ca/farnorthstrategy

Stage 3 – Draft Far North Land Use Strategy (September 29, 2015 to December 28, 2015)

• An online collaboration tool is available to support dialogue. It can be accessed from: www.ontario.ca/farnorthstrategy

Stage 4 – Final Far North Land Use Strategy (Spring 2016)