Amendment to Ontario Regulation 316/07 under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006 to expand the boundary of Bigwind Lake Provincial Park

Ontario is providing more opportunities to get outside and enjoy more time in nature, including improved access to greenspaces throughout the province. To achieve this, we proposed the creation of the first new full-service operating provincial park in over 40 years at Bigwind Lake Provincial Park.

Following an incredible response in the initial stage of consultation, we've actively listened to your feedback and are proposing to expand the boundary of Bigwind Lake Provincial Park by adding approximately 314 hectares of land (see map in the supporting materials section), including:

• 274 hectares of land northwest of the park, which includes Wrist Lake, and extensive conifer (i.e. evergreen) forests and wetlands
• 6 hectares of land to include shoreline on the east side of Gullfeather Lake
• 34 hectares of land southeast of the park to include portions of Old Wagon Road, Clear Creek and a rare stand of red spruce trees

The proposed provincial park addition includes approximately 247 hectares of Crown lands managed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) under the Public Lands Act and approximately 67 hectares of land that was previously purchased for addition to Bigwind Lake Provincial Park.

This proposed park boundary expansion would provide long-term protection and enhanced opportunities for recreational activities, such as hiking and backcountry camping.

Ontario’s provincial parks are established and regulated under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006 (PPCRA). These spaces:

• protect significant natural and cultural features
• allow visitors to learn about ecologically important and sensitive areas
• allow visitors to participate in environmentally responsible recreation
• provide areas for research

The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks is proposing to change a regulation under the PPCRA to expand the boundary of Bigwind Lake Provincial Park, which is a natural environment class park. Natural environment class parks:

• protect outstanding recreational landscapes and representative ecosystems
• protect provincially significant elements of Ontario’s natural and cultural heritage
• provide high quality recreational and educational experiences

We are seeking feedback on the proposed expansion of this provincial park.

About Bigwind Lake Provincial Park

Bigwind Lake Provincial Park is a 1,967-hectare natural environment class park located approximately 20 kilometres east of Bracebridge. The park protects upland forests of sugar maple, hemlock and yellow birch, and low-lying swamps, marshes and meadows.

The park is currently non-operating, which means it offers low-intensity, self-guided recreational opportunities, such as nature appreciation and paddling, but does not have staffing or maintained facilities.

Required changes to the Crown land use policy under the Public Lands Act

As a part of this project, changes to the Crown land use policy under the Public Lands Act are needed before the lands can be proposed for regulation under the PPCRA:

• The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) is responsible for a decision on the proposed Crown land use amendment.
• The proposed land use amendment, including a map and policy report, can be viewed on MNRF’s Crown Land Use Policy Atlas under Amendment #2023-003.

Proposed regulation change to expand Bigwind Lake Provincial Park

In order to expand this provincial park, we are proposing to amend Ontario Regulation 316/07: Designation and Classification of Provincial Parks under the PPCRA. This amendment would update ‘Column 2: Land Set Aside’ in the Bigwind Lake Provincial Park row in ‘Table 1: Provincial Parks of Ontario’ to:

• increase the provincial park’s size
• update the description of where the park is located to include the new area

The area meets the requirements to be considered for addition to Ontario’s protected area system and we want to regulate the approximately 314 hectares of land as an addition to Bigwind Lake Provincial Park.

Most current permitted recreational uses would be able to continue if the area is added to the park. Industrial and some commercial uses would be restricted.

We are developing a new management plan for Bigwind Lake Provincial Park which would apply to these areas if they are added to the park. The Bigwind Lake Provincial Park Preliminary Management Plan is available for review and comment. See ERO number 019-7814 for more information.

Proposed regulation change to continue to allow hunting

Under the PPCRA, hunting is not permitted in a provincial park unless it is allowed by regulation made under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 (FWCA).

Hunting is currently permitted in the areas proposed for addition to Bigwind Lake Provincial Park, in accordance with the FWCA and following rules associated with the Wildlife Management Unit. As part of the proposal to expand Bigwind Lake Provincial Park, it is proposed that the sustainable hunting of game mammals, game birds and migratory game birds (but not furbearing mammals) continue to be permitted in the 274 hectares of land northwest of the park, which includes Wrist Lake, from the first day of the open season for that mammal or bird or September 15, whichever occurs later, to the last day of the open season.

It is also proposed that hunting would not be permitted to continue in the 6 hectares of land on the east side of Gullfeather Lake or the 34 hectares of land southeast of the park, which includes portions of Old Wagon Road, and hunting would continue to be prohibited within the existing boundary of Bigwind Lake Provincial Park.

Should the proposal to expand the provincial park proceed, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry intends to propose an amendment to Ontario Regulation 663/98: Area Descriptions under the FWCA, concurrent with regulation changes to Ontario Regulation 316/07: Designation and Classification of Provincial Parks under the PPCRA to expand the park. No additional opportunity for comments will be provided.

Regulatory Impact Analysis

There are no direct compliance benefits or costs to regulated stakeholders.

Given that there are no other ways to expand a provincial park boundary, amending PPCRA O. Reg. 316/07 is the only option. Given that there are no other ways to permit hunting in a provincial park, amending FWCA O. Reg. 663/98 is the only option.

Other opportunities for consultation

The ministry will be mailing Indigenous communities, provincial and regional stakeholders, and the local community directly to advise them of the boundary expansion proposal.

If you are interested in having your contact information added to the direct notification list for this project, please contact us at bigwindlakeprovincialpark@ontario.ca.

We have also posted the Bigwind Lake Provincial Park Preliminary Management Plan for review and comment. See ERO number 019-7814 for more information.