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The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is the steward of Ontario's provincial parks, forests, fisheries, wildlife, mineral aggregates, petroleum resources and the Crown lands and waters that make up 87 per cent of the province.
The ministry envisions a healthy environment that is naturally diverse and supports sustainable development. The ministry's mission is to manage the province's natural resources in an ecologically sustainable way. The ministry is committed to conserving biodiversity and using natural resources in a sustainable manner.
MNR’s key areas of responsibility are:
In 2003-2004, MNR continued to ensure Ontario's interests were protected in Canada's softwood lumber dispute with the United States and worked toward permanent and unrestricted access to the U.S. market for Ontario's softwood lumber industry. The ministry also helped the forest industry identify market needs and opportunities for the province's value-added forest products sector.
The Timber Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Review was approved in July 2003 to meet the requirements of the Class EA Approval. The review had been submitted to the Minister of the Environment for a decision on the extension and amendment of the EA approval.
Through the Forest Futures Trust, the ministry committed up to $1 million to plant new trees in areas affected by the emerald ash borer and Asian long-horned beetle. The ministry worked closely with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and others on control programs for both insects.
One hundred and eleven new parks and protected areas were regulated in 2003-2004. Park visitation for 2003 was 10,179,153 visits, a decrease of around three per cent from 2002.
Construction of the Lake Superior Provincial Park Visitor Centre was completed while work on the visitor centre in Killbear Provincial Park continued. A new access road and parking lot were constructed at French River Provincial Park in preparation for a new visitor centre.
The Kawartha Highlands Signature Site, an area encompassing 36,000 hectares, was established as a provincial park.
The ministry acquired nine properties and funded small capital projects on the Niagara Escarpment, Lynde Marsh and Rouge Park under the Ecological Land Acquisition Program. With an investment of $2.5 million, a total of 339.5 hectares was acquired and 22 small projects carried out, including trail improvements and signage.
The ministry established a toll-free information line as part of a new Bear Wise strategy to help manage nuisance black bears and make communities safer. The strategy, which focuses on reporting, response, prevention and education, involves police, communities and the public as partners to reduce nuisance bear activity.
Three species were protected under Ontario's Endangered Species Act, bringing the total number of species protected to 39. A draft Species at Risk Strategy for Ontario was prepared and more than 50 recovery and planning projects are under way.
The ministry proposed a permanent ban on hunting and trapping wolves and coyotes in Algonquin Provincial Park and surrounding townships. The proposal would also ban chasing wolves or coyotes with dogs in the park and surrounding townships.
To protect the Great Lakes from invasive species, the ministry put forward a proposal to prohibit the buying and selling of live bighead, black, silver and grass carp, as well as 28 species of snakehead and two species of goby.
In 2003-2004, the ministry stocked a total of 10.3 million fish from MNR hatcheries. This is in addition to the 1.5 million fish (excluding walleye fry) reported to have been stocked in public waters by ministry partners.
Approximately 500,000 fox rabies vaccine baits were dropped from low-flying aircraft in southwestern Ontario. About 600,000 raccoon rabies vaccine baits were dropped in rural eastern Ontario.
Over $4 million was allocated to about 200 projects to enhance and protect fish and wildlife and their habitats. Projects included fish stocking, enforcement, management and protection/ restoration initiatives.
MNR and the Anishinabek Nation signed an agreement to continue the Anishinabek Ontario Resource Management Council for another three years. The council provides recommendations to the Minister and Grand Council Chief on how to manage natural resources affecting Anishinabek First Nations in Ontario.
The ministry invested more than $6.2 million under the GeoSmart initiative in 32 land-related information technology projects to help Ontario municipalities improve community services and support local economic development. GeoSmart helps Ontario communities develop partnerships to acquire the tools, training and expertise to implement Geographic Information Systems.
MNR provided 2,285 resource management jobs through six youth employment programs in 2003-2004..
| Ministry Expenditures ($ millions) | |
| 2003-2004 Actual | |
| Operating | 518 |
| Capital | 111 |
| Staff Strength (as of Mar. 31, 2004) |
3,567.4 |
NOTE: Starting in 2002-2003, major tangible capital assets owned by provincial ministries (land, buildings and transportation infrastructure) are accounted for on a full accrual accounting basis. Other tangible capital assets owned by provincial ministries will continue to be accounted for as expenses in the year of acquisition or construction. All capital assets owned by consolidated government organizations are accounted for on a full accrual basis.
In 2002-2003, MNR protected Ontario's interests in Canada's softwood lumber dispute with the United States, and worked to arrive at a resolution of the dispute that would lead to permanent and unrestricted access to the U.S. market for the province's softwood industry.
MNR submitted the Timber Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Review to the Minister of the Environment for a decision on the extension and amendment of the EA approval. The review was submitted to meet the requirements of the EA Approval and describes MNR's implementation as well as recommendations on extension and amendment of the approval. The report supports MNR's approach to managing Ontario's forests and demonstrates a commitment to sustainable forest management.
After three years of intensive work, the Ontario Forest Accord Advisory Board submitted a report entitled "Room to Grow: Final Report of the Ontario Forest Accord Advisory Board on Implementation of the Accord." The report outlines accomplishments and recommendations on the Ontario Forest Accord's 31 commitments.
A new provincial park was named in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during the Queen's visit to Ontario in the fall of 2002, Her Majesty's Golden Jubilee year. The Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Provincial Park is located between Gravenhurst and Minden, about 100 km north of Toronto. The 335-square-km park is one of the biggest and most pristine natural areas in central Ontario.
Through the Ecological Land Acquisition Program, the ministry acquired 28 provincially significant areas across the province totaling 3,675 hectares to add to the system of protected areas. This included the purchase of a key 16-hectare property in the Rouge Park containing lands that, once restored, will become important habitat and a natural corridor for wildlife.
Thirty-six new parks and conservation reserves were regulated in 2002-2003.
The province and Constance Lake First Nation announced plans to develop a tourism centre near Hearst in northern Ontario. The province provided $2 million toward the development of the centre. Other contributing partners included the Regional Economic Development Corporation (Nord Aski) and the Federal Initiative for the Development of Northern Ontario (FedNor.)
Increased day-use of provincial parks set a record of 10,493,291 visits for the 2002 season, representing a 3.5 per cent increase over 2001.
Seven species - six plants and one amphibian - were protected under Ontario's Endangered Species Act, bringing the total number of species protected under the act to 36. Funding was provided to protect species at risk through a variety of projects including habitat recovery and restoration and efforts to increase public awareness.
The ministry invested in more than 240 fish and wildlife partnership projects in 2002-2003 to improve hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing opportunities. These included projects to secure wildlife habitat, wetlands, and improve access.
More than 800 waters across Ontario were stocked with a total of 8.1 million fish to help rehabilitate fisheries and provide additional recreational opportunities. This number is in addition to the 1.9 million fish (excluding walleye fry) reported to have been stocked in public waters by ministry partners under the Community Fisheries and Wildlife Involvement Program.
MNR successfully controlled fox rabies in southern Ontario, eliminated a fox rabies outbreak in northeastern Ontario, and made significant progress in containing the raccoon rabies outbreak in eastern Ontario.
Conservation Officers had contact with 294,870 resident and non-resident resource users in 2002-2003. These contacts resulted in 18,463 charges and warnings issued and $1,291,662 in fines and penalties. The ministry's Enforcement Program reported a 93.7 per cent compliance rate in 2002-2003.
The ministry posted the Crown Land Use Atlas on the Internet, providing the public with electronic access to consolidated information on existing land-use policies including maps for Crown lands in central and mid-northern Ontario.
MNR is the lead ministry for geographic information technology in Ontario. The ministry's GeoSmart program helped small, rural and northern communities find ways to increase their capacity to benefit from the potential of land-information related technologies to improve local services and support economic development.
MNR created resource management jobs for 2,288 young people in 2002-2003 through six youth employment programs.
| Ministry Expenditures ($ millions) | |
| 2002-2003 Actual | |
| Operating | 454 |
| Capital | 72 |
| Staff Strength (as of Mar. 31, 2003) |
3,663.9 |
NOTE: Starting in 2002-2003, major tangible capital assets owned by provincial ministries (land, buildings and transportation infrastructure) are accounted for on a full accrual accounting basis. Other tangible capital assets owned by provincial ministries will continue to be accounted for as expenses in the year of acquisition or construction. All capital assets owned by consolidated government organizations are accounted for on a full accrual basis.
For further information about the Ministry of Natural Resources, visit our website at www.mnr.gov.on.ca You can find annual reports for other Ontario government ministries online at www.gov.on.ca under “About Government”.
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