Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists

Land Claim's Ontario Negotiating Team's Support Staff Consults With ABR

On Friday February 22nd 2013, a consultation meeting was held by the Ontario Negotiating Team's Support Staff (Algonquins of Ontario Land Claim), represented by Bruce Mighton, Richard Raper and Nancy Wilson. Representing the ABR's Executive Committee were Jeffrey McMurtrie, Bill Warren and Barry Bridgeford. The meeting ran from 9:30am to 2:00pm, providing opportunity for the ABR to express its concerns with the Preliminary Draft Agreement In Principle (focusing on the Parks and Harvesting chapters), and for discussion in which details and clarifications were confirmed.

Amongst the recorded ABR's concerns were ..

> that terms used within the AIP, such as "Algonquin Traditional Knowledge" and "Algonquin Planning Committee" be fully described in the Definitions chapter.

> that it be clearly stated that the Algonquin Park Manager be required to seek public consultation prior to participating in plan, statement, and program development with the Algonquin Planning Committee regarding Algonquin Park.

> that section 9.1.15 should be rewritten with specific reference to the underlined/emboldened additions ...

Access to and within Protected Areas

9.1.15

The Final Agreement will provide that waterways, roads, trails, use of motorized craft and vehicles and other access issues in Protected Areas will be addressed through Protected Area Management Planning processes, which will take into account, in addition to other considerations, the following principles:

(a) a controlled access regime, the maintenance of Ecological Integrity, and the preservation of recreational values are priorities for Algonquin Provincial Park and other Protected Areas; and

(b) the Algonquin interest in maintaining access to Algonquin Provincial Park and other Protected Areas listed in Schedule 9.1A for Harvesting purposes.

Ontario will consult with other users during the development of these principles, processes and plans.

> that in Harvesting Chapter 8.5.5, “make a concerted effort to” should be stricken out, thereby making the development of the Fisheries Management Plan a prerequisite of the Treaty.

> that in the interest of sports-fishing recreationalists, Brook Trout should be added to the Allocated Species list within the context of Algonquin Park.

> since in the 1994 Shared Objectives document (and the 2006 Affirmation document) all parties had committed "to ensure that Algonquin Park remains a park for the appropriate use and enjoyment of all peoples" ... and since the values of a park can only be preserved by management, control and regulation ... that all people must be subject to that management, control and regulation.

> that uncontrolled and unregulated harvesting in Algonquin Park "throughout the year" and "using any method or technology" would be in conflict with recreational values and activities.

> that it would have been preferable if Algonquin Park had been dealt with in its own separate chapter of the AIP, thereby allowing more specific and unique treatment.

These and other concerns were recorded by the staff present, who also gave assurance that these concerns would shortly be forwarded to the Ontario Negotiating Team and in due course to the Federal and Algonquin Negotiating Teams.

February 26th, 2013.


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