Government Notes

BY PATRICK PAULO

FEDERAL/PROVINCIAL

COVID-19 updates and travel restrictions

We continue to monitor Covid-19 announcements and updates from all levels of government that have particular relevance to our members who travel to and from the Lake of the Woods district.

As changes are occurring on a daily basis from one province to another and federally, we continue to recommend the official websites hosted by the governments of Manitoba, Ontario and Canada and the Northwestern Health Unit (Ontario) as your best source for current and accurate information. We have posted links to each website at lowdsa.com/articles/ covid-19-regulations-update.

To learn further details about the restrictions for travel from Manitoba or Quebec into Ontario, please visit ontario.ca/page/ emergency-information.

LOTW First Nations flooding claims

Considerable progress has been made since information was last shared regarding the Lake of the Woods/Shoal Lake/Winnipeg River flooding claim settlements being negotiated among Ontario, Canada and First Nation communities. It is likely that some settlements will be concluded this year.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs Ontario (IAO) is unable to host in-person meetings. To ensure that information about the proposed settlement of these claims is available, the IAO has developed a virtual information process, available at ontario.ca/page/lake-woods-flooding-claims.

Ontario is committed to arranging teleconference and/or videoconference meetings to discuss these land claims and is willing to set up a meeting at a mutually convenient date via teleconference or videoconference. Should you have any questions or want to request a meeting, please contact LOTWFloodClaim@ontario.ca or Dianne Woods, Negotiator, (416) 575-9838.

PROVINCIAL

Lake of the Woods Fisheries Advisory Council (FAC)

John Waterer, LOWDSA’s representative on the Fisheries Advisory Council, reported that the council continues to meet regularly. After eight meetings, a few COVID-19 delays and some great discussions, the Fisheries Advisory Council (FAC) has put forward its recommendations.

The Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry (NDMNRF) pulled together a diverse group of interested parties including Indigenous communities, local guides, tournament organizers, anglers, lodge and cottage owners to develop recommendations for consideration. Under the excellent leadership of Steve Bobrowicz (MNRF), the FAC was challenged with balancing the diverse needs of the group.

To briefly recap, the population of walleye in Lake of the Woods (LOTW) is at a critical tipping point. Harvest is exceeding recruitment to the point where a total collapse of the walleye fishery is a real possibility. Extensive creel surveys and test netting was used to generate a comprehensive picture of a fishery under stress. The data clearly shows that harvest pressure has reduced both the size and number of walleye in LOTW and has pushed unnaturally younger fish to reproduce… all indicators of a fishery under stress.

The FAC was tasked with developing a new set of regulations that will allow anglers to continue to enjoy the great fishing on LOTW for generations to come. The recommendations have hopefully achieved a balance between the desire by anglers to continue to harvest walleye from LOTW and the need to create a sustainable harvest plan.

There are very few options available that will achieve the goals of the FAC in a reasonable timeframe. Many “small adjustments” to regulations were considered, but none would meet the goals of the FAC. In reality, the tools that are available are reduced catch limits and tighter slot limits. One contentious point was the retaining of the ability to keep a trophy fish. The FAC was unanimous in its opinion that keeping trophy fish should no longer be an option, but as the regulations are currently written, anything more than immediate release is considered possession, and this would result in the walleye tournaments on LOTW being in violation of the regulations (even if they are pictured and released). Therefore, the recommendations going forward do allow possession of a trophy size walleye, even though it goes against the “spirit of the recommendations”. MNRF has agreed to look into changing this in the future but didn’t want to delay implementation of the current plan. Several slot sizes with maximum or minimum size options were considered and the preferred option of the group was a maximum size of 43 cm (17 inches), meaning any fish over 43 cm must be released. With the ability to retain one fish over 70 cm to accommodate the walleye tournaments on LOTW.

The council agreed to present the following options for inclusion in the draft plan:

Preferred option:

• Daily limit: sportfishing 2, conservation 1

• Possession limit: sportfishing 4, conservation 2

• Maximum 17 inches (43 cm) with one fish over 70 cm (27.5 inches)

Second option:

• Daily limit: sportfishing 2, conservation 1

• Possession limit: sportfishing 4, conservation 2

• 14-inch to 17-inch harvestable slot with one fish over 70 cm (27.5 inches)

The Council noted that it needs to be clear that the intent of including the 70 cm plus fish allowance is to allow tournaments to continue operating until the province changes the rules about photographs.

The draft plan draft plan will be posted for public comment on the province’s Environmental Registry for 45 to 60 days. Depending on COVID-19 restrictions, there may also be one or more public open houses held. Consultation with Indigenous communities will also take place.

The FAC has one more meeting planned to review any developments arising from the public consultation, then the proposal should go forward for implementation in January 2023.

LOWDSA will report any further updates from the Fisheries Advisory Council, in our eNews communications or the next issue of Area News.

Four-laning Highway 17

LOWDSA emailed the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) project team March 24, and once again June 17 requesting an update in regards to the twinning of Highway 17.

On July 29, 2021, the 4lanehighway17kenora.ca website was updated to report that “WSP Canada Inc. (WSP), on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO), is undertaking a Planning, Preliminary Design, Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) and Detail Design Study to review options to provide a four-lane divided Highway 17 from the Manitoba/Ontario border to Kenora (39km).”

According to the 4lanehighway17kenora.ca website this study is nearing completion. LOWDSA distributed the notice of completion to members via eNews. Comments, suggestions or questions for the Ministry and project team can be emailed to project-team@4LaneHighway17Kenora.ca.

Other contacts include:

Mr. Gord Firth, P.Eng. Consultant Project Manager WSP Canada Group Limited Phone: (905) 823-8500; Toll-free: 1-877-562-7947

Mr. J.A. (Sandy) Nairn, MCIP, RPP Senior Environmental Planner WSP Canada Group Limited Phone: (905) 823-8500; Toll-free: 1-877-562-7947

Mr. Steve Sutch Area Manager Ministry of Transportation Phone: (807) 630-1720; Toll free: 1-800-465-5034

Full contact information including mailing addresses are available on the website.

Nuclear waste selection site

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) has narrowed their search for a site to host long-term underground storage of nuclear waste to two locations, including the town of Ignace. Currently, the NWMO is undertaking more intense geophysical surveys, geological mapping, environmental surveys, and other intensive fieldwork to determine the suitability of the area.

This phase is expected to take one to two years, and we don’t expect to see any major updates in the near future, but of course, we will share updates and study results as they become available. Site selection is projected to occur in 2023, which will be followed by confirming acceptance by the host. For more details on this project, visit NWMO.ca or email contactus@nwmo.ca.

More information about the project is also included in the article, “Nuclear waste selection site update” on page 28.

Forestry and forest management

In any forest, but more so in our area, there are many operational challenges. These are reflected in the terrain—rocky, steep, swampy, etc. The contexts vary greatly thus necessitating a unique response that reflects the ever-changing terrain. Cut blocks in harvest areas, must be representative of pre-harvest conditions. The remaining or residual forest must be a mix of small, large, and dead trees. The type and age of tree has to be numerically accounted for i.e., 25 larger trees. A living mix is required as well an observance of habitat.

The harvested area must also meet wildlife objectives. There are specific numbers of each type of tree that are required to be left in each hectare. No-cut-zones are also established for streams, shorelines and any area that has a specific value that needs to be considered. Wildlife habitats (caribou, moose, deer etc.) are protected as are spawning areas. In areas that are considered vulnerable, no harvest reserves are created. These are sometimes determined through dialogue with stakeholders and people who are more intimately connected with a specific area.

Pockets of timber are not only harvested for their monetary value but also to combat disease, insects, age, fire and blow down. This year, combined with our extended drought, residents and visitors alike are living under the terms of a Restricted Fire Zone (RFZ). Simply put, outdoor fires for outdoor roasts are strictly prohibited. More information on RFZ’s can be found by searching Northwestern Ontario Forest Fires Updates. Fortunately for property owners and tourists to the area, the smoke and ash have left us... hopefully for good. Thanks to the fire fighters and support crews for their brave and professional presence in the many fire zones.

If you are interested in the environmental aspects of forest management, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s document, the Stand and Site Guide contains all relevant information. The research is well-documented, reviewed, peer reviewed, and is “rooted” in a robust and thorough sciencebased best practices approach. Many stake holders in the region have been supplied with the MNRF’s Stand and Site Guide. It is available on the Natural Resources information) portal, nrip.mnr.gov.on.ca/s/fmp-online. This is a very comprehensive document in which scientific references and citations are found —detailing how the Forest Management Plan is developed and implemented.

Remembering that negotiations with the MNRF are “context driven”, many gains have been made by stakeholders. Some examples are increased buffer zones, timing (winter only), dropping whole blocks, and creating contingency blocks. In addition, access concerns and road decommissioning are discussed. Access roads are usually torn up, culverts and crossings are removed, and replanted where deemed necessary. “Viewscapes” are created by software and are used to illustrate pre and post-harvest views of specific perspectives of the area in question. From a tourist value perspective, “viewscapes” are used to show that cut blocks are not visible from multiple perspectives around a lake.

“Forestry 101 – How are forests in northwestern Ontario managed?” on page 45, provides a detailed look at the province’s forestry management process.

Kenora forest update: Stage Four Draft Forest Management Plan

Please see below for steps on how to access Stage Four: Draft FMP information on the Natural Resources information Portal (NRIP). Consultation Period: 2021/07/05 - 2021/09/04

• You are able to access the Draft Forest Management Plan online at FMP Online (gov.on.ca). Once you’ve selected the link and arrived at the home screen, scroll down to where, on the right-hand side, you see a box titled “Consultation notices”. Within that box, scroll down until you see the option to select the Forest Management Plan for the Kenora Forest Management Unit.

• Please select that option. Once on the new page, scroll down to where you’ll see “Published Files”. Use the dropdown menus provided to select the products you’re interested in or use the following link for more direct DESIGN access to products—Invitation To Participate (gov.on.ca).