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-19regulations-update.

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

Lake of the Woods 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 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 delays and some great discussions, the Fisheries Advisory Council (FAC) has put forward its recommendations for a new set of regulations that will allow anglers to continue enjoy fishing on Lake of the Woods for generations to come and address a critical tipping point regarding walleye populations.

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.

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.

Now that the recommendations are completed, they must go for a minimum of 30 day posting to the official Environmental Registry for review. Posting will include the Draft Plan document as well as a short summary of the project. This is the public’s opportunity to voice their opinions!

Depending on COVID-19 restrictions, there may also be one or more public open houses held. The Crown has a Duty to Consult with indigenous communities. Consultation with Indigenous communities will take place and a Draft Plan document will be directly sent to 13 First Nations groups including: Grand Council Treaty #3, Anishinaabeg of Kabapikotawangag Resource Council, and Region One Métis Nation of Ontario.

NDMNRF will discuss appropriate approaches to consultation with each of the above individually, 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.

Broadband Improvements in the Kenora District

The District of Kenora Unincorporated Areas Ratepayers Association (DoKURA) has been working to determine how every resident in their catchment area will have access to high-speed internet at reasonable installation cost and monthly rates comparable to other jurisdictions.

In late 2020, members of the DoKURA board identified a need to secure government investments to improve service and looked into applying for the Federal Government’s Universal Broadband Fund (UBF). Realizing that the requirements were beyond the scope of a non-profit, volunteer-run organization, DoKURA engaged the Kenora District Services Board (KDSB) and actively supported their application to the Rapid Response Stream of the UBF. As a result, KDSB was able to secure $4.9 million to connect as many as 3,000 homes across the region to the Starlink satellite service. The funding was announced in June of 2021, and installations are proceeding.

In early May, DoKURA participated in the Broadband NOW webinar. The area represented by DoKURA was featured as one of the case studies. Following the webinar, they reached out to Bell and Tbaytel, and are working with them to scope out potential projects to improve broadband service in the unincorporated territory.

The Province of Ontario recently announced that the Ontario Connects process will involve “auctioning off’ government funding to focus on underserved areas of the province. DoKURA is currently advocating on behalf of Kenora District's unincorporated residents to ensure this area is recognized as under-serviced. Service expansion and improvement in this region must be a priority. This has been communicated to our MPP, Greg Rickford and our MP, Eric Melillo.

DoKURA wants every resident to have high-speed internet access at reasonable cost and competitive monthly rates. Over the fall and winter of 2021-22, DoKURA will be focusing our efforts on three priority issues:

1. Ensuring that the Kenora District continues to receive government attention to address both lack of and poor quality of service across the District of Kenora

2. Engaging with Telco’s to address maintenance and upgrade issues

3. Identifying potential partnerships to bring additional internet infrastructure to both permanent and seasonal unincorporated territory residents

To share your views, concerns or questions, you can email DoKURA at dokuraorg@gmail.com.

Forestry and forest management

The draft plan review for the Kenora Forest was completed September 4, 2021. The City of Winnipeg submitted comments based around Shoal Lake being identified as the sole source of their drinking water. The Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry (NDMNRF) met with the City of Winnipeg to clarify cutting blocks on Shoal Lake. There were no additional concerns expressed; but, it was agreed to acknowledge within the text of the plan that Shoal Lake is the sole source of drinking water.

Deacon Lake access has some ongoing discussions that are currently stalled. The regional director is waiting for the results from a meeting in October and if they don’t come to a resolution it will continue through an issues resolution process.

Representatives from the Clearwater Bay Stewardship Foundation brought in a forestry consultant to meet with Kurt Pochailo (Miisun Integrated Resource Management). Negotiations went well and the team was able to gain traction and reach agreement on dropping some small blocks and determining timing restrictions. Miisun and representatives from the NDMNRF are pleased with the outcome, as are the landowners who had initially raised specific concerns. The changes will be reflected in the final plan.

For Black Sturgeon, NE Bay discussions went well and there was great dialogue, and modifications were made throughout the process as a result of the meetings. There was concern over a single block, which was dropped due to the terrain and the concerns. The team was able to swap some blocks that were more accessible.

Additionally, the following groups are currently represented on the Ministry's Local Citizens Committee:

Kenora Trapper’s Council, an Independent Logger, City of Kenora, Tourism, an Independent, Forest Science, Mining Industry, Weyerhaeuser, Grand Council Treaty Three, Kenora Métis Council, Management Foresters, Miisun, Regional Planning Forester and District Manager, NDMNRF.

Forest Management Plan online

Forest Management Plans in Ontario are available through the Natural Resources Information Portal at: nrip.mnr.gov.on.ca/s/fmp-online.