mnr report acknowledges it can't keep a lid on motorized access

the mnr's most recent access control effectiveness report acknowledges that inadequate government funding is hampering its ability to monitor illegal motorized access in the temagami area. the report, covering april 2006 to march 2007, says that 8 access control berms were breached during last fall's hunting season, and suspects the, "high violation rate [is] associated with publicity around limited enforcement presence due to funding shortages."

in total, mnr staffers inspected access control locations 187 times, noting 3 damaged signs, 2 locks damaged, 2 gates left open, and 19 tracks beyond the control. thirteen warnings were given to violators, but no charges were laid.

access control within special management areas is a key component of the temagami land use plan. sma's are an attempt to preserve remote tousism and recreation opportunities in certain areas while allowing timber harvesting to take place. the policy has had mixed success, as this report shows. most illegal road access in temagami is the result of hunters attempting to access new hunting grounds. ironically, the mnr has been scaling back access monitoring during the fall moose hunt, citing limited resources and staff, and safety concerns.

two mnr conservation officers currently patrol temagami. this is down from 3.5 in 1990. monitoring and enforcement is now done on a 'complaint' basis, with co's sitting behind their desks waiting for the tips line to ring. budgetary cutbacks have led opseu, the union representing provincial civil servants, to hold bake sales to fill the enforcement truck's gas tank.

the mnr is required by the minister of the environment to produce the access control effectiveness report annually. this is the result of a request by environmental groups to 'bump up' the 2004-2024 forest management plan to an environmental assessment. the groups, including earthroots and wildlands league, were concerned about the failures of access controls in temagami.

to report access infractions, call 1-877-tips-mnr (1-877-847-7667)

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