MNRF Explained: An Introduction to the Ministry

By /

Okay, here is a detailed article explaining the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) in Ontario.

MNRF Explained: An Introduction to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry

Ontario, Canada: A Province Defined by Nature

Ontario is vast. Stretching over a million square kilometres, it encompasses a staggering diversity of landscapes – the rugged Canadian Shield blanketed by boreal forests, the fertile lowlands of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region, the extensive wetlands of the Hudson Bay Lowlands, and countless lakes and rivers, including four of the five Great Lakes. This rich natural endowment is not just a scenic backdrop; it’s the foundation of Ontario’s identity, economy, and quality of life. It provides clean air and water, habitats for diverse fish and wildlife, resources for industry, spaces for recreation, and holds deep cultural significance, particularly for Indigenous Peoples.

Managing this immense natural wealth is a complex and critical task. It requires balancing ecological sustainability with economic development, public safety with recreational access, and respecting historical rights while planning for the future. This monumental responsibility falls primarily to one key provincial body: The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF).

For many Ontarians, interaction with the MNRF might be limited to purchasing a fishing license, visiting a Provincial Park, or perhaps seeing Conservation Officers on patrol. However, the Ministry’s scope and influence extend far beyond these visible touchpoints. It is a multifaceted organization whose decisions and actions shape the province’s landscapes, support thousands of jobs, protect communities from natural hazards, and conserve biodiversity for generations to come.

This article serves as a comprehensive introduction to the MNRF. We will delve into its history, mandate, organizational structure, core functions, key legislation, public interactions, and the challenges it faces. Understanding the MNRF is essential for anyone interested in Ontario’s environment, economy, or governance.

I. A Historical Perspective: Evolution of Resource Management in Ontario

The MNRF, in its current form, is the result of a long evolution reflecting changing societal values, scientific understanding, and economic priorities regarding natural resources. Its roots can be traced back to the earliest days of provincial governance.

  • Early Days (Post-Confederation): The Department of Crown Lands: Following Confederation in 1867, the primary focus was on surveying and settling the land, and facilitating resource extraction – primarily timber – to fuel the growing economy. The Department of Crown Lands was established to oversee the sale and leasing of vast tracts of provincial land (Crown land) and manage timber licenses. Early management was often geared towards maximizing revenue and settlement, with less emphasis on long-term sustainability as we understand it today.
  • Emergence of Conservation (Early 20th Century): The early 20th century saw the beginnings of a conservation ethic. Concerns about depleted forests, dwindling wildlife populations, and the impacts of unchecked exploitation led to new approaches. The Department of Lands and Forests was formed in 1905, consolidating responsibilities. This era saw the establishment of early Provincial Parks (like Algonquin in 1893, initially for logging control and later recognized for conservation and recreation), the development of forest fire fighting capabilities, and the first attempts at fish and wildlife regulations (game laws, stocking programs). The focus began shifting slowly from pure exploitation towards managing resources for continued use.
  • Expansion and Specialization (Mid-20th Century): The post-World War II era brought increased demand for resources and recreation. The Department expanded its activities, incorporating more scientific approaches to forestry (reforestation, inventory), fish and wildlife management (population studies, habitat work), and park management. Water management responsibilities also grew. The concept of “multiple use” gained traction, acknowledging the need to accommodate various demands on Crown land.
  • The Environmental Movement and Modernization (Late 20th Century – Early 21st Century): The rise of the environmental movement in the 1960s and 70s brought significant change. Public awareness of pollution, habitat loss, and endangered species increased pressure for stronger environmental protection. This led to the creation of the separate Ministry of the Environment in 1972 to handle pollution control, while the newly named Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) retained responsibility for managing forests, fish, wildlife, parks, Crown lands, and aggregates. This period saw the introduction of more sophisticated planning processes (e.g., forest management planning), enhanced environmental assessment requirements, a greater emphasis on ecological integrity in parks, and the development of species at risk legislation. The importance of Indigenous consultation and rights also gained prominence.
  • Integration and Refocusing (2014 – Present): In 2014, the Ministry was renamed the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF). This rebranding emphasized the critical importance of the forestry sector to Ontario’s economy and the Ministry’s central role in its sustainable management. While the name changed, the broad mandate covering lands, waters, fish, wildlife, parks, aggregates, and natural hazards remained. Recent years have seen continued focus on sustainable resource development, adapting to climate change impacts (especially wildfire and flooding), modernizing service delivery (e.g., online licensing), and strengthening relationships with Indigenous communities.

This historical trajectory highlights a continuous evolution from prioritizing settlement and resource extraction to embracing a more holistic and integrated approach focused on sustainable management, conservation, public safety, and shared stewardship.

II. Mandate, Vision, and Guiding Principles

The MNRF operates under a formal mandate derived from provincial legislation and government priorities. While specific wording may evolve, the core purpose remains consistent:

Mandate: The MNRF’s primary mandate is the sustainable management of Ontario’s natural resources. This includes:
* Protecting biodiversity and the ecological health of the province’s lands and waters.
* Managing Crown lands, water resources, forests, fisheries, wildlife, provincial parks, and conservation reserves.
* Ensuring the sustainable development of mineral aggregates and renewable energy on Crown land.
* Protecting public safety through the management of natural hazards like wildland fires and floods.
* Supporting economic opportunities in the resource sectors and related outdoor recreation.

Vision: The Ministry typically envisions an Ontario where natural resources are managed sustainably, contributing to ecological, social, and economic well-being for present and future generations.

Guiding Principles: Several key principles underpin the MNRF’s work:

  1. Sustainability: Managing resources in a way that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This involves balancing environmental, social, and economic considerations.
  2. Science-Based Decision Making: Utilizing the best available scientific information, research, and monitoring data to inform policies, plans, and management actions.
  3. Ecological Integrity: Maintaining the composition, structure, function, and resilience of ecosystems. This is particularly paramount in the management of provincial parks and conservation reserves.
  4. Adaptive Management: Recognizing that ecosystems are complex and dynamic, and management approaches need to be flexible and adjusted based on monitoring results and new knowledge.
  5. Landscape Approach: Considering the broader landscape context when making decisions, recognizing the interconnectedness of ecosystems and resource uses across different land tenures.
  6. Shared Stewardship: Acknowledging that resource management is a shared responsibility involving government, Indigenous communities, industry stakeholders, conservation organizations, landowners, and the public.
  7. Respect for Indigenous Rights: Recognizing and affirming Aboriginal and treaty rights, and fulfilling the Crown’s duty to consult and, where appropriate, accommodate Indigenous communities on decisions that may impact their rights and interests.
  8. Public Safety: Prioritizing the protection of people and property from natural hazards.

These principles guide the Ministry’s diverse activities and help navigate the often-competing demands placed on Ontario’s natural resources.

III. Organizational Structure: How the MNRF Works

The MNRF is a large and complex organization, structured to handle its broad mandate across a vast geographic area. Like most provincial ministries, it has a hierarchical structure:

  • Minister: An elected Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) appointed by the Premier to head the Ministry. The Minister is politically accountable for the Ministry’s performance, sets policy direction (within the government’s agenda), and represents the Ministry in Cabinet and the Legislature.
  • Parliamentary Assistant(s): One or more MPPs appointed to assist the Minister with their duties, often focusing on specific files or stakeholder engagement.
  • Deputy Minister: The senior public servant responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Ministry. The Deputy Minister provides advice to the Minister, ensures the implementation of government policy, manages the Ministry’s budget and staff, and is accountable for its administrative functioning.

  • Divisions: The Ministry is typically organized into several divisions, each headed by an Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM). These divisions reflect the major functional areas of the Ministry. Common divisions might include:

    • Forest Industry Division: Focused on supporting the forest sector, managing timber allocation and pricing, promoting wood products, and overseeing forest management planning frameworks.
    • Policy Division: Responsible for developing legislation, regulations, policies, and strategies across the Ministry’s mandate (e.g., fish and wildlife policy, Crown land policy, climate change adaptation strategies).
    • Fish and Wildlife Services Division: Overseeing the management of fisheries and wildlife populations, habitat conservation, licensing, species at risk programs, and addressing human-wildlife conflict.
    • Lands and Waters Division: Managing Crown lands (permits, leases, sales), water resources (permits to take water, dam safety, floodplain management), and aggregate resources (pits and quarries).
    • Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Division: Responsible for the planning, management, and operation of Ontario’s system of protected areas.
    • Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES) Division: Leading wildland fire management (prevention, detection, suppression), aviation services (including non-fire related government aviation needs), and emergency response coordination for natural hazards like floods.
    • Regional Operations Division (ROD): This is the critical on-the-ground delivery arm of the Ministry. It oversees the implementation of Ministry programs and services across the province through a network of regional and district offices.
    • Corporate Services Division: Providing internal support functions like finance, human resources, information technology, communications, and legal services.
    • Indigenous Relations and Partnerships Branch/Office: Often situated strategically to ensure Indigenous consultation and relationship-building are integrated across all Ministry functions.

  • Regional Structure (Part of Regional Operations Division): Ontario is typically divided into administrative regions (e.g., Northeast Region, Northwest Region, Southern Region). Each region is led by a Regional Director and comprises several district offices.

  • District Offices: These are the front-line offices located in communities across the province. District staff (biologists, foresters, technicians, planners, Conservation Officers, administrative staff) are responsible for implementing programs locally, issuing permits and licenses, conducting inspections and enforcement, responding to public inquiries, and working directly with stakeholders, Indigenous communities, and the public within their geographic area.

This structure allows for central policy development and oversight while enabling tailored, localized delivery of programs and services across Ontario’s diverse regions.

IV. Core Responsibilities and Functions: What the MNRF Does

The MNRF’s responsibilities are vast and interconnected. Here’s a detailed look at its major areas of activity:

A. Forest Management:
Ontario’s Crown forests cover nearly two-thirds of the province and are a cornerstone of its economy and environment. The MNRF is responsible for ensuring these forests are managed sustainably under the Crown Forest Sustainability Act (CFSA).
* Forest Management Planning: The cornerstone of sustainable forestry. The MNRF oversees the development of detailed 10-year Forest Management Plans (FMPs) for designated management units. These plans, prepared collaboratively by Sustainable Forest Licence (SFL) holders and local citizens’ committees with MNRF oversight and Indigenous community input, outline where, when, and how timber harvesting and renewal activities will occur, while ensuring long-term forest health and addressing other values (wildlife habitat, water quality, recreation).
* Timber Allocation and Licensing: Granting rights to harvest timber on Crown land through various licenses, primarily Sustainable Forest Licences (SFLs). SFLs grant companies the responsibility to manage a defined forest area, including harvesting, renewal, and monitoring, according to an approved FMP.
* Forest Renewal and Silviculture: Ensuring harvested areas are regenerated, either naturally or through planting and seeding. The MNRF sets standards for renewal and monitors success. Silvicultural practices (tending, thinning) aim to improve forest growth and health.
* Forest Health Monitoring: Monitoring forests for insects, diseases, and the impacts of climate change. Programs like the Forest Resource Inventory (FRI) provide detailed data on forest composition, age, and condition to support planning.
* Compliance and Audits: Ensuring forestry operations comply with approved plans and regulations through inspections and independent audits.
* Supporting the Forest Sector: Working with the forest industry to promote innovation, market access, and economic viability while upholding sustainability standards.

B. Fish and Wildlife Management:
Ontario boasts rich aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity. The MNRF manages fish and wildlife populations and their habitats under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act (FWCA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
* Population Monitoring and Assessment: Conducting surveys and research to understand the status and trends of fish and wildlife populations (e.g., aerial surveys for moose, netting surveys for fish, hunter harvest reporting).
* Habitat Management: Identifying and protecting critical habitats, providing guidance on habitat restoration, and considering habitat needs in land use planning decisions.
* Hunting and Fishing Regulations: Setting seasons, bag limits, size restrictions, and gear limitations for hunting and fishing to ensure sustainable harvests. Issuing hunting and fishing licenses (e.g., Outdoors Card).
* Fish Culture and Stocking: Operating provincial fish hatcheries to raise fish (e.g., trout, salmon, walleye) for stocking into public waters to enhance recreational fishing opportunities or restore populations.
* Species at Risk: Leading the implementation of the Endangered Species Act, including identifying species at risk, developing recovery strategies and management plans, issuing permits for activities affecting protected species, and promoting stewardship actions.
* Invasive Species Management: Working with partners to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species (e.g., zebra mussels, emerald ash borer, invasive phragmites) that threaten native biodiversity and ecosystems.
* Wildlife Disease Surveillance: Monitoring for diseases that affect wildlife populations and may have implications for human health or livestock (e.g., Chronic Wasting Disease, Avian Influenza).
* Human-Wildlife Conflict: Providing guidance and programs to help prevent and manage conflicts between humans and wildlife (e.g., the Bear Wise program).

C. Lands and Waters Management:
The MNRF is the steward of Ontario’s vast Crown lands (87% of the province) and oversees the management of provincial water resources.
* Crown Land Administration: Managing the use of Crown land under the Public Lands Act. This includes issuing permits, leases, and licenses for various activities (e.g., docks, hunt camps, commercial tourism operations, renewable energy projects), selling Crown land in limited circumstances, and managing Crown land reserves.
* Aggregate Resource Management: Regulating the extraction of sand, gravel, and stone (aggregates) from pits and quarries on both Crown and private land under the Aggregate Resources Act. This involves issuing licenses, ensuring operational standards are met, and requiring site rehabilitation.
* Water Resource Management: Managing water quantity under the Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act and the Ontario Water Resources Act. This includes regulating dam construction and operation (dam safety), issuing Permits To Take Water for significant water withdrawals, and contributing to floodplain management and water budgeting.
* Land Use Planning: Providing input into municipal land use planning processes to ensure provincial interests related to natural resources and hazards are considered.

D. Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves:
Ontario Parks, managed by the MNRF under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act (PPCRA), protects significant natural and cultural features and provides recreational and educational opportunities.
* Park System Planning: Identifying and establishing new parks and reserves to ensure the protected areas system is representative of Ontario’s biodiversity.
* Park Management Planning: Developing individual management plans for each park, outlining zoning, permitted activities, resource management strategies, and development goals, with a primary focus on maintaining ecological integrity.
* Operations and Visitor Services: Operating park facilities (campgrounds, trails, visitor centres), providing recreational opportunities (camping, hiking, canoeing, swimming), enforcing park regulations, and delivering educational programs (e.g., Learn to Camp).
* Ecological Integrity Monitoring: Conducting research and monitoring within parks to assess their health and guide management actions.

E. Natural Hazard Management:
Protecting public safety and property from natural hazards is a critical MNRF function.
* Wildland Fire Management: The Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES) branch is responsible for managing wildland fires across most of Ontario. This includes:
* Prevention: Public education (e.g., FireSmart), fire danger rating systems, and implementing fire restrictions during high-risk periods.
* Detection: Using lookout towers and aerial patrols.
* Suppression: Employing highly trained FireRangers, specialized aircraft (waterbombers, helicopters), and equipment to control and extinguish fires.
* Prescribed Burns: Using intentionally set fires under controlled conditions to achieve ecological benefits (e.g., habitat restoration) or reduce fuel loads.
* Flood Management: Providing flood forecasting and warning services for Ontario, monitoring provincial water levels and weather conditions, and working with conservation authorities and municipalities to support local flood preparedness and response.
* Other Emergency Response: Providing aviation support and expertise during other provincial emergencies (e.g., searches, medical evacuations, response to spills).

F. Resource Development Facilitation:
While focused on sustainability, the MNRF also plays a role in facilitating responsible economic development related to natural resources.
* Mining Support: Although the Ministry of Mines is the lead for mineral exploration and development, the MNRF manages surface rights and access on Crown land, issues permits for early exploration activities, and ensures environmental considerations are addressed.
* Renewable Energy: Managing access to Crown land for renewable energy projects (wind, solar, hydro) and ensuring environmental assessments and approvals processes are followed.
* Aggregates: Balancing the need for construction materials with environmental protection and community concerns through the licensing and regulation of pits and quarries.

G. Enforcement and Compliance:
Ensuring compliance with the laws and regulations governing natural resources is essential.
* Conservation Officers: MNRF Conservation Officers are provincial peace officers responsible for enforcing legislation managed by the Ministry (e.g., FWCA, CFSA, PLA, PPCRA, ARA). They conduct inspections, patrol vast areas, investigate violations (like illegal hunting/fishing, illegal logging, environmental damage on Crown land), collect evidence, issue warnings and tickets, and lay charges leading to court prosecution.
* Resource Stewardship and Facility Safety Staff: Other staff conduct inspections and audits related to forestry operations, aggregate pits, dams, and work permits to ensure compliance with standards and approvals.
* Public Reporting: Operating tip lines (like the MNRF TIPS line) allowing the public to anonymously report resource violations.

H. Science and Research:
Sound science underpins all MNRF activities.
* Research Centres: Operating research facilities (e.g., centres focused on forest research, fisheries research, wildlife research) to generate knowledge needed for resource management.
* Monitoring Programs: Conducting long-term monitoring of fish and wildlife populations, forest health, water levels, and ecosystem conditions to track trends and evaluate management effectiveness.
* Data Management and Analysis: Collecting, managing, and analyzing vast amounts of spatial and ecological data (e.g., Forest Resource Inventory, wildlife surveys, water monitoring data).
* Partnerships: Collaborating with universities, other government agencies, industry, and conservation organizations on research projects.

I. Indigenous Relations and Consultation:
Building relationships with Indigenous communities is a fundamental aspect of the MNRF’s work.
* Duty to Consult: Fulfilling the legal Crown duty to consult with Indigenous communities when considering decisions that might adversely impact their Aboriginal or treaty rights (e.g., forest management plans, land dispositions, policy changes).
* Relationship Building: Engaging with First Nations and Métis communities to build positive working relationships, share information, and seek collaboration opportunities.
* Incorporating Indigenous Knowledge: Working to respectfully incorporate Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) into resource management planning and decision-making processes where appropriate and shared by communities.
* Resource Benefits Sharing: Developing agreements and mechanisms for Indigenous communities to share in the economic benefits derived from resource development on their traditional territories.

V. Key Legislation Administered by the MNRF

The MNRF derives its authority and responsibilities from numerous provincial statutes. Some of the most significant include:

  • Crown Forest Sustainability Act, 1994 (CFSA): Governs forest management planning, timber licensing, forest renewal, and compliance on Crown lands. Mandates sustainable forest management.
  • Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 (FWCA): Regulates hunting, trapping, fishing, falconry, fish stocking, aquaculture, wildlife protection, and licensing.
  • Public Lands Act (PLA): Governs the administration, use, and disposition (sale, lease, permits) of Crown land in Ontario.
  • Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006 (PPCRA): Establishes and provides for the planning, management, and regulation of Ontario’s provincial parks and conservation reserves, with a primary objective of maintaining ecological integrity.
  • Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA): Provides protection for species at risk and their habitats, requires recovery strategies and management plans, and regulates activities that could harm them.
  • Aggregate Resources Act (ARA): Regulates the operation of pits and quarries for sand, gravel, stone, and other aggregate materials on both Crown and private land.
  • Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act (LRIA): Regulates the construction and operation of dams, water crossings, channelizations, and other works on lakes and rivers to ensure public safety and protect natural resources.
  • Conservation Authorities Act: While Conservation Authorities are local watershed management agencies, the MNRF provides oversight, funding, and technical guidance, particularly related to flood and hazard management.
  • Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Act: Regulates exploration, drilling, and production of oil, natural gas, and salt, primarily in Southern Ontario.
  • Forest Fires Prevention Act: Provides authority for regulating activities that could cause fires, restricting access during high hazard periods, and managing firefighting efforts.

This is not an exhaustive list, but it highlights the breadth of the legal framework within which the MNRF operates.

VI. How the MNRF Interacts with the Public

The MNRF interacts with Ontarians in numerous ways:

  • Licensing and Permits: Issuing hunting and fishing licenses (Outdoors Card), camping permits for Provincial Parks, Crown land work permits (e.g., for construction, land use), Permits To Take Water, Aggregate licenses, and permits under the Endangered Species Act. Many of these services are increasingly available online.
  • Information and Education: Providing information to the public on resource management issues, regulations, safety (e.g., Bear Wise, FireSmart), and recreational opportunities through its website, publications, visitor centres, and district offices.
  • Public Consultation: Seeking public input on policy development, legislative changes, forest management plans, park management plans, and specific project proposals through formal consultation processes (e.g., Environmental Registry postings, open houses).
  • Enforcement: Conservation Officers interact with the public during patrols, inspections, and investigations related to resource laws.
  • Stewardship Programs: Supporting private land stewardship initiatives and partnerships with landowners and conservation groups.
  • Responding to Inquiries: Answering questions from the public via phone, email, and in-person at district offices.
  • Hazard Warnings: Issuing public warnings related to flood risks and forest fire danger levels or restrictions.
  • Map Sales: Selling topographic maps and other geographic data products.

These interactions underscore the Ministry’s role not just as a regulator and manager, but also as a service provider and source of information for the public.

VII. Challenges and Future Directions

The MNRF operates in a dynamic environment and faces significant challenges:

  • Climate Change: Impacts are already being felt through more frequent and intense wildland fires, increased flood risks, shifts in species distribution, forest health issues (insect outbreaks, drought stress), and changes in lake temperatures affecting fisheries. Adapting management strategies to build resilience is a major priority.
  • Biodiversity Loss: Declining populations of many species and habitat fragmentation remain critical concerns. Balancing development pressures with the need to protect species at risk and maintain ecosystem health is an ongoing challenge.
  • Invasive Species: The constant threat of new introductions and the difficulty of controlling established invasive species require significant resources and coordinated efforts.
  • Competing Demands: Balancing the often-conflicting demands for resource extraction (forestry, aggregates, mining), renewable energy development, recreation, conservation, and Indigenous rights requires complex trade-offs and robust planning processes.
  • Increased Public Expectations: The public expects high levels of environmental protection, recreational access, transparency, and engagement in decision-making.
  • Evolving Indigenous Relationships: Continuing to strengthen relationships with Indigenous communities, implement consultation processes effectively, and move towards reconciliation and collaborative stewardship models.
  • Resource Constraints: Like all government bodies, the MNRF must deliver its broad mandate within budget limitations, requiring prioritization and efficiency.
  • Modernization: Keeping pace with technological advancements for monitoring (e.g., remote sensing, eDNA), data management, service delivery (online systems), and operational efficiency (e.g., fire management technology).

Future directions for the MNRF likely involve:

  • Enhanced focus on climate change adaptation and mitigation integrated into all aspects of resource management.
  • Continued emphasis on landscape-level planning and ecosystem-based management.
  • Strengthening science and monitoring programs to better understand environmental change and inform decisions.
  • Further development of partnerships with Indigenous communities, stakeholders, and other agencies.
  • Investing in technology and innovation to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
  • Continuously seeking balance between sustainable resource use, economic benefits, public safety, and environmental protection.

VIII. Conclusion: Steward of Ontario’s Natural Heritage

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is far more than just a name on a government building or a website. It is the primary provincial entity entrusted with the stewardship of Ontario’s vast and invaluable natural resources. Its mandate is exceptionally broad, touching nearly every aspect of the province’s environment and economy – from the deepest forests to the smallest streams, from wildlife populations to mineral aggregates, from remote northern wildlands to urban-adjacent parks.

The MNRF’s work involves intricate planning, cutting-edge science, on-the-ground operations, complex policy development, vital enforcement activities, and crucial relationship-building with Indigenous communities and diverse stakeholders. It manages resources that provide essential ecological services, support significant industries like forestry and tourism, offer unparalleled recreational opportunities, hold deep cultural meaning, and require careful management to protect communities from natural hazards.

Navigating the inherent tensions between conservation and development, public access and protection, short-term needs and long-term sustainability is the daily reality for the Ministry. As Ontario faces the mounting challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and increasing pressure on its natural resources, the role of the MNRF as a knowledgeable, adaptable, and responsible steward is more critical than ever. Understanding its history, structure, functions, and challenges provides valuable insight into how Ontario strives to manage its defining natural heritage for the benefit of all, now and into the future.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top