Timmins Local Citizens Committee
Minutes of April 27, 2011
April 27, 2011
LCC hours: 36 hours
Year to Date: 36
Total: 6109.4
Date: April 27, 2011
Location: Ontario Government Complex, Fire Boardroom
Present: Robert Calhoun, Bill Russell, Barry Edwards, Lino Morandin, Pam Reid, Kees Stryland
Regrets: James Naveau, Gail Krawchuk, Bob Bielek, Mark Joron, Jenny Millson, Kees Pols, Dave Stringer, Rusty Fink, Ron Johnson, Andy Chartrand, Allan Moyle, Gilbert Fortin, Marc Lapalme, Stefanie Thibeault, Scott Tam
Absent: George Sackenay, Rodney Wincikaby
MNR: Glen McFarlane, Derrick Romain, Nikki Wood, Mac Kilgour
Guests: Paul Fantin, Forester, First Resources Management Group, Marcel Cook, representing Horwood cottagers
Call to Order:
Bill Russell called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m.
Summary of Action Items for This Meeting:
Action Item 04-11-01: The information and ideas gathered from tonight’s exercise and the ideas and information gathered from the Desired Forest and Benefits meeting held on Saturday April 30, 2011 will be presented and discussed at a future LCC meeting.
Review and Approval of March 30, 2010 Minutes:
.Motion to accept- Lino Morandin
.Seconded by- Robert Calhoun
.All in favour-Carried
Review and Approval of tonight’s agenda:
.Motion to accept- Robert Calhoun
.Seconded by- Kees Stryland
.All in favour-Carried
Letters/Correspondence
.No letters or correspondence to report on this meeting
District Manager Update- Glen McFarlane on behalf of Randy Pickering
Glen provided the LCC members with a District update as follows:
.Timmins District staff had a booth at the Prospectors Association show case being held at the McIntyre arena. The booth provided information on species at risk, Bats white nose syndrome and mine exploration permitting requirements; there was also a seminar held on legislated permit requirements.
.The district is also preparing for the Lions annual Sportsman show being held at the McIntyre arena on April 30-May 1st.
.The district has been approved for 5 CFWIP projects scheduled for this year which include the Mattagami River sturgeon study, an environmental assessment project for the possible introduction of walleye, Nikki’s Nature trail, Porcupine River Duck boxes and mixed clover seeding.
Abitibi River Forest Desired Forest Benefits Survey-Nikki Wood
Nikki led an exercise with the LCC members to solicit the input and opinions of the members with the intent to assist with the update of the 2012 Abitibi River Forest FMP objectives. The exercise is also designed to identify any new desired forest benefits or desires that have not yet been identified. Nikki provided the background related to the need of this exercise and how the results of the survey are utilized in the planning process; the results of tonight’s exercise will be provide basis of our meeting to be held this Saturday April 30, 2011 at the Shillington Recreation Centre from 9am to 3pm. in conjunction with the LCCs representing Kirkland lake and Cochrane. The following represents some of the key points of the exercise and the next steps:
.As a key part of the forest management process the District Manager is responsible for calling a public meeting to gather information and ideas on desired forest benefits.
.The meeting will be organized in a manner in which the public, LCCs and First Nation have opportunity to provide input and ideas into desired forest conditions and benefits to the users of the forest.
.The ideas and future conditions identified in this exercise will form the foundation for the 2012 FMP objectives.
.A major point to remember in this process is that the forest management planning process can’t deliver on every idea or future condition; benefits and ideas can be developed within the forest management planning framework in Ontario.
.The information from this exercise tonight will be captured and provided as initial input into Saturday’s meeting.
.The summary of all information collected tonight and from Saturday’s meeting will be rolled up and presented at a future LCC meeting where the members will see the results and assist with the next step in the process of formulating the forest management objectives for the 2012 Plan.
The exercise was set up in such a way that the categories were based on objective groupings from the past plans and were compatible with the objective categories within the Crown Forest Sustainability Act as well as objectives criteria found in Ontario’s Sustainability Forest Management Evaluation Framework.
Nikki led the members through the survey and interesting discussion pursued throughout the objective categories and groupings. (see attached survey)
Action Item 04-11-01: The information and ideas gathered from tonight’s exercise and the ideas and information gathered from the Desired Forest and Benefits meeting held on Saturday April 30, 2011 will be presented and discussed at a future LCC meeting.
The Chairman thanked Nikki and the LCC members for their candid discussion and involvement in this exercise.
Abitibi River Forest FMP Update- Kees Stryland and Paul Fantin
Paul updated the LCC members with regards to a Forest Future Trust fund application they had discussed with the Timmins LCC members at a previous meeting; they had applied to the Futures Committee with a proposal to treat “poplar decline areas” on the Abitibi River Forest. These poplar areas were damaged by tent caterpillar repeatedly over a number of growing seasons that resulted in the decline and non reproduction of poplar. FRMG proposed that the decline area be mechanically site prepared and planted to spruce over a three year period. The Forest Futures Funding Committee approved the proposal for 1.2 million dollars.
Kees provided the members with an update on the planning process as it pertains to caribou protection; a line has been agreed to by industry and environmental groups that will allow for the need to respect certain areas for proposed operations for protection off caribou habitat over the next 50 years. The planning team is working on the Long Term Management Direction which includes the desired forest and benefits exercise and subsequent formulation of forest objectives.
The Chairman thanked Kees for his update.
LCC Terms of Reference Review-Nikki Wood
Due to the lack of time tonight, the LCC Terms of Reference review will be re-scheduled for a future meeting.
Round Table Discussions
.Good information meeting
.Interesting discussion
.Good to see the willingness to share opinions and ideas around the table
The meeting adjourned at 9:00 pm
Next Meeting is scheduled for May 25, 2011 at the Fire Boardroom of the OGC.
Please contact Gail Krawchuk at gga@ntl.sympatico.ca if you cannot attend.
Minutes typed by: Minutes approved by:
………………………………………………
Gail Krawchuk Bill Russell
LCC Secretary Chair