The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is responsible for ensuring that the public has a role in decisions affecting the management of Ontario’s Crown forest and resources in Ontario. Effective public participation in forest management helps to ensure that the diversity of ecological, economic, and social views related to forests are considered by decision-makers.
Public involvement occurs through a number of means including public consultation, public participation in decision-making processes and public awareness. In addition, 
anyone at any time may identify an issue or concern about forest policy and/or operational procedures by contacting the nearest MNR District office.
Public Consultation
Interested stakeholders have become increasingly better informed and have provided significant contributions to the development of Ontario’s forest policy, forest management guides and forest management plans. Advisory committees at a variety of levels have become part of the provincial infrastructure for providing direction and advice on forest policy and forest management in Ontario.
Provincial advisory committees assist MNR with regular updates to Ontario’s forest policy and legal framework. The Provincial Forest Policy Committee provides direct advice to the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources on forest policy. The Provincial Forest Technical Committee provides advice to the Ministry on its technical forest management guides.
Regional advisory committees represent a balance of regional concerns. Committee members are appointed to advise the MNR Regional Director on forest management planning and related matters and to act as a “sounding board” for matters arising from regional level policy and planning matters; and, the implementation of other resource management and land use activities. Members are encouraged to bring matters of regional interest to the attention of the Regional Director for discussion among committee members. The members provide an important linkage to other committees, such as local citizens’ committees and local communities of interest such as cottage associations.
Local citizens’ committees are appointed to assist in the process of preparing forest management plans across MNR’s forest management planning area. These committees are made up of people who live and work in the area or otherwise have a direct ‘local” interest in the plan. They influence the development of the plan by participating in meetings and discussions. The public is notified at various stages of plan development. They are provided with on-going opportunities for review, comment and input during forest management plan preparation and implementation.
Aboriginal people and organizations have a unique relationship with the land and hold a unique place in Canada’s history. MNR’s aim is to work cooperatively with aboriginal communities and the federal government to ensure a sustainable future for aboriginal people. MNR seeks to involve aboriginal people and organizations in planning and carrying out forestry operations. This involves both formal and informal processes.
The requirements for involving Aboriginal communities in the forest management planning process is described in the Forest Management Planning Manual for Ontario’s Crown Forests. The Manual requires the MNR District Manager to contact Aboriginal communities to provide specific opportunities to be involved in the preparation and implementation of a forest management plan.
Public consultation is a key component of Ontario’s forest management planning process. A plan is prepared in an open and consultative fashion by a Registered Professional Forester with the assistance of a multi-disciplinary planning team and a local citizens committee, as well as with input from Aboriginal communities, stakeholders and interested members of the public.
The extensive public consultation that takes place as part of the forest management planning process provides all stakeholders with a say in how Crown forests are managed. The Forest Management Planning Manual for Ontario’s Crown Lands outlines requirements for public consultation and Aboriginal involvement during the preparation and implementation of a forest management plan. The process includes formal stages of consultation, along with opportunities to interact with the planning team and local citizens committee throughout the process.
The input received from the public during the planning process influences the decisions made by the planning team, the MNR District Manager and the MNR Regional Director.
Public Participation in Government Decision-making Processes
The processes MNR uses to change Ontario’s forest policies and laws are guided by requirements under the Environmental Assessment Act, the Environmental Bill of Rights and independent audits required under the Crown Forest Sustainability Act.
The Environmental Assessment Act provides for a decision-making process that promotes good environmental planning by assessing the potential effects of certain activities on the environment. The process ensures that environmental problems or opportunities are considered and their effects are planned for before development or building takes place.
The Environmental Bill of Rights requires that the public be consulted about all new legislation, regulations, and policies in Ontario that meet certain criteria. The Environmental Bill of Rights and the associated Environmental Registry provides an efficient mechanism for the Ministry of Natural Resources to communicate with the public of Ontario.
While the Environmental Bill of Rights applies to much more than forest management, its influence on the role of public participation in the design of decision-making process for sustainable forest management has been and continues to be significant.
Independent forest audits are required under the Crown Forest Sustainability Act. Independent forest audits are a key component of the review of forest management plans. Independent forest audits examine the forest management planning, implementation and monitoring systems. The audit process is based on a set of eight guiding principles, one of which involves examining public participation as delivered through the forest management plan Standard public consultation process and the native consultation program. Various methods are used to obtain input from the public and other interested parties.
Independent forest audits require input from all members of the planning team, and from local citizens’ committees, native communities, and other interested parties with an interest in the operations of the forest unit (overlapping licensees, contractors, commitment holders, and tourist outfitters).
Public Awareness
Here are other ways to learn more or become involved in our programs.
- Review the Ministry of Natural Resource’s programs and services page to learn more about what we do.
- Find out more about how MNR is managing Ontario’s Crown forests by reading the section about Monitoring and Reporting on Ontario's Forest.
- Look for notices in local newspapers announcing public sessions on forest management planning in your area.
- Review the Forest Management Plan Renewal Schedule to determine when the forest management plan for your area of interest will be prepared. The schedule specifies the local MNR office that can be contacted for details about how you can get involved.
- View the Environmental Registry notices for important proposals related to environmental decision-making by most Ontario ministries.
- Contact a local MNR office nearest to you to arrange a meeting with an area forester, forest management plan author or a representative of a local citizens committee.
- Write a letter to the Minister of Natural Resources.
