Current status

Declaration order: expired, December 23, 2009

Project summary

The construction of four Visitor Centres in four Provincial Parks.

Proponent

Ministry of Natural Resources

Location

Killbear, Killarney, Lake Superior and French River

Type

Other

Reference number

01001

Contact

Environmental Assessment Branch

Project history

Declaration order: expired
Date submitted: October 5, 2000
Expiry of public comment period: April 14, 2001
Decision date: June 13, 2001
Date expired: September 23, 2009

Declaration order

The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) submitted a request on October 5, 2000 for a Declaration Order to declare the MNR activity of the construction of four Visitor Centres in four Provincial Parks not subject to the full requirements of section 5 of the Environmental Assessment Act (EAA). MNR currently holds Exemption Order MNR-59/2 under the EAA which provides for the carrying out of the Provincial Parks Program, and Exemption Order MNR-29/2 which provides for capital construction activities on Crown land. A condition in both Orders limits capital construction costs for Projects to $2 million. Each of the proposed Visitor Centres will have capital construction costs that exceed the limit.

The Visitor Centres are proposed to be constructed in Killbear, Killarney and Lake Superior Provincial Parks and on Crown land adjacent to French River Provincial Park. The Visitor Centres will feature interpretive exhibits and displays, offer educational events related to the natural and cultural resources of each park and provide year-round tourism benefits to the parks and surrounding communities within the Great Lakes Heritage Coast area, as described in Ontario’s Living Legacy Land Use Strategy. The establishment of each Visitor Centre is discussed in the Park Management Plan for each Provincial park, which were approved by MNR under Exemption Order MNR-59/2. The Park Management planning process in which the plans were formulated included public consultation.

The proposal for a Declaration Order was posted on the Environmental Bill of Rights Registry from March 15 to April 14, 2001. No comments were received. The ministry examined the proposal and consulted with applicable municipalities and First Nations before forwarding a recommendation to the Minister.

The Minister granted the Declaration Order (Order in Council 1519/2001), with Cabinet approval, on June 13, 2001. The Order includes conditions that all requirements of MNR Exemption Order MNR-59/2, aside from cost, are followed, including compliance with the Park Planning Directives contained in the Ontario Parks Policies, Procedures and Bulletins. These include the preparation of an Environmental Study Report, including public and agency notice, for each Visitor Centre.