Across-the-board cuts to the Ministry of Natural Resources could mean dips in services for Ontarians.
That’s the message Sarah Campbell (NDP, Kenora – Rainy River) is promoting. Following in the footsteps of MPP Laura Scott (PC, Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock), Campbell (NDP, Kenora-Rainy River) isn’t shying away from offering criticisms to the Minster of Natural Resources Michael Gravelle.
Following the announcement of the 2012 budget, the minority Liberal led Ontario government announced massive cuts to a variety of ministries. One of the hardest hit was the MNR, which was thumped with a nearly 10 per cent cut to its spending.
Campbell said there’s a better way to make cuts than going across the board. She suggested the province look at making spending more efficient.
“We could save some money in some areas but I’m really cautious against cross the board cuts,” Campbell said. “I don’t think they help at all. I really do believe this, it’s not that we don’t have enough money, it’s the case that we aren’t prioritizing or using it as well as we could.”
But cuts aren’t the only issue.
Campbell said she’s heard everything from people having trouble accessing to traditional lands or even getting fishing licenses.
“There’s a whole host of issues,” Campbell said.
“I’m seeking input from people. It’s not my intention to be combative. I want to work with the ministry but I do want to raise these issues and to make it easier for people.”
Ontario has promised to streamline environmental assessments in order to push developmental projects through faster.
Campbell said she’s hesitant to think these kinds of strategies would work and would rather see something that had a better plan to it instead of ideas meant to save money.
Minister Gravelle said the MNR is going through a three-year transformation in order to deal with a deficit of about $50 million as well as helping to balance Ontario’s budget.
The best way to accomplish this is by doing across the board approach to cutting, he said.
“There will be some decisions that need to be made and we are doing our very best,” Gravelle said.
“We recognize how important our field services are to people. There will continue to be a very strong field presence. It is accurate to call it cross the board. We’re trying to look at all our services and make sure we maintain our commitment to natural resources management.”
About 15 years ago, the MNR looked after 28 pieces of legislation but that number has nearly doubled to 47 pieces of legislation. Gravelle said it’s a ministry with a lot of responsibility.
For those wanting to onto Crown land, Gravelle said a vast portion of that land is open to the public for their use. He said it can be difficult to adjust when forest access roads are closed but the MNR is working with those people who are inconvenienced by it.
“I’m very proud to stand up and say that Ontario has almost unfettered access to Crown land,” he said.
“While you can find examples, we’re trying to work with people in order to find that balance because we also have a philosophy that Crown land belongs to Ontarians.”
He added there have been hiccups with the automating system of the hunting and fishing licensing but the end result will mean better service for Ontarians.
