Is the MNR selling our sovereignty to foreign visitors?

Loyal SooToday.com reader Tom Brason sent us a copy of this letter to Sault MPP David Orazietti regarding the issue of access to Crown lands in the province, an issue he defines as an issue of sovereignty.

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Public Access Restrictions, A sovereignty Issue

Dear Mr. Orazietti,

Citizens of Ontario are being denied access to vast areas of this provinces Crown lands and thousands of public lakes which are being treated like private game farms, almost exclusively for the enjoyment of foreigners, the public is kept at a distance because “their very presence may compromise a clients perceptions of wilderness”, according to Wawa’s MNR District Manager.

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) has closed all reasonable means of public access to these areas, in their words “to protect remote tourism values” which means creating an artificial remoteness around tourism lakes which progress has introduced access to in the past few decades with publicly funded roads and trails.

Remote outfitting, mostly foreign owned, only provides accommodations and a service while clients on the other hand who happen to be approximately 85% “non" Canadians are responsible for their own entrance into Canada, their hunting or fishing licences and obeying the various Canadian or provincial laws while here.

As welcomed guests to Canada they’re allowed an opportunity to temporarily share our resources per se but this has nothing to do with the outfitter, same as the outfitter isn't responsible for any violations committed by the clients.

Renting accommodations from an outfitter doesn’t give the client any special privileges on Canadian soil above and beyond the public, be they American or Canadian patrons.

Outfitters successfully lobbied the MNR to give foreigners exclusive use of our lands and waters over and above the rights of Canadian citizens...something outside the legal limitations of this provincial Ministry or the Prime Minister of Canada himself.

Whereby this has to do with sovereignty over Canadian lands and the fact that access and enjoyment of our Crown land isn’t conditional on social or economic status I’m fully expecting the Government of Ontario to intervene in restoring our rights and proud Canadian values.

We expect an issue of this magnitude to receive the utmost attention from yourself and the government of Ontario.

Sincerely,

Tom Brason

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