Regulation - LGIC
Amendment to Ontario Regulation 316/07 under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006 to create Alfred Bog Provincial Park
Regulation Number(s):
316/07
663/98
663/98
Instrument Type:
Regulation - LGIC
Bill or Act:
Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997
Summary of Decision:
Ontario Regulation 316/07: Designation and Classification of Provincial Parks under the Provincial Park and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006 was amended to create Alfred Bog Provincial Park. The amended regulation came into effect on July 27, 2023.
Alfred Bog Provincial Park is a 7,878 acre (3,067 hectare) non-operating natural environment class park located 20 kilometres southwest of Hawkesbury and 70 kilometres east of Ottawa.
The new park will protect the largest peat bog in southern Ontario and is home to provincially and regionally rare animal species, including insects, birds, and reptiles.
As a non-operating park, Alfred Bog Provincial Park will provide greater protection to an ecologically important and sensitive area. This means that facilities and services within the park would be minimal or not provided. There are no fees associated with the use of non-operating parks.
The land will provide opportunities for the community to enjoy the area's natural beauty, including walking on the Bog Walk Trail, hunting and birdwatching, while strengthening the long-term protection of biodiversity.
Although current recreational uses are limited given the wetland habitat, most will be able to continue with some exceptions (e.g., all-terrain vehicle use is now prohibited). Changes could be made in the future if uses threaten the values of the provincial park. These changes would be considered through a park management planning process which would include public consultation.
Alfred Bog Provincial Park is a 7,878 acre (3,067 hectare) non-operating natural environment class park located 20 kilometres southwest of Hawkesbury and 70 kilometres east of Ottawa.
The new park will protect the largest peat bog in southern Ontario and is home to provincially and regionally rare animal species, including insects, birds, and reptiles.
As a non-operating park, Alfred Bog Provincial Park will provide greater protection to an ecologically important and sensitive area. This means that facilities and services within the park would be minimal or not provided. There are no fees associated with the use of non-operating parks.
The land will provide opportunities for the community to enjoy the area's natural beauty, including walking on the Bog Walk Trail, hunting and birdwatching, while strengthening the long-term protection of biodiversity.
Although current recreational uses are limited given the wetland habitat, most will be able to continue with some exceptions (e.g., all-terrain vehicle use is now prohibited). Changes could be made in the future if uses threaten the values of the provincial park. These changes would be considered through a park management planning process which would include public consultation.
Analysis of Regulatory Impact:
There are no costs to regulated stakeholders. Benefits are significant, including permanent protection of sensitive habitat and the enabling of environmentally sustainable land uses to continue.
Given that there are no other ways to establish a new provincial park boundary, amending PPCRA O. Reg 316/07 is the only option.
Direct notification of the project has been sent to Indigenous communities, stakeholders and adjacent landowners.
Given that there are no other ways to establish a new provincial park boundary, amending PPCRA O. Reg 316/07 is the only option.
Direct notification of the project has been sent to Indigenous communities, stakeholders and adjacent landowners.
Further Information:
Link to Environmental Registry
Proposal Number:
22-MECP011
Posting Date:
September 22, 2022
Summary of Proposal:
Ontario is committed to working with leaders in land and water conservation, like the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), to preserve areas of significant environmental and ecological importance across the province.
To support this commitment, we are proposing to create Alfred Bog Provincial Park, a natural environment class park. The approximately 3067-hectare area is 20 km southwest of Hawkesbury and 70 km east of Ottawa.
The Alfred Bog site is:
- one of only three raised bogs in southern Ontario
- the largest remaining bog community in southern Ontario, an area where 70 percent of wetlands have been lost
The proposed provincial park includes a combination of lands privately owned by the Nature Conservancy of Canada and lands managed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry under the Public Lands Act. The lands have been purchased over the past several decades to create Alfred Bog Provincial Park.
The protection of the Alfred Bog is possible because of the support of partners, such as the NCC and the local municipality.
Alfred Bog Provincial Park would be a non-operating park. This means that facilities and services within the park would be minimal or not provided. There are no fees associated with the use of non-operating parks.
With that said we would ensure long-term protection of biodiversity in this important and sensitive wetland while continuing to provide recreational opportunities for the public, including walking on the Bog Walk Trail, hunting and birdwatching.
Establishment of this provincial park will require an amendment to Ontario Regulation 316/07 (Designation and Classification of Provincial Parks) under the PPCRA, which would add a new row to Table 1: Provincial Parks of Ontario that will:
- list the provincial park's name, classification and size
- describe where it is found
The area meets the requirements to be considered for addition to Ontario's protected area system and we want to regulate it as a provincial park.
Although current recreational uses are limited given the wetland habitat, most would be able to continue with some exceptions (e.g. all-terrain vehicle use). Changes could be made in the future if uses threaten the values of the provincial park. These changes would be considered through a management planning process which would include public consultation. Industrial and some commercial uses would be restricted in these areas.
Under the PPCRA, hunting is not permitted in a provincial park unless it is allowed by regulation made under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 (FWCA). Hunting is currently permitted in the areas proposed for regulation (following rules associated with the Wildlife Management Unit). The NCC is aware that hunting occurs on the private land portion. The proposal is to continue to allow sustainable hunting of game mammals, game birds and migratory game birds (but not furbearing mammals) in this area from the first day of the open season for that mammal or bird or September 15, whichever occurs later, to the last day of the open season.
To support this commitment, we are proposing to create Alfred Bog Provincial Park, a natural environment class park. The approximately 3067-hectare area is 20 km southwest of Hawkesbury and 70 km east of Ottawa.
The Alfred Bog site is:
- one of only three raised bogs in southern Ontario
- the largest remaining bog community in southern Ontario, an area where 70 percent of wetlands have been lost
The proposed provincial park includes a combination of lands privately owned by the Nature Conservancy of Canada and lands managed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry under the Public Lands Act. The lands have been purchased over the past several decades to create Alfred Bog Provincial Park.
The protection of the Alfred Bog is possible because of the support of partners, such as the NCC and the local municipality.
Alfred Bog Provincial Park would be a non-operating park. This means that facilities and services within the park would be minimal or not provided. There are no fees associated with the use of non-operating parks.
With that said we would ensure long-term protection of biodiversity in this important and sensitive wetland while continuing to provide recreational opportunities for the public, including walking on the Bog Walk Trail, hunting and birdwatching.
Establishment of this provincial park will require an amendment to Ontario Regulation 316/07 (Designation and Classification of Provincial Parks) under the PPCRA, which would add a new row to Table 1: Provincial Parks of Ontario that will:
- list the provincial park's name, classification and size
- describe where it is found
The area meets the requirements to be considered for addition to Ontario's protected area system and we want to regulate it as a provincial park.
Although current recreational uses are limited given the wetland habitat, most would be able to continue with some exceptions (e.g. all-terrain vehicle use). Changes could be made in the future if uses threaten the values of the provincial park. These changes would be considered through a management planning process which would include public consultation. Industrial and some commercial uses would be restricted in these areas.
Under the PPCRA, hunting is not permitted in a provincial park unless it is allowed by regulation made under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 (FWCA). Hunting is currently permitted in the areas proposed for regulation (following rules associated with the Wildlife Management Unit). The NCC is aware that hunting occurs on the private land portion. The proposal is to continue to allow sustainable hunting of game mammals, game birds and migratory game birds (but not furbearing mammals) in this area from the first day of the open season for that mammal or bird or September 15, whichever occurs later, to the last day of the open season.
Contact Address:
Effective Date:
July 27, 2023
Decision:
Approved