Track: Public Access and the Internet
Enabling Public Participation in Land Use Planning for Crown/Public Lands
Joseph KapronScott Christilaw , John Howelling, Andy Todd, OMNR Scott Reed, OMNR Frank Levec, OMNR
Ontario is blessed with an abundance of natural wealth - open spaces, lakes and rivers, forests, and wilderness - that provides habitat for plants and animals, parks for recreation and protection, and an economic base for Ontario residents who rely on natural resources for their livelihood. Much of these resources are found on the Crown land that covers 46 million hectares of Ontario. Lands for Life is a comprehensive integrated planning process that will determine long-term protection and use of Ontario's natural resources. It brings environmentalists, tourist operators, Aboriginal peoples, the mining industry, recreational users, the forest industry, and the provincial government together at roundtables in a process that gives the people most affected a say in what can and cannot take place on Crown land. The government, the citizens, and the users will determine the best use for the land and ensure that outstanding natural resource issues are resolved in a thoughtful, open, and timely way. This paper will showcase the use of GIS technologies to support Lands for Life and to enable full participation by the public including establishing an Internet site to allow for interactive query, mapping, and analysis.
Joseph Kapron
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
300 Water Street
P.O. Box 7000
Peterborough, ONTARIO K9J 8M5
CANADA
Telephone: 705-755-1616
Fax: 705-755-1640
E-mail: kapronj@gov.on.ca