Ontario is taking a big step forward toward global leadership. With its decision to protect half or more of our globally important Northern Boreal Region the Ontario Government is helping to make this province an international environmental leader. And it is embracing a new vision of how we will ensure the health of ecosystems, species and people.
Ontario's Northern Boreal Region stretches from James Bay and the Quebec border to Manitoba and is one of the largest intact forest regions in the world. Home to more than two-dozen First Nation communities, it is a beautiful example of what a healthy natural landscape should be. Here, big predators like wolves stalk elusive prey like caribou, polar bears venture onto the ice of the Hudson's Bay in search of seals, and wolverine stealthily search for 
opportunities to share in the bounty. Meanwhile, northern rivers and lakes team with wild fish like trout and walleye and the forests are filled each spring with the brilliant song of hundreds of thousands of migratory birds that nest in this rich environment.
It's the real deal — a fully functioning ecosystem that has not been stripped of valuable parts or connections. These forests have never been logged. Woven through the region are many of North America’s last free-flowing rivers. Wildlife populations are diverse and healthy.
Premier McGuinty's decision to work with the First Nations of the region to shape a world-leading land-use approach that supports conservation while building new economic opportunities recognizes the immense value of having a place like this in our province — and in our world.
The government's plan includes protection for 225,000 square kilometres of "conservation lands" where only tourism and traditional Aboriginal uses would be allowed. Led by the First Nations who know this land intimately, there will be an unprecedented effort to identify key ecological areas, such as critical habitat for endangered species like woodland caribou or 
important carbon sinks, before any development decisions are made.
For remaining lands, a commitment to best practices and lowest possible impact will be necessary to ensure the long-term health of the region. This means requiring forestry operations to meet the top global standard for low-impact forestry — Forest Stewardship Council certification. For energy developments, like wind and hydro, it means respecting natural limitations by staying away from nesting grounds, spawning streams and other sensitive sites. For mining, it means state-of-the-art waste treatment (including making every effort to prevent waste) and full rehabilitation and monitoring of sites on an ongoing basis.
The linchpin for bringing all these pieces together is a strong Boreal Planning Act that makes the Premier's vision an on-the-ground reality. The Act will make it clear that the principle of planning for ecosystem health before making resource decisions must be the cornerstone of our collective effort to protect this vastly important region.
In the hands of First Nations that have lived in this region for generation upon generation, these new planning and decision making tools will make it possible to improve community health and prosperity while closing the opportunity gap with other Ontarians. And it will also make it possible to protect the immensely valuable legacy of this naturally gifted region for generations to come.
