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From the Thunder Bay News Source

Group releases forest industry charter
Tb News Source - 9/17/2007

A pointed message has emerged from a forestry group on the sustainability of the industry in northern Ontario – let the communities have more say in the future of their industry.

The Northern Ontario Sustainable Communities Partnership (NOSCP) has compiled a 12 point charter that they feel would create long-term viability for the industry. The ultimate goal is to create change away from the top-down approach now being taken but their immediate plans are to put this issue out front in the upcoming provincial election.

When the NOSCP was formed last November it had a goal of stabilizing an industry that's been decimated in recent years. Now they feel they have taken the first step toward that goal with the creation of a charter that outlines community-based initiatives that ensure community, workers, and where need be, First Nation's interests are upheld.

Peggy Smith, a Lakehead University Forestry Professor, is part of the group who created the charter and she says communites haven't had a say for some time and that needs to change.

''Individuals and community leaders often end up as lobbyists after the decision has been made. So we want to see mechanisms in place where the discussion about the decisions take place before the decisions are made.''

Smith says it's a change from the top-down approach currently being used. And being taken into account in a broader way, are First Nation communities. Even with treaties in place, Matawa First Nation Representative Paul Capon says, this goes further in looking after First Nation interests.

''I think it's imperative that there be a relationship with First Nations and the province that use these very principles to move ahead on. There are broader issues there that will have to be in a discussion with First Nations - hasn't happened yet - but hopefully this will help spur the movement along.''

And perhaps no time is more appropriate for that to happen than in the middle of a provincial election campaign. So far, the NOSCP's charter has received the support of many groups, including the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union.

''Historically, The Ministry of Natural Resources has been a very closed-minded group of individuals and a closed-minded bureaucracy and they're very slow to change. This is a real; change that's being proposed here, one that's long overdue and one that's extremely timely given what's happening to northern communities'' union spokesperson Cecil Makowski said.

''I think there are many people like myself and people who've been involved in developing the charter who are just frustrated with the way the discussion has been going so far. It might take some time to achieve consensus but I think we're reflecting widespread concern about where things are going right now '' Smith said.

While the Charter may be idealistic, the group's aim isn't. They know where they sit and the work that needs to be done. They are now looking for political support and are trying to organize a broadbased conference for early in the new year.

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Northern Ontario Community Forest Charter

The Northern Ontario Sustainable Communities Partnership (NOSCP) offers the Northern Ontario Community Forest Charter to promote community-based decision-making for the publicly-owned forests of Northern Ontario. The charter was drafted between June and August 2007 and approved and released for wider endorsement on August 20, 2007.

The people and forests of Northern Ontario are intimately connected. The forests of Northern Ontario provide crucial environmental services, as well as significant social and economic benefits, for the region, the province of Ontario, Canada and the world. Recognizing the contribution of and challenges to existing forest-based industries, northern communities are ready and willing to assume responsibility for the shared stewardship of northern forests in light of growing environmental, economic and social challenges. Therefore, these residents and communities, including Aboriginal peoples and communities, have the rights and responsibilities laid out in this Charter.

1. To localize control of forest management to maintain environmental sustainability while
   supporting the social and economic health of the people of the region.
2. To ensure governance mechanisms that provide effective management of community forests.
3. To ensure the separation of forest management from any one specific user group (e.g. mills).
4. To recognize, respect and help to resolve Aboriginal and treaty rights by working with Aboriginal communities.
5. To maintain public ownership and shared decision-making for all Crown forested lands.
6. To direct the resources of the forests to the economic and social development of the people of the region
7. To co-operate and organize regionally to promote healthy forests and communities.
8. To have the support of provincial and federal governments in promoting diversified local/regional economies, especially value-added production, based on a variety of forest-based businesses and activities, both timber and non-timber.
9. To have government investments directed towards community-based forest management.
10. To promote a strong working relationship with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and other government departments, federal and provincial, including scientific and management support.
11. To ensure best end use and highest value forest products are produced from forested lands.
12. To advocate for fair trade policies that ensure communities receive full value for their resources and labour.