Mr. Speaker, at a time when there is great concern about protecting biodiversity, vanishing old growth forests and sustainable development, the Ontario government has given the go ahead to log and mine the Temagami wilderness region.
Over the past six years a planning council composed of Temagami aboriginal people and residents developed a comprehensive
land use plan allowing for both the conservation of wilderness and development in Temagami.
The Harris government chose to ignore their recommendations, leaving us with social unrest, discontent and chaos in the planning process. The Ontario government decision should be reversed.
Temagami is a unique environmental jewel, not a warehouse for liquidation.