For several months, a coalition of indigenous and municipal leaders, chambers of commerce, unions and forest sector companies has been voicing concerns over new rules for species at risk in Ontario. The group cited “a lack of meaningful consultation by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF).”

According to the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities, the group has achieved some success. FONOM reports that the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, Kathryn McGarry, has promised to delay the posting of a species at risk guide in the environmental registry.

Northern mayors were concerned that there would be little change to the species at risk guide once it was posted to the registry.

Forest companies’ activities must already conform to the Crown Forest Sustainabilty Act, which takes into account species at risk as well as social and economic factors.