Premier Dalton McGuinty Room 281, Legislative Building Queen's Park, Toronto, ON, M7A 1A1 Fax: 416-325-9895 Dear Premier McGuinty, I am writing today to urge you to implement land-use planning in Ontario's Northern Boreal Forest in advance of development. In 2003 the Liberal government promised to "institute meaningful, broad-scale land-use planning for Ontario's Northern Boreal Forest before any new major development" and it is crucial that this commitment is fulfilled. Ontario's Northern Boreal Forest has tremendous ecological and cultural value. Not only is the Boreal Forest the largest terrestrial carbon sink, but it filters our water and air, and provides habitat for countless wildlife species - including the threatened Woodland Caribou. In addition, it is culturally and spiritually important to the many First Nations communities who live there. For these reasons, it is essential that Ontario's Northern Boreal Forest is protected. Your government needs to ensure that large tracts of intact, roadless wilderness are preserved, that habitats and sensitive ecological features are protected, and that traditional aboriginal activities can be maintained. A responsible land-use plan that emphasizes ecological and cultural values, and sustainable community-based development, must be implemented immediately in order to preserve this "natural treasure". Otherwise, we will permanently lose one of the most important ecosystems on the planet. This is a pressing issue and I hope that you will take action to protect our priceless Northern Boreal Forest immediately. Sincerely,