Troubling Changes Loom for Ontario's Forests

The provincial government has posted a notice on the Environmental Bill of Rights Registry (ERO 25-MNRF011) indicating that they are proposing to amend the Crown Forest Sustainability Act. The posting describes some of the proposed amendments without giving any detail of how exactly the Act will be changed.

The brief write up in the post implies that the changes will be made for administrative and procedural efficiency, downplaying their significance. However, a parsing of the points listed foreshadows a more profound and disturbing restructuring of the essence of the legislation. For example, enabling one forestry company combine multiple forest management units under one forest management plan undermines the intent and concept of Ontario’s independently planned forest management units.

Delegating the Minister with the regulation making authority for the four forest manuals (the Forest Management Planning Manual, Forest Information Manual, Forest Operations and Silviculture Manual and Scaling Manual), changes that would now require Cabinet discussion and approval. The proposal acknowledges that these important manuals would have to be altered to enable the combined plan for multiple units. Would these manuals become tools to be modified at the whim of a Minister (and his/her Deputy)?

And what does “replacing harvest approvals in the CFSA with requirements in regulation related to licensing terms” mean exactly? Presently, much thought and professional input from foresters and ecologists goes into determining the blocks to be cut and features to be preserved within the plan. Are these now to be made into wood volumes to be set in licences that must be achieved irrespective of the landscape?

These are just some of the implication implied by the terse description in the EBRO posting. The Crown Forest Sustainability Act was created from knowledge and wisdom derived from several cathartic years of broad debate during the Timber Management Class Environmental Assessment hearings followed by the internally acclaimed Montreal Process informing the nature of sustainable forestry management. It is not a trifling matter to fundamentally alter this legislation.

There must be more EBRO postings as this matter progresses though the legislative process. All those who value what has been accomplished in forest sustainability must keep on the alert for what may be a nefarious agenda underlaying these proposed changes.

Earthroots is watching!

Please send in comments showing your concern! The consultation process closes November 18, 2025.

👉 https://www.regulatoryregistry...

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