John Yakabuski MPP Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke released this statement on June 25:
I want to begin by once again stating what an honour it has been to serve as a Minister of the Crown for the past three years.
It’s a responsibility that very few people get to experience. While the demand on one’s time could be extremely challenging, it’s a challenge that is viewed as an opportunity by anyone who is tasked with the appointment and I must say I am grateful to be one of those few.
I’d now like to reflect on a few of the accomplishments that have impacted not only the people of Renfrew-Nipissing- Pembroke but indeed those in the entire province. Locally, my first significant item was to lead the discussion on the issue of the extension of Highway 17, ensuring that it was firmly placed into the capital plan for transportation infrastructure.
As Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, one of my prime focuses was indeed the forest sector, an industry that had received little in the way of support from the previous Government. After extensive consultations with industry stakeholders, Indigenous First Nations and Municipal Leaders, we introduced Ontario’s Forest Sector Strategy. This ten year plan is built on four pillars. It has given confidence to the industry that the future is not one of mere survival, but one that allows it to reach its tremendous economic potential. Forestry provides direct and indirect jobs to 145,000 people and generates 18 billion dollars annually for our economy. Another significant change we made was to remove forestry from the burden of the Endangered Species Act. The ESA has never and could never function in the sector given the nature of its work. We now have Forestry governed by the Crown Forest Sustainability Act which is considered by many, to be the gold standard of forest management.
While high water and flooding was certainly not a problem this year, we all know that it will be at some point in the future. Such is the nature of nature! As a result of the flood of 2019, we produced Ontario’s first ever Flood Strategy. This will help us to be better prepared, more resilient and quicker to respond. It will also insure a faster and more complete recovery, in the event of flooding. At the request of the Municipalities, we also made changes to the Bonnechere River Water Management Plan that will better protect people living in those watersheds, and particularly Round Lake and Golden Lake, two of our lakes that are most susceptible to flooding.
Changes have been made to the Aggregate Resources Act that will help bring certainty to the sector while maintaining strict environmental standards.
In the area of fish and wildlife, we introduced a new Moose Management System. We had extensive feedback from across the province and appointed an Advisory Committee. With this data and advice, we came up with a new system that has received positive comments as being a significant improvement over the previous one. We have also re-instated the spring bear hunt and have made it permanent.
Something I am very proud of is initiating the process of hiring 25 new Conservation Officers. Our Conservation Officers truly are an amazing group of dedicated and committed professionals.
This snapshot of some of the changes I was able to make as Minister allows me to look back on my time with a great deal of satisfaction but also immense gratitude for having been given the opportunity to put our stamp on the file. The stamp of a regular guy from small town, rural Ontario. I always look forward to the future. Who knows what it will bring.
Lapinskie,L.(2021,June25) Column from MPP John Yakabuski [media release]
John:
I not unlike Eve have been one of your ardent supporters and your elevation to Minister was one of great hope and joy. However, as Brian Lilley of The Sun suggested U and Laurie Scott were ousted largely because of unsuitability to advance your portfolios. I knew the minute U announced the reinstatement of the Spring Bear Hunt U were history, and this was widely noted with much fanfare in the CTV/CTV News medias. This gesture may appeal to the folks in Letterkenny or Mount St. Patrick but how can you sell this to 905/416 (LOL). U had an opportunity to give the heavily taxed private landowners of over 50 acres in NPR (1000s) the same hunting concessions as farmers, but we are forced to pay for licenses and go into draws for antlerless deer tags the same as anyone hunting on Crown Land. You cite hiring more conservation officers but if one looks at the “2021 Hunting Regulations Summary”, it is more onerous with rules then ever and literally takes any joys left in hunting to the extreme limits especially for the local WMUs.
When one contrasts what Ministers like Eves (Parry Sound), Millar (Muskoka), Fideli (North Bay), Macleod (Barrhaven) and what Clarke Rollins did for Hastings/Bancroft, ur accomplishments for your constituents in NPR and particularly the Madawaska and Bonnechere Valleys are almost negligible.
Your stamp of a regular guy from small town rural Ontario are almost miniscule but infinitely better then the previous Minister with roots in the MV i.e., Sean Conway who did absolutely nothing having any legacy or positive economic impact on the Madawaska and Bonnechere Valleys. Sorry for being negative on your tenure but the facts and realities speak volumes on how little you accomplished being given the opportunity to make any significant + changes locally and in the rest of Ontario.
Mr Y is certainly a “class act” and he will always have my vote
but I wish we could vote for him without also voting for Doug Ford,
a rude and crude urban bumpkin.