To: The County of Haliburton, Warden David Burton, and Haliburton County Council

WHEREAS Haliburton County’s economy, culture, and recreational identity are deeply connected to public access to Crown land and traditional land uses such as hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, ATVing, trapping, and forestry; and

WHEREAS conservation policies affecting public land should be developed transparently, with full public consultation, independent environmental and economic assessments, and municipal oversight to ensure responsible land-use planning; and

WHEREAS the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust (HHLT) and Glenside Ecological Services Limited have been involved in land-use policy discussions that may impact public access to Crown land, and meaningful engagement with recreational users, businesses, and the broader public is essential to avoid unintended economic and social consequences; and

WHEREAS the proposed Milburn Kendrick Conservation Reserve and other land-use restrictions may limit outdoor recreation, tourism, and local economic activity, requiring clear legal safeguards to protect public access; and

WHEREAS without formal agreements ensuring continued access, previous conservation designations in Ontario have resulted in increased restrictions over time, affecting snowmobile clubs, ATV riders, hunters, and other recreational users; and

WHEREAS Haliburton County Council may be asked to support conservation initiatives without assurances that public access to trails, lakes, and recreational areas will be maintained; and

WHEREAS public land-use decisions should be made transparently and with municipal input to ensure they align with community interests; and

WHEREAS existing provincial guidelines call for evidence-based decision-making, and it is crucial that conservation policies do not create unintended harm to Haliburton County’s economy or recreational tourism; and

WHEREAS any conservation reserve designations should include commitments to maintaining public access, with reroutes or alternative access solutions in place before any trail closures occur, to avoid disruptions to businesses and residents; and

WHEREAS Haliburton County Council has the authority to advocate for responsible land-use policies, require transparency in conservation agreements, and ensure municipal involvement in decision-making related to public lands.

 

PETITION DEMANDS

We, the undersigned, request that Haliburton County Council refrain from supporting any resolutions related to the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust (HHLT) or conservation initiatives unless the following conditions are met:

1. ENSURE TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC CONSULTATION

• Require full public consultation before endorsing any conservation-related land-use policies, including formal public hearings and community engagement sessions involving recreational users, local businesses, residents and snowmobile clubs, ATV associations, hunters, anglers, trappers.
• Require that any land-use proposals affecting public access be reviewed through an open and transparent process, ensuring input from snowmobile clubs, ATV associations, hunters, anglers, and trappers.
• Request that any conservation measures be supported by independent, peer-reviewed environmental and economic impact assessments to inform County decision-making.

2. PROTECT PUBLIC ACCESS TO CROWN LAND

• Pass a formal motion affirming Haliburton County’s commitment to protecting and advocating for continued recreational access on public lands, and municipal support for traditional land uses.
• Engage with the province to ensure that conservation reserve designations explicitly recognize and preserve the right to traditional land uses, including hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and ATVing.
• Petition the Ontario government to enhance public land-use policies that recognize the importance of recreational access and tourism sustainability.

3. REQUIRE INDEPENDENT ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS

• Support the commissioning of third-party environmental impact studies conducted by qualified scientists and land-use experts with no financial or organizational ties to HHLT or Glenside.
• Ensure that all findings are subject to independent review and public scrutiny before being used to justify any land-use changes that could restrict public access.

4. PROTECT LOCAL ECONOMIES AND RECREATIONAL TOURISM

• Require that economic impact assessments be conducted before approving any land-use policies that may affect local tourism, local businesses, and local recreational industries.
• Advocate for a balanced approach that considers both environmental sustainability and economic viability, ensuring that land-use policies do not harm Haliburton County’s winter and outdoor tourism economy.

5. RECOGNIZE TRAILS AS ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE

• Pass a motion that recognizes trails as essential infrastructure.
• Work with the Ontario government to advocate for funding programs that support trail reroutes and economic mitigation efforts, ensuring that local organizations are not financially burdened by conservation-related access changes.
• Oppose the closure of existing trails unless alternative routes are fully established and in place to maintain connectivity for public access and businesses.
• Advocate for municipal and provincial funding programs to support trail reroutes and minimize disruptions to tourism and recreation.

 

6. STRENGTHEN MUNICIPAL OVERSIGHT OF CONSERVATION AGREEMENTS

• Advocate for County Council to adopt policies ensuring that any conservation reserve designation explicitly considers and protects motorized trail access, hunting, and fishing rights.
• Petition the Ontario government to strengthen municipal involvement in land-use decision-making to ensure that conservation agreements do not negatively impact public access without local oversight.

7. ALIGN CONSERVATION AGREEMENTS WITH MUNICIPAL LAND-USE POLICIES

• Require that any conservation agreements involving private organizations and public lands be reviewed by County Council and align with municipal land-use policies.
• Request that all proposed public land-use restrictions be justified through independent studies and ensure that alternative access routes are implemented before any restrictions take effect.

We, the undersigned, urge Haliburton County Council to prioritize transparency, public access, and responsible land-use policies when considering any resolutions supporting the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust (HHLT) or related conservation initiatives.

Public access to Crown land and traditional recreational uses must be safeguarded through open consultation and balanced decision-making that reflects the needs of residents, local businesses, and recreational users.

We call upon Haliburton County Council to advocate for policies that protect both the environment and the region’s economic and cultural heritage while ensuring responsible and transparent governance of public land-use decisions.