Published plans and annual reports 2024–2025: Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry

Ministry overview

Ministry’s Vision

The people of Ontario benefit from the health and wealth of the province’s natural resources, today and in the future.

Ministry’s Mission

To manage and promote the responsible use of Ontario’s natural resources.

Mandate

The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is responsible for protecting and managing the province’s diverse natural resources to support Ontario’s economic prosperity, environmental sustainability, and quality of life for the people of Ontario.

To achieve its mandate commitments, the ministry oversees and implements five key activities:

• protect the public from natural disasters or hazards, such as floods and wildland fires
• deliver direct services to the public and industry, such as fishing and hunting licences
• promote economic growth and job creation by supporting industries like forestry and aggregates
• conduct monitoring, research, and planning for the management and use of Ontario’s natural resources
• develop legislation, policies, and implement programs to regulate the sustainable and responsible use and management of Ontario’s natural resources and Crown lands

In addition, the ministry is continuing to modernize and streamline work to find internal efficiencies and implement initiatives that align with government priorities, including completing Lean reviews on business processes, digitizing natural resources management services and working with partner ministries to deliver better services to Ontarians.

2024–25 Strategic plan

The ministry’s strategic plan contains long-term goals and desired outcomes that will guide the ministry and focus efforts to achieve government priorities and deliver on its mandate to promote Ontario’s economic prosperity, while responsibly managing and developing the province’s natural resources.

The ministry is undertaking several initiatives throughout 2024–25 to advance the government’s priorities. Selected ministry initiatives in relation to each priority are described below.

Ministry contribution to government priorities and results

Government priority: Advance economic development

• Ministry priorities
  • Increased business and job creation in Ontario’s natural resources economy.
• Deliverables
  • Promote economic growth and job creation in Ontario’s forestry, aggregates, and fishery sectors.
  • Promote sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities.
• Key activities
  • Ongoing implementation of Sustainable Growth: Ontario’s Forest Sector Strategy (FSS) — The FSS is part of the government’s plan to create jobs, reduce administrative burden, and promote economic growth and prosperity across the province, while ensuring responsible stewardship of our natural resources for future generations. The strategy aligns with other government strategies including the Made-In- Ontario Environment Plan and Ontario’s Housing Supply Action Plan to help Ontario achieve its objectives to responsibly grow the forest sector while creating opportunity and prosperity for the many people who depend on it, including Indigenous, northern and rural communities. Four pillars of action, with specific actions and goals for each pillar, provide a framework to collaborate with the forest sector, other ministries, external partners, and other levels of government.
  • Continued implementation of the Forest Biomass Action Plan (FBAP) — As part of delivering on commitments in the FSS, the ministry released a 5–year action plan with the goal of securing jobs, supporting economic development, and encouraging sustainability in the forest sector through the use of Ontario’s forest biomass (mill residues, forest biofibre). Implementation of the plan’s actions will continue until the end of 2026. In 2023–24, the ministry implemented a $20 million Forest Biomass Program that focuses on supporting initiatives that secure and increase long- term wood utilization across the province, with a focus on underutilized species and forest biomass. The ministry received, reviewed, and approved applications for projects to be implemented within the fiscal year. The ministry received approval for an ongoing annual $20 million program starting in 2024–25.
  • Forest Policy Framework — The ministry is committed to enhancing sustainable forest management in Ontario’s managed forests to support long-term forest health, while ensuring that Ontario’s forest sector and products continue to meet standards of responsible forestry. The ministry is reviewing and updating the forest manuals to further modernize and streamline the forest management planning and wood measurement process requirements to reduce burden for forest industry and enable First Nation communities in Ontario’s Far North to prepare and implement community-based forest management plans to support economic development opportunities. The framework provides the flexibility to adapt local forest management actions to both resist and respond to potential climate change impacts. The ministry is also revising the Forest Management Guide for Conserving Biodiversity at the Stand and Site Scale to ensure that direction continues to be effective and efficient to implement.
  • Public Lands Act Policy Framework — The ministry is streamlining procedural aspects of the ministry policy for acquiring public land within municipalities, to support economic development in communities.
  • Implementation of Protecting People and Property: Ontario’s Flooding Strategy — Released in March 2020, the strategy includes over 90 initiatives designed to help ensure the continued social and economic prosperity of Ontario communities threatened by flooding. As the lead for the Strategy, the ministry will continue to collaborate with other ministries, municipalities, and external partners to advance the actions outlined within the Strategy and increase the province’s resiliency to flood related emergencies. Through Natural Resources Canada’s Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program (FHIMP), the ministry leverages federal funding to support flood mapping projects undertaken by municipalities, planning authorities, Conservation Authorities, Indigenous communities, or other qualified experts.
  • Land Information Program — Starting in 2024–25, the ministry will invest $8.3 million over 3 years to support modernization, centralization, and increased access to the Land Information Ontario (LIO) program. This investment will address the current issue of mapping tool lags and high administrative cost while providing a public good. It will have a strong positive impact to municipalities, businesses, and the OPS at low-cost relative to the status quo.
  • Aggregate Resources Policy Framework — The ministry will continue to ensure that its policy framework enables access to aggregate resources and minimizes the impact of aggregate operations.
  • Geospatial Data Services — The ministry provides foundational geospatial data that is critical to supporting Ontario’s Digital and Data Strategy and digital economy. This includes the geospatial and land tenure data required for resource development and economic growth in the mining, water and wind power, engineering, and construction industries. The data also underpins the delivery of mobile, cost-effective, location-based services to Ontarians.
  • Science and Research — The ministry is an authoritative source within the Ontario Public Service of science services that contribute to the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of Ontario’s natural resources. Science services including inventory, monitoring, research, analyses, and reporting, to inform decision-making and policy development related to the management and regulation of natural resources and the environment.
  • Outdoor Recreation Opportunities — The ministry will continue to promote fish and wildlife outdoor activities in 2024–25 through marketing and communications channels, including social media, fishing and hunting regulation summaries, newsletters, outreach events, the Learn to Fish program and Fish ON-Line.
  • Fish and Wildlife — The ministry will support the recreational fishery, which is important to the province, both economically and socially. With more than 250,000 lakes and countless rivers and streams, Ontario’s vast aquatic resources provide anglers a wide range of fishing opportunities, from shoreline fishing in the city to fly-in fishing trips in remote areas of the province. There are 1.3 million people licensed to hunt and fish in Ontario. Anglers alone spend $1.74 billion per year on recreational fishing in Ontario. In addition to management of self-sustaining fish populations, the ministry raises approximately eight million fish per year and stocks them in 1,200 lakes across the province, both to rehabilitate degraded populations, but also to provide new fishing opportunities and the economic benefits these provide. The ministry also supports sustainable native wildlife populations and their ecosystems, which provide important ecological, cultural, economic, and social benefits for Ontarians. Hunters spend more than $587 million annually on hunting trips, which support jobs and businesses in many rural and northern communities that depend on them. 
    The ministry will support commercial fisheries through science and monitoring programs that support sustainable quotas for the industry. Fishers have access to programs that provide for licensing and quota tracking that support business needs. The ministry directly supports industry initiatives such as the Marine Stewardship Certification. This certification allows fisheries to access markets requiring “eco-certification” and ensures that Ontario’s commercial fish products are well represented in the broader marketplace.
  • Red Tape Reduction — Since 2019, the ministry has reduced direct annual costs to business by approximately $3 million and regulatory compliance requirements by 18%. The ministry will continue to reduce red tape by modernizing the regulatory environment and being responsive to stakeholders, improving our natural resources programs and services and growing Ontario’s natural resources sector.
  • Geologic Carbon Storage — The ministry will continue to move ahead with Ontario’s plan to regulate geologic carbon storage through a phased approach as outlined in the public facing document Roadmap Towards Regulating Geologic Carbon Storage that was released on Ontario.ca in 2022. In 2024–25 the ministry will continue developing a regulatory framework for commercial-scale carbon storage projects, taking a measured approach to create a model that is the right fit for Ontario. The ministry plans to move forward with public consultations this summer and aims to have a commercial framework in place by summer 2025.
  • Surveying Profession — To help address the professional surveyor shortage in Ontario, the ministry is working with the Association of Ontario Land Surveyors to consider changes to make it easier for Surveyors from other jurisdictions to practice in Ontario and allow more competition and innovation within the profession. Additional surveyors will help Ontario meet critical public needs, including housing development.

Government priority: Fiscally responsible service delivery

• Ministry priorities
  • Prudent fiscal management.
  • Service delivery that maintains service level standards.
• Deliverables
  • Managing from within Treasury Board approved allocations.
  • Promote innovative strategies that enable more efficient and sustainable public service delivery that effectively maintains service level standards.
• Key activities
  • Budget Management — The ministry demonstrates its commitment to fiscal responsibility and fiscal prudence to protect against threats like inflationary impacts, in order to create opportunities for the people of Ontario to prosper. This includes modernizing and transforming our processes and functions using lean six sigma principles to ensure sustainable public services, improving business outcomes, and continuing to sustainably manage Ontario’s natural resources.
  • Managing Risks of Subsurface Gas Migration and Legacy Wells — In 2023–24, the ministry received approval for $23.65 million over 3 years to support its work on the development of a comprehensive long-term action plan to help manage risks posed by legacy gas wells and related subsurface gas migration hazards. In 2024–25, the ministry will continue to implement critical aspects of the comprehensive long-term action plan needed to reduce risks.
  • Geospatial Data Services — The ministry coordinates partnerships to acquire, use and distribute foundational geospatial data across governments, the broader public sector, academic and business sectors, and the public. This ensures that geospatial data is accurate and accessible at a reduced cost. The ministry embraces Ontario’s digital service standard to deliver mapping tools, enterprise agreements and shared solutions that reduce duplication and costs. As part of its Foundation Geospatial Data Strategy, the ministry will release its first full evaluation of Ontario’s foundation geospatial data in 2024–25.
  • Leveraging federal funding for flood mapping — The ministry continues to work with the federal government to secure federal investment in creating and updating flood hazard mapping in Ontario, including participation in the Federal FHIMP program, that directly supports, Municipalities, Conservation Authorities, and private landowners in flood mapping projects. The ministry is committed to continuing to work with federal partners to improve Ontario’s elevation data holdings, deliver additional funding and continue to invest in local projects of greatest value to municipalities, Indigenous communities, and other partners.
  • Lean — The ministry uses Lean processes to develop efficient, effective, and nimble public services. The ministry’s Lean Strategy focuses on communications, training and applying lean practices to improve business processes and work experience. The ministry continues to increase its capacity to use Lean processes by leveraging a lean mentoring program and a community of practice.
  • Continuation of modernization of the ministry’s natural hazard emergency management program — The ministry will continue with the next phase of the natural hazard emergency management modernization project by focusing on identifying, assessing, and recommending changes to the ministry’s wildland fire program. The work will include improvements to prevention and mitigation, predictive services and risk assessment, communications and preparedness and response. This project is a multi-year initiative with a desired outcome of creating a modern, integrated, and comprehensive natural hazard emergency management program for the ministry.
  • Public Safety Radio Network project — In 2024–25, the ministry received approval for $4 million over 2 years for the ongoing implementation of the public safety radio network. Replacing the existing dated radio network system with a new network will ensure Ontario is compliant to the current North American standard for public safety networks, will meet the legislated security and privacy standards, and will ensure that first responders are protected with a robust and reliable radio network and equipment. The ministry and the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) programs benefiting from the project include 37 Forest Fire Management Headquarters and Attack Bases, the ministry Provincial Communication Unit, 94 ministry Offices, 340 Provincial Parks and 295 Conservation Areas/Reserves.

Government priority: Responsive Customer Service

• Ministry priorities
  • Deliver services that are flexible, customer-focused, and cost-effective.
• Deliverables
  • Promote service delivery modernization strategies that enable more accessible and convenient service delivery to the people of Ontario.
• Key activities
  • Fishing and Hunting Customer Service and Support — The ministry continues to provide customer service to anglers and hunters, including licensing and big game draw services, contact centre support, social media and the fish and wildlife licence issuer network. The ministry’s contact centre has undertaken a Lean assessment and implemented enhancements to their phone service to improve the client experience. This includes streamlining incoming calls to reduce the amount of phone menu navigation and adding in-queue messaging and 24-hour self-service information to provide clients with access to commonly requested information.
  • Natural Resources Enforcement — The ministry will focus on enforcement priorities such as illegal moose hunting, promotion of hunting safety, illegal commercialization of Ontario’s natural resources and illegal recreational fishing.
  • Natural Resources Information Portal (NRIP) — The ministry continues to implement the online Natural Resources Information Portal to reduce burden on businesses and people by providing fast, accessible, and secure online approval and activity reporting services. In 2024–25, the ministry will continue to modernize services to clients focused on accessibility, alignment with Ontario Digital Standards, and improve functionality. This will include responding to revised forest policy requirements, expanding the ability to pay online, adding enhanced online submissions, and modernizing legacy IT applications.
  • Approvals and Authorizations Modernization — The ministry is modernizing services and approvals by reviewing all regulatory approvals under 23 pieces of legislation, seeking to optimize delivery. In 2024–25, the ministry is planning multiple releases to move approvals online, providing clients 24–7 access to applications.
  • Niagara Escarpment Modernization — The ministry is considering opportunities to modernize and streamline processes including those related to development permit applications. Existing policy protections for the Niagara Escarpment will remain intact while improving service delivery for permitting.
  • Commercial Fisheries Modernization — The ministry will continue to work with the Ontario Commercial Fisheries’ Association, licensed commercial fishers, fish processors and buyers to simplify and streamline licencing, quota management, and reporting processes for the industry. The goals of this project include faster licence renewals and easier harvest reporting.

Ministry programs

The ministry’s key program objectives and initiatives are described below.

1. Forest industry

The Forest Industry Program leads economic development for the forestry sector and implements initiatives to promote an economically viable forest industry in Ontario. The program oversees activities related to the allocation, use and pricing of Crown timber, the management and collection of Crown timber charges and the delivery of business development policies and initiatives affecting Ontario’s Forest products sector.

Key program initiatives in 2024–25

• Continue to defend Ontario’s interests in the ongoing softwood lumber trade dispute between Canada and the United States (US). The dispute involves ongoing investigations, administrative reviews conducted by the US Department of Commerce, and multiple appeals taking place under the North American Free Trade Agreement / Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement and at the World Trade Organization. The ministry works closely with our partners in industry, other provinces, and the federal government to support the Canadian forest industry, advocate for free trade, and maintain market access in the United States.
• Continue to implement Sustainable Growth: Ontario’s Forest Sector Strategy (FSS). The ministry will continue to collaborate with other ministries, stakeholders, Indigenous communities, research organizations and other levels of government to undertake projects and activities that support FSS goals and actions. These collaborations include investments in forest infrastructure and innovation, public awareness campaigns, advocacy efforts, legislative and regulatory changes, policy and program development, transfer payment support, and the procurement of research and studies.
• Working with stakeholders, Indigenous communities, and other ministries to support the creation of career pathways and promoting innovation to address workforce challenges, in the forest sector.
• Ongoing implementation of the Forest Biomass Action Plan (FBAP), as committed to under Pillar 3 of the FSS. The FBAP identifies priority areas aimed at addressing 5 objectives, including: identifying pathways to markets, supporting demand, creating a supportive policy environment, supporting Indigenous participation, partnerships, and reconciliation, and increasing communication about forest bioeconomy development opportunities.
• Continue to implement the Forest Biomass Program. First launched in 2023–24, the program will continue to focus on supporting initiatives that secure and increase long-term wood utilization across the province, with a focus on underutilized species and forest biomass.
• Lead the multi-ministry Ontario Bioheat Initiative to improve and support the use of biofuels for a source of heat in Ontario. This initiative supports the increased demand for wood-based biofuels, which contributes to economic growth in Ontario’s forest industry by providing new markets for Crown forest resources.
• In collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade (MEDJCT), ongoing delivery of the Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program (FSIIP), which supports actions in the Putting More Wood to Work and Fostering Innovation, Markets and Talent pillars of the FSS. FSIIP will continue to encourage regional economic development, business growth and job creation in forest-dependent regions across northern and rural Ontario by supporting projects that demonstrate:
  • positive impact on regional economies
  • importance to Ontario’s Forest sector
  • process and / or product innovation
  • exports / market expansion
  • productivity improvements
• Continue to deliver the Provincial Forest Access Roads Funding Program to support rural road infrastructure in Crown forests used by the forest industry, mining companies, utilities, railways, hunters, campers, anglers, and Indigenous communities, and to support emergency preparedness. For 2024–25 the ministry was approved for a one-year increase of $6 million for the program. The increase will support the ministry’s goal of increasing investment and economic opportunities in Ontario by providing and maintaining critical road access for commercial activities in the forestry and mining sectors. It also supports the ministry’s goal to provide timely and effective response to wildland fires, as these roads provide part of the rural infrastructure for fire response and other emergencies.
• Continue to co-lead the Wildfire Solutions Forum, an initiative between forest industry and the ministry aimed at promoting dialogue and collaboration between the wildland fire program and industry. The initiative supports practical solutions in wildland fire prevention, mitigation, and response, related to impacts to forest industry business practices.

2. Natural resources policy

The Natural Resources Policy Program leads the development, guidance and evaluation of evidence-based provincial legislation, regulations, policies, and programs. The program also ensures that the ministry meets the Crown’s rights-based obligation to consult with Indigenous peoples and communities, and engages relevant partners, stakeholders, government, and non-government interests across the province.

Key program initiatives in 2024–25 include:

• Reduce the harmful impacts of invasive species. The government is investing $16 million over 3 years to fund the newly launched Invasive Phragmites Control Fund and expand the Invasive Species Action Fund. The province shares jurisdiction of invasive species management with municipalities and this supports the continuation of the transfer payment program that has existed for the past year.
• Continued implementation of Ontario’s Flooding Strategy, working with several ministries, and partners to make Ontario more resilient to flooding in the long term. Priorities include updating technical guidance for identifying flood and erosion hazards, investing in the creation and updating enhanced flood mapping and promoting sound land use planning decisions.
• Modernize, centralize, and increased access to the Land Information Ontario (LIO) program. Starting in 2024–25, the ministry will allocate $8.3 million over three years to support the modernization of the program. This investment will address the current issue of mapping tool lags and high administrative cost. The changes will have a strong positive impact for municipalities, businesses, and the OPS at low-cost relative to the status quo.
• Work with the Niagara Escarpment Commission to implement the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act and to modernize and streamline land-use planning of the Niagara Escarpment Program, while continuing to protect the area and the social and economic benefits it provides to the province.
• Continue to implement risk-informed approaches to dam safety under the Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act, including streamlined approaches for low-risk dam repairs and agreements with qualified dam owners.
• Work with the Association of Ontario Land Surveyors to consider changes to help address surveyor shortages. This will enable Ontario to meet public needs including housing development and to improve innovation throughout the surveying community.

3. Natural resource science and research

The Science and Research branch provides quality science services to inform natural resource management decisions that contribute to the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of Ontario’s natural resources. Key deliverables include leading, coordinating, and developing applied research; and developing and implementing provincial resource inventory and monitoring programs. The ministry also provides science support to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), related to its Ontario Parks and Species at Risk mandates.

Key program initiatives in 2024–25

• Continue to utilize Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology to inventory Ontario’s Crown forests, for monitoring of the land base and wood supply in Ontario. The new inventory will create a three-dimensional image of the forest. The technology will provide more accurate measurements and forecasting of wood supply than previous inventories. 2024–25 will mark the delivery of the ministry’s first Forest Resources Inventory using LiDAR for the White River Forest Management Unit.
• Use applied aquatic research and broad-scale monitoring of inland lakes to provide information on the health of Ontario’s freshwater ecosystems and support management of recreational and commercial fisheries.
• Continue implementation of the Ontario Wildlife Monitoring Network (OWMN), a developing network of long-term field plots using automated cameras, acoustic recorders, and small mammal trapping to collect data on wildlife and wildlife habitat across the Managed Forest. When fully implemented, OWMN will provide information to support a wide range of ministry resource management decision-making needs.
• Utilize forest health monitoring to support forest pest management, including undertaking annual forest health surveys to assess the impact of forest pests, providing science support to control programs for spruce budworm in the Boreal Forest and comparing and improving eDNA survey techniques for oak wilt and hemlock woolly adelgid.
• Conduct repeated measurement, analysis, and interpretation of fixed area plots to develop growth and yield models and tools that help ensure a predictable and sustainable wood supply and reduce uncertainty in forest management planning.
• Undertake wildlife research and monitoring to inform Ontarians about the health of wildlife across the province; conduct aerial inventories of moose populations; deliver Ontario’s black bear population monitoring project; deliver the rabies control program; test for the presence of Chronic Wasting Disease (a fatal disease affecting white-tailed deer, American elk, moose, and woodland caribou); investigate sightings of wild pigs (a potentially costly invasive species), and remove animals as required.
• Conduct applied forest research to support resource management decision-making regarding silviculture best practices, growth and yield modelling, oak wilt disease, beech leaf disease, hemlock woolly adelgid, seed transfer, genetic tree form improvement, forest regeneration, wood product carbon sequestration, and landscape-level evaluations.
• Continue working with MECP to develop a caribou science plan to fulfil the Canada-Ontario Caribou Conservation agreement established in April 2022.

4. Mapping and geographic information

The Mapping and Geographic Information Program provides geographic information, Crown land surveying, digital and data leadership as well as information management services to government, academia, business, and the public. In support of this program, Land Information Ontario (LIO) ensures geographic data is effectively collected, managed, and maintained and meets the objectives of Ontario’s Open Data Directive. Geographic data has many uses across the public, private and academic sectors, by supporting locational insight, place-based decision-making, and navigation. The program also supports the Surveyors Act, Surveys Act, Mining Act and Public Lands Act to ensure Ontario’s property framework continues to support a strong economy.

Key program initiatives in 2024–25

• Acquire up to 30,000 square kilometres of LiDAR data through the new Provincial Elevation Mapping Program providing high resolution elevation data that serves multiple business sectors, including flood mapping, agriculture, engineering, surveying, mining, and resource management.
• Build on the ministry’s digital progress guided by the ministry’s Digital Strategy and the Data Maturity Plan, leaning processes, focusing on users, and providing exceptional and inclusive services to citizens, stakeholders, and businesses.
• Provide public access to over 400 geographic datasets, plus thousands of associated and derived datasets, through Ontario GeoHub, a data discovery and access tool that allows users to download or stream the data they need. The number of Ontario GeoHub users increased by 110,000 in 2023 to over 270,000 users. By providing public access to government data, the ministry is supporting Ontario’s Open Data initiatives as well as Ontario’s digital economy and ensuring Ontario is delivering simpler, faster, and better services for people and businesses.
• Provide survey advice to the mining, waterpower, and construction industries to accurately delineate land boundaries, and to support First Nations land claim negotiations.
• Expand partnerships through LIO to collect and improve a range of foundational geospatial data such as land parcels, aerial photography, elevation, roads, and water to avoid duplication, reduce costs and enhance data quality.
• Encourage Ontarians to participate in geographic naming decisions within their communities by completing online questionnaires. Official geographic names help to identify historic, cultural, and natural features on the landscape that are essential for mapping, emergency response, resource management, travel and tourism and law enforcement.

5. Forest management

The Forest Management Program enables a healthy and viable forest industry in Ontario by fostering a competitive business environment, jobs and investment opportunities for the province’s forest and wood products sectors. The program guides the development and maintenance of sustainable forest policy and programs that ensure long-term health of forests. The program accomplishes its mandate through inter-governmental co-operation on national forestry initiatives; forest management planning, renewal, and protection from pests; monitoring; auditing; information management; and public reporting on Ontario’s public forests.

Key program initiatives in 2024–25

• Work with the forest sector to implement revisions to the Forest Management Planning Manual and the Forest Information Manual and associated technical specifications in support of the Forest Sector Strategy. Key proposed changes include modernizing the process to develop the strategic direction in a forest management plan, enabling community-based forest management initiatives in Ontario’s Far North, and ensuring the effective and efficient exchange of forest information. This is a multi-year initiative. The targeted effective date for the revised manuals is July 1, 2024.
• Conduct a review of the Forest Management Guides for the Boreal and Great Lakes — St. Lawrence landscapes including broad stakeholder and Indigenous engagement and revising the Forest Management Guide for Conserving Biodiversity at the Stand and Site Scale.
• Revise the policy for independent forest audits under Ontario’s Independent Forest Audit regulation (Ontario Regulation 319/20 under the Crown Forest Sustainability Act), based on a 2022–23 review of the implementation of the regulation completed by the Ontario Internal Audit Division (OIAD). The targeted effective date for the revised policy is for use with 2025 audits.
• Develop strategic direction for managing forest pests in Ontario. The ministry is proposing a strategic, risk-based approach to enhance our response to forest pest outbreaks, help protect forest health and improve resiliency of Ontario’s forests. The objective is to maintain healthy and resilient forests, minimize socioeconomic impacts from forest pests, and raise awareness of forest pests.
• Represent Ontario’s interests in inter-governmental initiatives such as the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers and its working groups such as the Forests in Mind Program, whose mandate focuses on supporting strategic decision-making based on market intelligence and ensuring international audiences recognize Canada’s forest products as sustainable.
• Continue to work with industry to improve and modernize wood measurement practices and policies, explore new technology and concepts, and draft revisions to the Scaling Manual.

6. Fish and wildlife

The Fish and Wildlife Program manages Ontario’s fish and wildlife resources to ensure the sustainability of fish and wildlife populations, and the management of fishing, hunting, and trapping opportunities for the ecological, social, cultural, and economic benefit of Ontarians. The program accomplishes its mandate through resource management planning, research and monitoring, and the delivery of public services to sustain healthy fish and wildlife populations for Ontario’s future.

As part of the ministry’s program review cycle, the ministry has completed a review of the Fish and Wildlife Program to identify opportunities for continuous improvement with respect to strategic alignment and value for money.

Key program initiatives in 2024–25

• Continue to seek feedback from the public and stakeholders on the Fish and Wildlife Licensing Service and explore opportunities for system improvements to address client preferences.
• Develop and implement a continuous improvement plan in response to the Fish and Wildlife Program Review which identified opportunities for improvement with respect to strategic alignment, coordinated delivery, governance, and accountability. Efforts in 2024–25 will help ensure the program realizes its full potential with respect to delivering value and benefits to Ontarians now and into the future.
• Continue to manage the Great Lakes fisheries to ensure long-term sustainable economic and social cultural benefits from recreational, commercial, and Indigenous fisheries. This includes working collaboratively with the Saugeen Ojibway Nation and Parks Canada on the Together with Giigoonyag (fishes) research project. The project aims to better understand the health of dikameg (lake whitefish) and other fish species in parts of Lake Huron using a Two-Eyed Seeing Approach that brings together Saugeen Ojibway Nation’s ecological knowledge and western science.
  • The ministry is also working collaboratively with the commercial fishing industry and Indigenous communities to consider options to improve lake whitefish populations in Lake Huron.
  • In addition, the ministry is working with the commercial fish industry to maintain Marine Stewardship Certification of Lake Erie Walleye and Yellow Perch, including work with U.S. Great Lake State partners to monitor and assess the status of walleye and yellow perch populations.
• Continue to work with the Ontario Commercial Fisheries’ Association, licensed commercial fishers, fish processors and buyers to simplify and streamline licencing, quota management, and reporting processes for the industry. Goals of this project include faster licence renewals and easier harvest reporting.
• Continue to implement Ontario’s Sustainable Bait Management Strategy which addresses ecological threats and increases protection for Ontario’s vibrant fisheries while minimizing impacts on anglers and increasing business certainty for the commercial industry that relies on bait.
• Continue to work with the aquaculture sector on the Great Lakes to ensure further economic growth, while balancing environmental and social concerns. This includes implementing 20-year Aquaculture Licences and long-term Crown Land leases, standardized environmental monitoring and licence conditions, and working with Indigenous communities in support of a collaborative approach to responsible management of this industry.
• Continue to implement Ontario’s trapline allocation policy to ensure consistency, clarity and fairness for the management and allocation of vacant registered trapline areas.
• Continue to work with key partners, including the Ontario Fur Managers Federation, to identify ways to modernize trapper licensing and improve client services.
• Continue to emphasize moose research and monitoring efforts to implement priorities to ensure sustainable management of Ontario’s moose population and optimization of monitoring programs such as the moose aerial inventory program.
• Implement government direction to support the licensing of new dog train and trial facilities.
• Implement the ministry’s Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) plan to support CWD prevention and response.
• Collaborate with other ministries and external partners to renew Ontario’s Invasive Species Strategic Plan. The renewed Plan will provide updated policy direction and commitments to modernize and guide invasive species prevention and management efforts across Ontario.
• Continue to implement the Invasive Species Act to protect Ontario’s biodiversity and mitigate the impacts of invasive species to our economy and communities. This includes working closely with and supporting partners to monitor, control, and raise awareness about high-risk invasive species such as invasive carp, wild pigs, water soldier, water chestnut, hydrilla and marbled crayfish.
• Continue to work with partner ministries and external partners to better understand and integrate biodiversity and climate change considerations into policies and programs. This includes working with the Ontario Biodiversity Council to implement Ontario’s Biodiversity Strategy, which establishes a whole-of-society approach to biodiversity management and promotes actions that benefit biodiversity, address climate change, improve human health, strengthen communities and support the economy.

7. Regional natural resources operations

The Regional Natural Resources Operations Program is responsible for the localized coordination and delivery of ministry programs and services. Specifically, the program delivers public services through a network of regional, district, and field offices located across the province via an inter-disciplinary workforce. Services include land-use planning, management, and allocation of resources, permits, licences and approvals in the areas of forests, fisheries, wildlife, Crown lands (including dams), waters, wetlands, aggregates, and the petroleum sector.

Key program initiatives in 2024–25

• Issue and maintain Sustainable Forest Licences to enable the harvest and use of forest resources within a management unit.
• Continue to implement and improve the ministry’s Natural Resources Information Portal (NRIP), including client services, with the development of additional online forms and expanding opportunities for online payments, service delivery modernization for forest management planning, land management, aggregate resource management services, and legacy IT systems. The portal makes it easier and faster to exchange mandatory information with the forest and aggregate sectors, reduces costs and risks associated with outdated software, eliminates complex and confusing paper forms, and provides more effective online public engagement and access to natural resource management information. The portal will be the central data repository to store submitted information, which will enable more efficient and cost-effective approval processes across the majority of resource management approvals.
• Work with qualified dam owners to streamline approvals for low-risk alterations, improvements, and repairs to dams to reduce burden to the waterpower industry, while enhancing dam safety.
• In 2023–24, the ministry committed $23.6 million over 3 years to support its work on the development of a comprehensive long-term action plan to help manage risks posed by legacy wells and related subsurface gas migration hazards. In 2024–25, the ministry will continue to implement critical aspects of the plan needed to reduce risks. The plan will help to better identify actions to reduce risks and enhance emergency preparedness and response. The ministry is engaging partner agencies, municipalities, sector-stakeholders, Indigenous communities, landowners, and the public at key stages during the development of the action plan and its implementation:
  • Investments in 2024–25 will focus on the completion of scientific studies and information gathering exercises to support the development of the comprehensive long-term action plan, including a risk assessment methodology to better understand the risks that legacy oil and gas wells pose across the landscape and a jurisdictional scan to fully understand how other jurisdictions across the world manage similar issues and how these experiences might be applied in Ontario.
  • Initiate comprehensive consultation with partner municipalities, Indigenous communities, stakeholders, and the public to ensure that the long-term action plan considers the needs of all stakeholders and clients for both today and in anticipation of the future.
  • Continue working with the Oil and Gas regulated community to increase awareness and understanding of their legislative requirements through promotion and education.
  • Provide $7.5 million in funding to municipalities in southwestern Ontario over 3 years to address risk from legacy oil and gas wells. In 2023–24 (the first year), $2.0 million was provided to nine municipalities, with a focus on improving emergency preparedness and risk prevention. The planned funding for 2024–25 is $2.5 million.

8. Natural resources enforcement

The Natural Resources Enforcement Program delivers professional enforcement services and activities to ensure compliance with natural resource legislation for the protection of Ontario’s natural resources and public safety. The program accomplishes its mandate through public engagement, investigations, focused deterrence activities, responses to public complaints and prosecution of natural resource offenders. The program also contributes to the development and renewal of natural resource management policy and legislation.

Key program initiatives in 2024–25

• Develop and deliver messaging and products to increase public awareness of unsafe hunting practices and the factors that increase the likelihood of hunting incidents occurring.
• Continue efforts to raise awareness of illegal moose hunting through social media communications.
• Conduct targeted patrols to address illegal recreational fishing based on past trends, fish population data and seasonal fishing regulations.
• Collect information and develop intelligence to inform enforcement actions related to illegal commercialization of Ontario’s natural resources.
• Continue to work with Indigenous communities through the Collaborative Compliance Initiative to resolve natural resource offences involving Indigenous persons through community-based restorative justice.

9. Far North

The Far North Program is responsible for the delivery of the Far North Act within a specific geographic area. The program implements a joint community-based land-use planning process with Far North First Nations partners. It also supports the review of economic development opportunities, including all-season roads, transmission corridors and mining development in the Ring of Fire region.

Key program initiatives in 2024–25

• Continue to implement a joint community-based land-use planning process with Far North First Nations. The ministry will focus on supporting joint planning with willing First Nations partners.
• Continue to support strategic initiatives including the Ring of Fire and all-season road proposals; and provide expert advice and input to ministry and OPS policy initiatives that impact the Far North.

10. Public safety and natural hazard emergency response

The Public Safety and Natural Hazard Emergency Response Program provides specialized wildland fire, emergency management and aviation services to protect people and economic values from the following 7 natural hazards: wildland fires, floods, drought/low water, dam failure, oil, gas, salt solution-mining and underground storage emergencies, erosion, soil, and bedrock instability. The program aims to prevent the loss of human life and injury, and to prevent and mitigate other losses and economic and social disruption. The program also delivers frontline operations for wildland fire management and provides support to Emergency Management Ontario and other ministries in the delivery of emergency response in Ontario. This includes the aerial evacuation of residents in communities affected by flood or wildland fire.

Key program initiatives in 2024–25

• Monitor, plan, prepare for and respond to wildland fires in Ontario and support other mutual aid resource partners. A key focus in 2024–25 is to implement new recruitment, retention, and training initiatives to increase the number of wildland fire fighters and to support skill development and health and safety. Work will continue on innovative communication approaches including situational briefings for industry, municipalities, Indigenous communities and the public. New opportunities will be explored to partner with Indigenous communities to support their efforts in emergency management and to develop inter-operability between the ministry and Indigenous communities.
• Continue with the next phase of the natural hazard emergency management modernization project by focusing on identifying, assessing, and recommending changes to the ministry’s wildland fire program including improvements to prevention and mitigation, predictive services and risk assessment, communications, and preparedness and response. This project is a multi-year initiative towards the goal of creating a modern, integrated, and comprehensive natural hazard emergency management program for the ministry.
• Through a $64 million four-year provincial/federal contribution agreement under the Fighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate Equipment Fund, the program will purchase firefighting equipment and fund ongoing key modernization initiatives including:
  • The purchase of wildland firefighting equipment, including support vehicles, fuel systems, tankers, and trucks.
  • Investments in modernization initiatives to understand the trends, challenges, and risks that Ontario residents, communities, business, and governments are likely to face to develop the skills, programs, and technologies that will allow the ministry, other partners, and communities be prepared for and respond to natural resource disaster events of the future with a specific focus on wildland fire events.
• In 2024–25, received approval of $17.4 million over 3 years for the purchase of firefighting equipment, IT modernization, and the procurement and purchase of a medium-class helicopter. This investment is fully offset by revenues from the Federal government under the Fighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate (FMWCC) program.
• 107 permanent FTEs and $22.1 million in staffing costs over 3 years and ongoing to add capacity to protect Ontario against wildland fires and other natural resource disasters.
• Invest up to $15 million over 4 years, beginning in 2024–25, to advance flood mapping in Ontario under the federal Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program. Most of the funds will be provided to interested conservation authorities and municipalities to map local flood hazard areas.
• Continue to participate in and co-lead collaborative pan-Canadian prevention and mitigation planning efforts, as well as actively increase public engagement, awareness, and education in Ontario on how property owners, communities and land managers can prepare for and mitigate the risks and adverse impacts of wildland fire; promote the implementation of the FireSmart program and Community Wildland Fire Protection Planning.
  • For 2024–25, the key activities for the prevention and mitigation planning efforts are to support the approval and release of the Federal strategy; contribute to the development of implementation actions at the national level; and develop a plan to implement and integrate key commitments as part of the prevention and mitigation program review under Natural Hazard Emergency Management Modernization.
• Continue to deliver the FireSmart Communities Transfer Payment program with the intended outcome of building partnerships with municipalities within the fire region so they are aware of wildfire risks and are supported by government to ensure enhanced community resiliency.
• Collaborate in the Joint Command initiative, working closely with Emergency Management Ontario and Indigenous Services Canada to synchronize the role of governments in emergency response recognizing the unique needs of Indigenous communities.
• Continue to invest in Collaborative Research Agreements with universities and other research agencies to improve fire management programming and public safety services.
• Develop a plan for investment into renewed technology that enhances fire management decision making, thereby ensuring more precise and effective prevention, mitigation, preparedness, and response services.
• Continue to invest in science (for example, predictive services) to better understand wildland fire risk to inform ministry actions and to support and provide awareness to the public.
• Continue to co-manage operation and maintenance of the Ontario Hydrometric network with Environment and Climate Change Canada. Participate in national initiatives for the river and lake water monitoring network to ensure the efficiency and maximum value are achieved for the interests and public safety of Ontarians.

11. Corporate management

Corporate management functions include fiscal controllership and financial governance; sustainable infrastructure and facility management; strategic human resources planning and management; supply chain management; leadership in digital, data and information management, French Language Services, and the administration of the Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act.

Key program initiatives in 2024–25

• Lead the ministry’s corporate strategic business planning and reporting process to support government decision-making, which is integral to effective and efficient ministry operations. This includes the annual business plan submitted to Treasury Board / Management Board of Cabinet (TB/MBC), other in-year TB/MBC submissions, Estimates, the quarterly reporting process, and Public Accounts.
• Support privacy, access, digital and data priorities with the implementation of the ministry Digital Strategy, and leadership in open data through the implementation of the Recordkeeping, Access, and Privacy Policy.
• Advance the ministry’s modernization efforts and implement organizational changes to support the government’s fiscal commitments and better align workforce capacity with priority outcomes.
• Play a critical role in establishing and supporting the implementation of financial and business processes, such as the further growth of the ministry’s risk profile for Enterprise Risk Management and other ongoing horizontal streamlining initiatives across the Ontario Public Service.
• Lead the ministry’s efforts to create and nurture a respectful, equitable, accessible, diverse, and inclusive (READI) organizational culture and workplace that is anti-racist and free from discrimination and harassment for all employees, through key initiatives such as senior leadership diversification and the ministry’s People Strategy.
• Lead the ministry’s modernization and continuous improvement efforts including:
  • Making Ontario’s programs and frontline services more convenient, more reliable, and more accessible. In 2021, the ministry committed to moving from 12% to 100% of services online providing clients with information at their fingertips anytime, anywhere and on any device.
    • Taking an iterative approach to move approvals online. The ministry is focusing on high-volume interactions that can be conducted digitally.
    • The project is piloting a client satisfaction survey for the Natural Resources Information Portal (NRIP). By end of 2023–24, results from the survey will inform the exploration of opportunities to increase client satisfaction to 75% (target) when using digital services.
  • Continuing a paper digitization initiative, which will make information available digitally to clients and staff who need it.
  • Continuing to enable the ministry’s workforce with the technology needed to deliver services and support modern working.
  • Continuing to advance culture change within the ministry promoting modern and flexible practices.
• Lead the External Service Standards (ESS) for the ministry
  • ESS performance measurement is comprised of 11 Key Performance Indicators^{footnote 1[1]} (KPIs). Each KPI has its own set target, with an average target of 90%.
  • For the last reporting cycle (2022–23), most KPIs met or exceeded the 90% average, however some fell short due to delays.

Ministry performance measures and achievements

Detailed financial information

Ministry distribution of 2024–25 operating expense allocation by Vote/Item/Sub-Item

Operating and capital summary by vote

Agencies, boards and commissions

Classified agencies

Algonquin Forestry Authority

• Responsible for forest management, including timber harvesting, in Algonquin Park. The authority sorts, sells and delivers harvested logs to regional mills. It also may advise on, undertake, and carry out forestry, land-management and other programs and projects as the Minister may authorize.

Big Game Management Advisory Committee

• Responsible for providing advice to the Minister respecting policy and programs related to the management of species of big game in Ontario, and reviews and recommends changes to the allocation of harvesting opportunities for big game.

Fish and Wildlife Heritage Commission

• Established under the Heritage Hunting and Fishing Act, the Fish and Wildlife Heritage Commission makes recommendations to the Minister on ways to encourage people to value Ontario’s fish and wildlife resources, promote more participation in conservation and other programs, and to explore new fish and wildlife-related opportunities.

Nawiinginokiima Forest Management Corporation

• Responsible for sustainable forest management, and the marketing and selling of wood supplies to both existing forest industry customers and new entrants on 2 forest management units, the Pic and the White River Forests, and the proposed addition of a third forest (Nagagami Forest) over the next 2 years.

Niagara Escarpment Commission

• Administers the Niagara Escarpment Plan through promoting the objectives of the plan; processing and making decisions on development permit applications; and making recommendations on plan amendments.

Ontario Geographic Names Board

• Develops policy and principles for naming geographic features and unincorporated places in Ontario. The Board reviews official geographic feature name submissions on behalf of the Minister and enters approved submissions and suitable place name submissions into the official record.

Rabies Advisory Committee

• Provides scientific advice regarding research and management actions towards the elimination of terrestrial rabies from Ontario, rabies surveillance to detect reoccurrence events, and proactive strategies to prevent the reoccurrence of rabies in Ontario.

Temagami Forest Management Corporation

• responsible for sustainable forest management, and the marketing and selling of wood supplies to both existing forest industry customers and new entrants on the Temagami Forest management unit.

A classified agency, though established by the government, is not considered part of the ministry. The government appoints most of its members, assigns responsibility to perform a public function, and holds the agency to account.

Unclassified Agencies

Council of the Association of Ontario Land Surveyors

• Regulates the practice of professional land surveying and governs the profession in accordance with the Surveyors Act, its regulations, and by-laws.

Council of the Ontario Professional Foresters Association

• Regulates the practice of forestry and governs its members in accordance with the Professional Foresters Act, its regulations, and by-laws. The governing council manages, administers, and oversees the functioning of the association.

Lake of the Woods Control Board

• Regulates the water levels in the Lake of the Woods, Lac Seul and in the Winnipeg and English Rivers between the lake outlets and their confluence. Membership includes representatives from Canada, Ontario, and Manitoba.

Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board

• A partnership among Canada, Quebec, and Ontario to formulate and review policies that will lead to integrated management of the reservoirs in the Ottawa River basin.

An unclassified agency is excluded from the financial and administrative requirements of the Management Board of Cabinet. The government makes at least one appointment to each non-classified agency board.

Ministry organization chart

• Minister – Natural Resources and Forestry
  • Parliamentary Assistant
  • Deputy Minister
    • Legal Services Branch
    • Communications Services Branch
    • Niagara Escarpment Commission
    • Executive Advisor
    • Corporate Management and Information Division
      • Mapping and Information Resources Branch
      • Strategic Human Resources Business Branch
      • Strategic Management and Corporate Services Branch
    • Forest Industry Division
      • Forest Economics and Business Branch
      • Operations Branch
    • Policy Division
      • Crown Forests and Lands Policy Branch
      • Resources Planning and Development Policy Branch
      • Fish and Wildlife Policy Branch
      • Strategic and Indigenous Policy Branch
    • Provincial Services Division
      • Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services Branch
      • Enforcement Branch
      • Fish and Wildlife Services Branch
      • Science and Research Branch
    • Regional Operations Division
      • Divisional Support Branch
      • Divisional Delivery Branch
      • Northeast Region
      • Northwest Region
      • Southern Region
    • Land and Resources Cluster
      • Business Partnerships and Planning
      • Digital Solutions
      • Technology Services Operations

Download printer-friendly organizational chart

Appendix: 2023–24 Annual report

2023–24 Results

Key Activity 1: Protect the public from natural disasters or hazards

• Ontario is recognized internationally as a leader in wildland fire management and remains committed to preserving and protecting our natural resources. The ministry has a renewed focus on adopting a risk-reduction approach to wildland fire management and supporting a shift to a whole-of-society approach to wildland fire and risk reduction. Ontario is an active partner in the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre led steering committee for the development of the National Strategy for Prevention and Mitigation.
• In the 2023 fire season, Ontario had 741 wildland fires and 441,474.1 hectares burned across the province. This was well above the 10-year average (2013–2022) of 163,627 hectares burned. By comparison, in 2022 Ontario had 269 fires and 2,517 hectares burned.
• The largest fires in 2023 were in the Northwest Region.
  • The largest, Sioux Lookout 33, on the western edge of Wabakimi Provincial Park, was sized at 62,378 hectares.
• The ministry engages in Mutual Aid Resource Sharing Agreements with other jurisdictions in times of escalated fire emergency through a national mutual aid agreement. The Canadian Inter-Agency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) provides guidance and coordination support for resource movements, nationally and internationally, on behalf of all provinces.
• Ontario proudly participates in agreements with its provincial, federal, and international partners that allow for the sharing of personnel, equipment, and aircraft between agencies during periods of escalated wildland fire activity.
• During the 2023 fire season, Ontario received assistance in the form of 9 fixed-wing aircraft from Minnesota, Manitoba, and the Northwest Territories to support suppression efforts for Ontario fires. Along with this, Ontario also received one aviation specialist from the United States Forest Service (USFS) and 104 wildland fire personnel from Mexico who assisted in the province from mid-June to early August.
• 576 ministry staff along with over 7,600 pieces of equipment (for example, Mark-3 water pumps, hoses, shovels and more) supported wildland fire and emergency-related operations in Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Quebec, Yukon, Nova Scotia, and Minnesota.
• Throughout both the 2023 fire and flood seasons, the ministry aviation, fire and emergency management programs worked cooperatively with Indigenous partners and communities, sharing incident information and coordinating operational responses. The ministry provided emergency flight coordination services to support the evacuation of four Indigenous communities, for approximately 2,500 evacuees.
• Leveraged social media, including new Aviation Forest Fire Emergency Services (AFFES) branded accounts, and other communication channels to promote public safety, awareness, and compliance to rules for outdoor fires under the Forest Fires Prevention Act, as well as to increase public understanding of wildland fire prevention, fire hazard, wildland fire management and response, and mitigating the risk of loss and damage to properties and values from wildland fire through the FireSmart program.
• Through the Ontario FireSmart Communities Transfer Payment program, municipalities applied for funding to assist with the development of hazard forest maps and Community Wildland Fire Protection Plans which identify mitigation recommendations and strategies to reduce wildland fire hazards. Ten municipalities received funding in 2023.
• The ministry established fire season partner briefing protocols aimed at improving the knowledge and situational awareness of critical response partners, stakeholders, and groups affected by wildland fire and smoke. Indigenous partners/communities as well as partners in municipalities, industry, and OPS emergency management were engaged on a weekly basis (hundreds of different participants over escalated response periods). A post-season survey was conducted with partners with results indicating an overall 78% satisfaction rate, and feedback on how to improve the 2024 fire season.
• Lead for the continued implementation of Protecting People and Property: Ontario’s Flooding Strategy, released in March 2020. The strategy includes commitments from 6 provincial ministries and partners in over 90 initiatives spread across the pillars of emergency management. Highlights are:
  • Continuation of the province’s partnership with the federal government to provide high quality water level and flow information for watercourses across the province, which helps to determine the potential for flooding and aids in the provision of early warning messages for flooding.
  • Engagement with municipalities, watershed partners and other key stakeholders in Muskoka, Magnetawan and Upper Ottawa River areas on key water management and operational decisions.
  • Continuation of Ontario’s support, through participation on various committees of the International Joint Commission, which contributes to the ongoing management of water levels and flows in the Great Lakes.
  • Ongoing implementation of the Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program, in partnership with the Federal government. Beginning in 2024–25, up to $15 million will be provided over 4 years, most of which will go to interested municipalities and conservation authorities to support local flood mapping projects and initiatives.
• The Surface Water Monitoring Centre:
  • Issued 40 flood messages (including 7 for the Great Lakes) and 131 Low Water Response messages in 2023.
  • Collaborated with Environment and Climate Change Canada to ensure efficient operations for approximately 600 water monitoring stations at a cost of $5.4 million.
  • Collaborated with partners to add 3 new snow stations in Northwest Region, filling an important gap in data for spring-melt flood forecasting in Dryden District.
  • Successfully implemented a process to import the federal National Surface and River Prediction System (NSRPS) model outputs for possible application in Ontario. Co-funding study of suitability of the NSRPS model, and development of a variant (the Ontario Surface and River Prediction System) for use in flow forecasting in Ontario.
• Supported natural hazard management, flood and erosions operations (including flood/erosion control structures, flood forecasting and warning and ice management), by providing $3.845 million in grant funding to the 36 conservation authorities (CAs), plus $5.0 million in capital funding to 29 CAs for water and erosion control infrastructure projects (studies and repairs).
• Continued support to the Municipality of Chatham-Kent for ongoing emergency management, investigation and community recovery related to the Wheatley explosion in August 2021. Funding supported:
  • direct emergency expenses, such as gas monitoring, security and ongoing external investigations
  • ongoing risk management and investigation efforts to add more safety infrastructure to the explosion site
  • support for community redevelopment through the establishment of a committee of residents and businesses
• In addition, a multi-ministry Leadership Advisory Group continues to work closely with Chatham-Kent to support, respond to, investigate, and recover from this devastating event.
• Developed foundational geospatial data, mapping tools and technical infrastructure to support the ministry’s response in protecting the public from natural disasters, including forest fires and floods.
  • Collected 17,250 square kilometers of LiDAR data and 41,000 square kilometers of aerial photography, updated more than 260,000 kilometers of roads and more than 75,000 kilometers of water data.
• Engaged other ministries and the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative on wildlife disease testing and surveillance in the province to protect the health and safety of people and wildlife in Ontario (for example, chronic wasting disease, rabies, canine distemper virus, and rodenticides in predators).

Key activity 2: Deliver direct services to the public and industry

• The ministry continued in its role leading the care and management of Ontario’s public lands, including enabling outdoor public recreation opportunities (for example, camping).
• Provided fishing and hunting opportunities to approximately 1.6 million Outdoors Card holders generating over $65 million in fish and wildlife revenue.
• Trained over 21,000 new hunters through the Ontario Hunter Education Program.
• Issued more than 8,000 trapping licences and trained more than 700 new trappers.
• Conducted a survey of moose hunters in Ontario to gather information from clients on their moose hunting activities, expenditures, and matters related to moose management across the province to better inform program decision making.
• The Natural Resources Information and Support Centre (NRISC) handled approximately 117,500 inquiries (calls and email) related to fishing, hunting and/or licencing in Ontario.
• Provided approximately 8 million fish, weighing 175.9 tonnes, for stocking into 1,191 waterbodies. The 9 provincial fish culture stations grow 26 unique strains of 11 different fish species to support population rehabilitation and to create and enhance angling opportunities. In addition, over 3 million fertilized fish eggs or fry (newly hatched fish) were supplied to community and classroom hatchery partners for eventual stocking into public waters.
• Ministry conservation officers checked over 154,000 members of the public while on duty. During these contacts with the public, educational messaging pertaining to safe and sustainable natural resource use was relayed as appropriate.
• As part of the Collaborative Compliance Initiative with Indigenous communities, the ministry’s Enforcement Branch has successfully completed 198 restorative justice cases to date and is anticipating at minimum another 48 cases to be completed by the end of March 2024.
• Leveraged social media and other communication channels to promote public safety and compliance with Ontario’s natural resource laws. Social media videos were released promoting compliance around spring turkey hunting season, moose identification tips to ensure a compliant harvest, transporting fish and promoting snowmobile safety.
• The ministry continued to be a recognized leader in rabies surveillance and control. Since Ontario’s recent rabies outbreak began in December 2015, there have been 523 cases of raccoon strain rabies (6 in 2023) and 21 cases of fox strain rabies (no new cases since 2018) confirmed in southern Ontario. In response, the ministry has distributed over nine million oral rabies vaccine baits (671,933 in 2023), which help immunize most raccoons, skunks and foxes that eat them.
• Collected fees including rent from 11,000 tenants who occupy Crown land for a range of purposes, including those related to aggregates, land rentals/sales and renewable energy, generating approximately $95.5 million in revenue up to December 31, 2023.
• Provided 600 Crown Patent records to clients from April 1, 2023, to January 15, 2024.
• Served more than 485 Ontario Wood partners by promoting their businesses to the people of Ontario through brand awareness that wood products from Ontario come from responsibly and sustainably managed public forests.
• Provided services to the forest industry and to communities through the implementation of the Forest Sector Strategy (FSS). Examples include:
  • Produced several reports under the Forest Biomass Action Plan (FBAP) to benefit existing and new users of forest biomass, covering: commercial and technical readiness of bioproducts; market pathways for forest biomass; a scan of selected countries to learn what they are doing to help their respective bioeconomy; and a socio-economic impact assessment of Ontario’s Forest biomass;
  • Developed an Indigenous capacity building and skills development toolkit that identifies available capacity building resources and the supports required for Indigenous communities to capitalize on forest biomass opportunities.
  • Through the Indigenous Bioeconomy Partnerships stream of the Forest Biomass Program, invested $2.9 million across various initiatives to support 13 Indigenous businesses and communities to become more active in the forest sector and to lead the development of a forest bioeconomy.
  • Collected more than 400,000 square kilometres of light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data for Ontario’s managed forests to support the production of LiDAR enhanced forest resource inventories, which will inform the development of forest management plans (FMP) that will be implemented between 2028 and 2037.
  • Established a wildfire solutions forum with forest industry and provincial wildfire leadership to improve the forest industry’s resilience.
  • Improved the virtual delivery of the self-study portion of the Provincial Scaling Course.
  • Conducted provincial scaling course and issued scaler’s licences to 32 new scalers and hosted 3 regional scaler refresher courses.
  • Explored transportation efficiencies, including the use of new productive trailer configurations developed through the FPInnovations forest operations program.
  • Supported engagement with fire services, municipal building officials, the insurance industry and other key building sector stakeholders to educate and disseminate resources related to wood and mass timber construction through tall wood building tours, webinars, industry association conferences and other venues to grow market share for Ontario’s value-added forest products.
• Enhanced Ontario’s forest policy framework to modernize and digitize service delivery and support the FSS. Results in 2023–24 include:
  • Consulted with Indigenous communities, stakeholders, and the public on proposed changes to the regulated manuals under the Crown Forest Sustainability Act and associated technical specifications. Key proposed changes include modernizing the process to develop the strategic direction in a forest management plan, enabling community-based forest management initiatives in Ontario’s Far North, and ensuring the effective and efficient exchange of forest information.
  • Collaborated with the Ontario Internal Audit Division to complete a review of independent forest audits under Ontario’s Independent Forest Audit regulation (Ontario Regulation 319/20 under the Crown Forest Sustainability Act).
• Provincial lead for the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture (EHJV), a collaborative partnership of government and non-government organizations working together across Canada to conserve wetlands and other habitats that are important for waterfowl and migratory birds. Projects implemented by the EHJV support the goals and objectives of the North American Wetland Conservation Act and the North American Waterfowl Management Plan.
• Maintained more than 60,000 official geographic names to aid navigation and emergency response across Ontario.
• The ministry received and the Ontario Geographic Names Board considered 19 name proposals from members of the public for geographic features. The ministry uses social media channels to promote name proposals and encourage citizens to provide their feedback on name proposals by completing an online questionnaire. Local First Nations, municipalities and community organizations are also engaged for feedback.
  • Two recommendations are being finalized for island names for 911 addressing to assist with emergency response.
• Published 8 new datasets and updated 15 datasets in the Ontario Data Catalogue.
• The Land Information Ontario support desk responded to over 10,000 inquiries about Ontario’s geospatial data and services.
• Launched social media campaigns on topics including Geography Awareness Week, Open Data, and geographic names consultations. Received high engagement rates on 40+ posts across the ministry’s Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn platforms.
• The ministry processes more than 215 approval types for over 45,500 clients resulting in more than 81,000 interactions annually. The ministry is committed to moving 100% of ministry approvals online. Actions taken are focused on development to enable interactive forms and alignment with the Ontario Digital Standard. As of December 2023:
  • 55% of applications are available online, with interactive forms piloted for two approvals
  • 96 approval types have been evaluated for next steps
  • 115 approval types remain paper based (down from 154 last fiscal year)
• Expanded digital channels to include 23 new approvals providing up to 9,000 clients new streamlined approval service.

Key activity 3: Promote economic growth and job creation

• The ministry continues to reduce unnecessary duplication and streamline processes to support economic development across Ontario, including:
  • the Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Act was amended to enable authorizations for testing demonstration of new activities such as carbon storage projects and enhanced public safety measures.
  • amended the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act to allow the issuance of licences for new dog train and trial facilities during a one-time 90-day application period across the province and the transfer of licences for existing and newly established facilities in perpetuity.
  • amended the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act to remove outdated requirements to publish notices in newspapers, enhance the Niagara Escarpment Commission’s compliance tools, and enable broader exemptions for low-risk activities, such as building a shed.
• Led the delivery of the Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program (FSIIP), in cooperation with the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade (MEDJCT). FSIIP provides up to $10 million per year for strategic investments in the forestry sector that: improve productivity and innovation; enhance competitiveness; support new market access; strengthen regional economies; and provide benefits to Ontario’s broader forest sector (for example, beyond the direct benefits to the Applicant). Since established, the program has approved $72 million in funding to leverage almost $408 million in new investment, creating approximately 430 new jobs and helping to retain approximately 3,000 existing jobs.
• Through the Provincial Forest Access Roads Funding Program, the ministry supports the construction and maintenance of public access roads in Crown forests that benefit many resource users including the forest industry, mining, utility and railway companies, hunters, trappers, cottagers, Indigenous communities, and the public. These roads also provide part of the rural infrastructure for emergency preparedness and response. On average, over 19,500 kilometres of primary and branch roads are maintained by the forest industry each year. Additionally, over 800 kilometres of new primary and branch roads are constructed each year. $53.2 million was provided in 2023–24. Since the program was launched in 2005, it has provided over $1.12 billion in funding.
• Continued implementation of Resource Revenue Sharing (RRS with Indigenous communities to support reconciliation by enabling Indigenous communities to share in the economic benefits of aggregates, forestry, and mining developments.
  • Ontario currently has eight RRS Agreements - six agreements representing 40 First Nations communities, and two agreements with organizations representing Métis communities. In 2023, Ontario shared $54.7 million with participating First Nations and Métis who may allocate RRS funds towards key priorities that support economic development, education, health, community and cultural development.
  • Since 2018, Ontario has shared approximately $250 million with First Nations and Métis communities.
  • A joint Independent Evaluation for the 2018 RRS Agreements with Mushkegowuk Council and Wabun Tribal Council was concluded, and a Final Evaluation Report received in September 2023.
  • A second joint Independent Evaluation for the RRS Agreement with Grand Council Treaty #3 is underway.
• In the ongoing softwood lumber trade dispute between Canada and the United States, the ministry maintained its strong legal position, provided advocacy on trade issues specific to Ontario’s softwood lumber industry, and enhanced working relationships with the federal government, other provinces, and industry.
  • Continued to work closely with Ontario’s in-house and U.S. trade law counsel teams to support litigation efforts by thorough review of all materials prepared for submission to U.S. authorities.
  • Participated in regular discussions with the federal government to advance Ontario’s interests in the dispute. The ministry also collaborated with trade teams of other provinces who have a softwood lumber industry.
  • Hosted 24 virtual and one face-to-face meeting with Ontario’s softwood lumber industry group.
• The ministry supported an increase in domestic consumption through the Ontario Wood brand. Ontario Wood aims to provide consumers with a strong sense (meaning, the brand) of ’why’ they should buy Ontario Wood products that are produced locally, from responsibly and sustainably managed public forests, while building a connection between wood products and the families and communities who depend on Ontario’s forest industry.
• Engaged with forestry themed community colleges (Fleming College, Sault College, Confederation College) on wood measurement program, career opportunities, and scaler licensing.
• Through the implementation of the FSS, the ministry has:
  • launched a new $19.6 million Forest Biomass Program in June 2023 to help develop new and emerging uses of forest biomass, particularly underutilized forest resources and mill by-products
  • assisted small and medium-sized enterprises to access growing global export markets by providing strategic advice and market intelligence and supporting participation in trade missions in diversified markets
  • provided funding support for Indigenous communities to build forest economic development strategies, wood supply plans, business plans, fibre supply planning for biomass heating systems, worker training, forestry career pathways and Indigenous business capacity building
  • supported education and career promotion efforts to highlight the diversity of meaningful jobs in forestry and its downstream sectors by supporting:
    • interactive presentations and tours that reached 1,700 students
    • educator webinars, workshops, and events targeting over 500 teachers
    • participation in career showcases visited by 7,500 attendees
    • development of three new experiential learning resources
  • collaborated with forest sector partners to carry out projects that seek to improve forest industry efficiencies in putting more wood to work, identifying innovation opportunities for technologies and processes, and shifting Ontario’s building sector towards advanced wood construction and more cost and time effective strategies using wood for non-traditional projects

Key activity 4: Conduct monitoring, research, and planning

• Collaborated with multiple provincial and federal government agencies and partners to conduct SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, surveillance in certain wildlife species and contributed to the development of wildlife handling recommendations when working in the field.
• Conducted applied forest research and published research results to support resource management decision-making regarding climatic effects on forests, beech leaf disease, forest management, seed transfer, forest regeneration and wood product carbon sequestration.
• The Fish and Wildlife program continued to implement several key initiatives and changes, which included:
  • Ontario’s Sustainable Bait Management Strategy, reducing the ecological risks associated with using and moving bait while providing transparency and certainty to support a sustainable bait industry
• Implemented recommendations developed through the Integrated Monitoring Framework initiative to modernize and increase the efficiency of monitoring programs that support effective management of forest, wildlife, and fisheries resources.
• Sampled 95 of Ontario’s inland lakes as part of the ministry’s broad-scale monitoring program to describe status and trends of fish species important to recreational, commercial and subsistence fisheries. Focused monitoring was also conducted on provincially significant inland fisheries, including Lake of the Woods, Winnipeg River, Ottawa River, Rice Lake, Lake Simcoe and Lake Nipissing. Recreational angler creel surveys were conducted on Lake Simcoe to help understand fishing pressure and catch.
• The province is a signatory to the Joint Strategic Plan and in a variety of capacities, the Great Lakes Management Units serve as the province’s representative to the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission and a host of other bi-national committees.
• The Lake Ontario Management Unit delivered a comprehensive fish community assessment program in 2023 including a lake-wide spring prey fish survey in partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the United States Geological Survey Oswego Research Station. Lake Ontario, the Bay of Quinte, and the upper St. Lawrence River continue to support a world class recreational fishery for trout and salmon, walleye, bass, and other species. Results of the 2023 spring lake wide survey show a lake wide increase in prey fish abundance, which supported a binational decision to increase trout and salmon stocking levels in 2024.
• The Upper Great Lakes Management Unit completed independent offshore fish community index surveys on both Lake Huron and Lake Superior and continue to sample commercially caught fish to inform the setting of commercial fish quotas on both lakes. Both lakes also had a continuation of fisheries assessment and management projects on a wide variety of fish ranging from Muskellunge to Cisco to Coaster Brook Trout.
• On Lake Superior, field work and management planning exercises continue related to the Camp 43 dam on the Black Sturgeon River. The Lake Huron Management Unit continues to work closely with Saugeen Ojibway Nation and other Indigenous communities towards understanding fish movements to improve management decision making around the Huron whitefish fishery.
• The Lake Erie Management Unit completed a series of annual programs (for example, commercial catch sampling, juvenile fish index surveys, partnership survey with the Ontario Commercial Fisheries’ Association) that assess fish population abundance and describe commercial fishery landings to support the bi-national management of Lake Erie fisheries. In conjunction with U.S. partners, these programs provide the basis for annual population modeling and quota decisions for Lake Erie’s multi-million dollar commercial and recreational fisheries for Walleye, Yellow Perch, and secondary species (for example, Lake Whitefish, Rainbow Smelt and more).
• To ensure Ontario’s Crown forests in the north remain healthy, diverse, and productive, the ministry, in partnership with the Forest Industry, and through consultation with the public and Indigenous communities, has implemented an Insect Pest Management Program (IPMP) in the Northeast Region over the last 3 fiscal years with a focus on aerial treatment efforts of a biological insecticide to prevent and manage the ongoing spruce budworm infestation. Over this time, the ministry has treated over 300,000 hectares and has seen favorable results on areas treated.
• Supported the ministry’s Big Game Management Advisory Committee in its development of recommendations on enhancements to the moose tag allocation process to address concerns about moose tags going unclaimed and unissued to resident hunters.
• Established new Ontario Wildlife Monitoring Network (OWMN) plots within the Managed Forest. Approximately 17% of the plots required for full implementation of the network are now in place.
• Ongoing work with deer hunters to conduct comprehensive Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) monitoring across Ontario in response to the detection of CWD on a game farm in Quebec. Three surveillance zones in central Ontario, northwestern Ontario, and southwestern Ontario, were monitored for CWD in 2023. To date, the disease has not been detected in any sample.

Key activity 5: Develop legislation, policies and implement programs

• The ministry consulted on proposed regulation changes to address the use of floating accommodations in the spring of 2023 and made amendments to regulations under the Public Lands Act. The regulatory changes clarified that floating accommodations are not permitted to be placed or used as a camping unit on Ontario’s public lands. These amendments came into effect on July 1, 2023.
• Amended the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act to better serve client and community interests after hearing from both external stakeholders and the Niagara Escarpment Commission about needed updates to processes.
• The Greenbelt Statute Law Amendment Act, 2023, which was introduced as Bill 136, received Royal Assent on December 6, 2023. It reinstates the same legal protections for the easements and covenants applicable to the lands within the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve that were in place before the 2022 repeal of the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve Act, 2005. This ensures these lands will continue to be protected for agricultural uses.
• Following public consultation, the ministry amended regulations under the Aggregate Resources Act to expand the list of amendments that can be made to site plans without ministry approval, subject to conditions, and related to lower risk/routine changes to existing operations only.
• Proclaimed all remaining un-proclaimed provisions in the Conservation Authorities Act (CA), bringing into effect a new regulation for rules of conduct in conservation areas, and creating a new regulation under the CA that replaces the existing 36 individual regulations and outlines how development and other activities in and around watercourse, wetlands, and areas subject to flooding, erosion and other natural hazards are managed, to streamline approvals and ensure efforts are focused on best protecting Ontarians from the impacts of natural hazards.
• Developed and implemented a $4.5 million work plan, making progress on commitments under the provincial-federal Canada-Ontario Agreement (COA) on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health relating to: aquatic invasive species; habitat, species, and ecosystems; water management; areas of concern and climate change. The COA is the primary mechanism with which Canada meets its obligations under the bi-national Canada United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.
• As part of ongoing efforts to implement the Invasive Species Act, the ministry regulated 10 additional invasive species and four genera (group of similar species) to prevent and manage the spread of invasive species across the province.
• Continued to work with partners to raise awareness and educate the public about newly regulated invasive species, with a particular focus on preventing the spread of invasive species through the movement of watercraft. Additionally, the ministry worked with partners to monitor and manage several high-risk invasive species including water soldier, water chestnut, marbled crayfish, wild pigs, and invasive carp.
• Collaborated with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) to deliver on parks priorities by implementing regulatory amendments under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 (FWCA), to enable the continuation of hunting in the newly established Alfred Bog Provincial Park and to ensure consistency of FWCA regulations with existing park management plans.
• Collaborated with MECP on land-use amendments to support the addition of Crown lands to the Ontario Parks system.
• Delivered legislated tax incentive programs and stewardship granting programs for landowners, stakeholders, and partners, including Indigenous organizations and individuals.
  • the Canada Ontario Resource Development Agreement (CORDA) provided:
    • $467,500 in funding to 30 First Nation communities to support trapping, natural resource management, traditional land-based activities, and conservation in Ontario.
• Continued to engage key dam industry stakeholders through the Dam Owners Advisory Committee, which provides a forum for regular dialogue between government and industry, and for industry to provide advice to government on policy and programs related to dams.
• Chaired the working group for the Forest in Mind Program and supported the activities of the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers with participation in national and international events to collaborate on issues impacting trade and market access, respond to global trends, and share information on the sustainable management of Ontario’s forests.
• Collaborated with Canadian jurisdictions on forestry opportunities through the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers to help address issues like environmental reputation, Indigenous relations, forest pests, climate change, and forest fire management.
• Supported the Association of Ontario Land Surveyors, the regulator for the land survey industry, in accordance with the Surveyors Act, by maintaining a presence at council to serve and protect the public interest and contribute to regulatory change.
• Provided public access to more than 400 open data sets, plus thousands of associated and derived datasets through Ontario GeoHub, a data discovery and access tool that allows users to download or stream the data they need. Ontario GeoHub users increased to over 270,000 (from 110,000 in 2023).
• Maintained key foundation geospatial data sets including over 260,000 kilometers of roads and over 75,000 square kilometers of water for accurate mapping, location-based analysis and service delivery.
• Partnered with all levels of government, conservation authorities, the private sector, and other organizations to acquire 41,000 square kilometers of aerial photography from Lake Ontario between Burlington and Prince Edward County, north to Parry Sound and east to the southern portion of Algonquin Park.
• Provided land survey support to Indigenous Affairs Ontario on 35 active files including eight land claims in various stages.
• Digitized over 21,000 Crown location survey records and nearly 60,000 historic mining claim records to ensure these important documents are preserved and accessible to future generations.
• Completed year three of the paper records digitization project (PDRP), completing 53 digitization projects across 17 program areas which now provide access to over 3,373,100 digital records for clients and staff who need them.
• Responded to over 1,000 requests for Crown records and distributed more than 8,000 records.
• The ministry continues to improve the client service experience by modernizing access to approvals online. Two approvals (Ice Hut Registrations and Hunting from a Stationary Vehicle) were added to the Fish and Wildlife Licensing Service (FAWLS). Since launch in mid-August 2023 to January 10, 2024, there have been 50 hunting from stationary vehicle authorizations issued and 1,191 ice hut registrations.

For additional financial information, see:

• Expenditure Estimates
• The Public Accounts of Ontario 2022–23
• 2024 Ontario Budget: Building a Better Ontario

Who to call

For questions or comments, please contact:

Office of the Minister of Natural Resources
Whitney Block, Room 6630
99 Wellesley Street West
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 1W3
Tel: 416-314-2301

Further information about the ministry and its programs can be found on the ministry’s website.

We are committed to providing accessible customer service. If you need accessible formats or communications supports, please contact henric.wiegenbroeker@ontario.ca