“Nothing Will Change” Is the Oldest Trick in the Book...

The Haliburton Highlands Land Trust pitch claimed Milburn Kendrick would stay the same. But buried in the legislation there is a very different reality: once land is designated a Conservation Reserve, everything can change.

It’s Permanent. It’s Binding. And It’s Out of Your Hands.

Conservation Reserves might sound harmless, even beneficial. But don’t be misled by the claim that “nothing will change.” Once land is designated as a Conservation Reserve under Ontario’s Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006, it becomes subject to a permanent, legally binding land use decision, one with serious and lasting consequences for public access, recreational use, local development, and regional economies. 

Under Ontario’s Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006, these lands are not “symbolically” protected, they’re locked into a legal status that overrides your rights, traditions, and local decisions.

What the Law Really Says

• "Conservation reserves shall be planned and managed to retain their natural state." Section 10(2)

• "The Minister shall ensure that management of lands protected under this Act is consistent with maintaining ecological integrity." Section 3(1)

This means ecological preservation takes priority over recreation, access, and tradition. This means conservation goals override access. Not just motorized access, any access.

Once Designated:

• Control transfers to the Province through MECP.

• A management plan is created that determines what activities are allowed.

• Access is not guaranteed—it is subject to provincial priorities.

• Mining, logging, and hydro development are banned.

• Motorized use, trail maintenance, and traditional activities like hunting and trapping can be restricted or phased out.

• Even long-standing access can be removed if deemed “incompatible.”

It’s Not Just a Local Issue, It’s a Provincial Pattern

If it can happen in Haliburton, it can happen anywhere. The same playbook is being used across Ontario, and if the public doesn’t push back, more land will be locked down without meaningful consultation.

This is why we fight. Not just for access today, but for the right to be part of decisions that shape tomorrow.