Who We Are

Citizens for Crown Land Protection (CCLP) was founded as a grassroots response to growing concerns over the erosion of public access to Ontario’s Crown lands. Sparked by the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust’s proposal to designate 60,000 hectares, and later narrowed to the Milburn Kendrick area, CCLP emerged to challenge top-down decisions and broader Crown land policies that disregard the rights of rural communities, land users, and outdoor enthusiasts.

When many established recreational organizations offered conditional support or remained silent, it became clear: a new voice was needed, one that would speak unapologetically for access, for tradition, and for the people who actually use and care for the land.

Now federally incorporated as a not-for-profit under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act, CCLP stands for responsible conservation that respects both the land and the public’s right to access it.

Our Legal Purpose

As a federally incorporated not-for-profit, CCLP is committed to:

• Promoting fair, responsible, and sustainable public access to Crown lands across Ontario and Canada, particularly for motorized recreation such as snowmobiling, ATVing, and other lawful outdoor activities.

• Protecting traditional public uses such as hunting, fishing, and trapping, activities that are culturally and economically vital, yet increasingly threatened by restrictive conservation designations.

• Supporting trail users and land-based communities by defending access to shared-use routes, while promoting responsible, respectful, and environmentally conscious recreation.

• Delivering education and outreach through signage, digital media, workshops, and public engagement, focusing on stewardship and rider etiquette, rather than exclusion or unnecessary designation changes.

• Advocating for balanced, evidence-based Crown land policies that protect access and support economic resilience in rural and northern communities.

• Engaging with government ministries, including MNRF and MECP, to support compatible land uses such as forestry, mining, and aggregate extraction, essential pillars of many local economies.

• Participating in consultations and land use planning processes that affect access, recreation, and land-based industries.

• Securing funding and partnerships with like-minded organizations to advance our mission and grow our capacity for outreach, education, and advocacy.

Our Commitments 

CCLP actively advocates for:

• Open and fair access to Crown lands for lawful outdoor use.

• Protection of legacy activities like snowmobiling, off-roading, hunting, fishing, and camping.

• The defense of trail systems, in partnership with land users—not conditional interests.

• Education-led conservation, focused on public awareness and stewardship, not exclusion.

• Policy reform that reflects the realities and needs of rural Ontario.

• Standing up to unjustified land removals, even when others won’t.

• Ensuring real public consultation, not token engagement after decisions are made.

• Building a stronger voice through outreach, legal participation, and grassroots action.

Our work reflects these principles, and our Milburn Kendrick victory proves that informed, organized citizens, not organizations, can make a difference.

We don’t offer conditional support. We take a stand.

Access today doesn’t guarantee access tomorrow. CCLP exists to make sure it does. Your Access. Your Voice.