Regulations under this Act:
O. Reg. 319/07 Conservation reserves: General provisions
O. Reg. 316/07 Designation and classification of provincial parks
O. Reg. 315/07 Designation of conservation reserves
O. Reg. 344/07 Fees
O. Reg. 346/07 Mechanized travel in wilderness parks
O. Reg. 347/07 Provincial parks: General provisions
O. Reg. 345/07 Work permits
The overriding principle of the Act is as follows: Ontario’s provincial parks and conservation reserves are dedicated to the people of Ontario and visitors for their inspiration, education, health, recreational enjoyment and other benefits with the intention that these areas shall be managed to maintain their ecological integrity and to leave them unimpaired for future generations.
The purpose of this Act is to permanently protect a system of provincial parks and conservation reserves that includes ecosystems representative of all of Ontario’s natural regions, protects provincially significant elements of Ontario’s natural and cultural heritage, maintains biodiversity and provides opportunities for compatible, ecologically sustainable recreation.
The following are the objectives in establishing and managing provincial parks and conservation reserves:
1. To permanently protect representative ecosystems, biodiversity and provincially significant elements of Ontario’s natural and cultural heritage and to manage these areas to ensure that ecological integrity is maintained.
2. To provide opportunities for ecologically sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities and encourage associated economic benefits.
3. To provide opportunities for residents of Ontario and visitors to increase their knowledge and appreciation of Ontario’s natural and cultural heritage.
4. To facilitate scientific research and provide points of reference to support monitoring of ecological change on the broader landscape.
The Act details the different classifications of provincial parks, as follows:
Wilderness Class Parks – to protect large areas where the forces of nature can exist freely and visitors travel by non-mechanized means, except as may be permitted by regulation, while engaging in low-impact recreation to experience solitude, challenge and integration with nature.
Nature Reserve Class Parks – to protect representative ecosystems and provincially significant elements of Ontario’s natural heritage, including distinctive natural habitats and landforms, for their intrinsic value, to support scientific research and to maintain biodiversity.
Cultural Heritage Class Parks – to protect elements of Ontario’s distinctive cultural heritage in open space settings for their intrinsic value and to support interpretation, education and research.
Natural Environment Class Parks – to protect outstanding recreational landscapes, representative ecosystems and provincially significant elements of Ontario’s natural and cultural heritage and to provide high quality recreational and educational experiences.
Waterway Class Parks – to protect recreational water routes and representative and significant terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and associated natural and cultural features and to provide high quality recreational and educational experiences.
Recreational Class Parks – to provide a wide variety of compatible outdoor recreation opportunities in attractive natural surroundings.
Aquatic class parks – to protect aquatic ecosystems and associated natural and cultural features for their intrinsic value, to support scientific research and to maintain biodiversity.
The Act provides the Ministry of Natural Resources with the option to establish fees for entry and use of any facilities or services at provincial parks. Entry fees can be charged for persons, vehicles, boats and aircraft.
The Act also includes information on enforcement of park rules and offences for non-compliance. Park officers are bestowed all the power and authority of a member of the Ontario Provincial Police within a provincial park or conservation reserve. For the purposes of ensuring compliance with this Act and the regulations, an officer has the power to inspect a firearm or ammunition or may stop a vehicle, boat or aircraft within the park boundaries.
It is noted that nothing in the Act applies to or affects any park under the management of The Niagara Parks Commission, The St. Clair Parks Commission or The St. Lawrence Parks Commission. These jurisdictions are subject to their own legislation.