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JULY IO, I974 TERRACE BAY NEWS PAGE 7 Public Access - cont'd from page 5 The facility will enable boaters to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Pic Island, McKellar Harbour and Peninsula Bay. The price of the Day Use Permit is equivalent to about one third of a tank of mixed gasoline for an out- board motor. As such, we do not feel it should act as a deterrent for anyone wishing to make use of this new recreational opportun- ity. L.J. Haas, District Manager. A CLOSE LOOK AT CROWN LAND CAMPING A great deal of publicity has been given lately to natural resources minister Leo Bern- ier's announcement of a trial program designed to control overnight camping on Crown Lands in Northwestern Ontario. Over the past three years the ministry has carried out several studies to determine the extent and effects of indiscriminate overnight camping on Crown lands. These studies indi- cate that to a high degree, highway rights-of- ways, abandoned gravel pits, public boat launching sites and back roads are being used for camping, largely by self-contained recre- ational vehicles and tent trailers. The un- desirable effects of such use include garbage and litter accumulation, congestion at public access points, safety hazards on logging roads and deterioration of fragile sites that are not capable of withstanding such use. At the meeting of the Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce in Fort Fran- ces in September, I972, the minister proposed controls as a possible solution to the Crown land camping problem. These controls provided for the establishment of open, closed and reg- ulated zones for.camping on all Crown lands and an annual fee of $5.00 per camping unit for residents and $25.00 per camping unit for non-residents. Public comment on this proposal was request -ed and approximately 6,300 persons responded, mostly in the form of petitions. The majority were from Ontario residents who thought they should not be charged a fee to camp on Crown land. The minister then directed his Advisory Com -mittee to study the issue and provide some guidance to him on how the Crown land camping situation should be approached. This committ- ee responded with several recommendations, the essence of which was that: No camping should be allowed within one half mile of travelled roads, designated camping areas with minimal facilities should be provided, and a fee shou- 1d be charged. After receiving these recommendations, the minister indicated that prior to implementing such a program on a province-wide basis a por- tion of Northern Ontario should be designated for a pilot program and the results assessed before proceeding any further. The Northwes- tern Region of the ministry cont'd page 8 You want your business fogrow. The Northern Ontario Development Corporation was created by the Ontario Government to stimulate the economic growth of this region. This means finding ways for smaller businesses to become bigger, or at least more profitable. This can mean making money available to qualifying businesses for expansion of plant or facilities, if you can show us that you cannot obtain funds from the regular lenders. This can mean talking, at no cost to you, with our team of con- sultants -- experienced in engineering, accounting, business administration and marketing, and all of them residents of the north -- about your/particular problems. To find -out what the N.O.D.C. can mean to you, get to know your local representative -- in Timmins, Sudbury, Thunder Bay. We're here to help, that's our business. An N.O.D.C. travelling consultant will be in this area at: 'Northern Affairs Office, Wednesday, July I7 (p.m.) & Thursday, July I8 (a.m.). Interviews for Marathon, Man- itouwage, Terrace Bay and Schreiber. For appointment, contact: Mr. J.B. Young 3 Northern Affairs Officer Telephone = 229-II53 We want