Crown Lands

Most Crown land in Ontario is administered by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), however, national parks, Indian reserves and some harbours, airports and canal systems are controlled by the Canadian federal government.

In total, Crown land makes up about 87% of Ontario's land mass, or 937,000 square kilometres. Land on the beds of most navigable lakes and rivers is considered provincial Crown land. These beds alone constitute over 164,000 square kilometres, mostly under the Great Lakes system. With the exception of that "land under water", there is very little Crown land in southern Ontario. In northern Ontario, provincial Crown land makes up over 95% of the land base.

The rules governing the administration of Crown land are laid out in a provincial law known as the Public Lands Act. In this statute, the term "public land" means Crown land. However, outside the statute, the term public land is sometimes used to mean any land that is controlled or owned by a provincial, federal or municipal public agency. On land which is truly "owned" by any of these agencies, the Public Lands Act does not apply.

Wabakimi Provincial Park is surrounded on three sides by Crown lands that lie in four different Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) administrative districts (Sioux Lookout, Dryden, Thunder Bay & Nipigon). These public lands are designated as general use areas. Each has its own land use policy report that stipulates what activities may (or may not) occur.

Beyond Wabakimi - General Use Areas