Frost Centre Closure

THE ONTARIO CHAPTER RESPONSE (July 20, 2004 )

Honourable David Ramsey
Minister of Natural Resources
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Whitney Block 6th Flr Rm 6630
99 Wellesley St W Toronto, ON
M7A 1W3

Sir:

The Ontario Chapter of the American Fisheries Society (AFS) would like to voice our disappointment at the proposed closure of the Leslie M. Frost Natural Resource Centre. The American Fisheries Society is the oldest and largest organization of professional aquatic biologists in North America with over 120 members in the Province of Ontario. As resource professionals we have been intimately associated with the Frost Centre over its history. Since the incorporation of the Ontario Chapter of AFS, the Frost Centre has served as home of our Annual General Meeting and we are now into our second decade at the centre. As resource professionals we realize the importance of outreach, education and communication and the Frost Centre was a key component of OMNR in its dissemination of information, training of MNR staff and other professionals and outreach to students and the public. Upon hearing of the closure the Executive Committee of the Ontario Chapter contacted OMNR staff to find out the rationale for the closure. Without fail the answer we heard was the “Frost Center was not part of our core mission statement”. While on the surface this may be true, as the Frost Centre was not directly involved in the management or protection of Ontario’s Natural Resources, it is integral in communication of the management decisions, outreach and education. Without communication of the policies, management decisions and continuing education of OMNR staff and other resource professionals it will appear that OMNR is acting in a vacuum. As you are undoubtedly aware without adequate communication or education the best management will go unnoticed and be under appreciated. On a sad note, is the use of the Frost Centre by students, the education and the outreach provided by the centre was invaluable to their development. The education of students through the Frost Centre increases the awareness of the environment and often plants the seeds for the next generation of environmental managers and scientists.

While we are aware that we all must focus on our mission and business plans we feel it is shortsighted on OMNR’s part to not recognize the total value of the Frost Centre. We also realize that change is inevitable and some reorganization may be required in this time of shrinking budgets and fiscal responsibility but the dramatic step of closing the Frost Centre may have been avoided if additional user fees or other cost transfers were more fully explored.

Lastly we were surprised and disappointed at the speed and timing of the closure. On the surface it appears that little effort was extended to explore other funding options, cost sharing or partnerships. Perhaps this was explored but we are not aware of any press releases or other communications to this affect. The speed of the closure is also troubling as it does not allow for adequate public comment and increases the negative perceptions of the closure.

In closing the Ontario Chapter of AFS cannot support the closure of the Frost Centre. We ask that you reconsider the closure, revisit funding options, explore new and innovative cost sharing that will ensure this valuable resource can be maintained for future generations. We look forward to your response, please address future correspondence on this matter to the attention of: Dr. David Stanley President Elect – Ontario Chapter of the American Fisheries Society Stantec Consulting Limited 14 Abacus Rd. Brampton ON L6T 5B7

Yours truly, Executive Committee of the Ontario Chapter of the American Fisheries Society

David Green – President
David Stanley – President Elect
Rob Steele – Past President
Shari Wiseman – Vice-President

cc: Mr. Gus Rassam – Executive Director, American Fisheries Society