The newly-renamed Crossroute Forest People’s Alliance is building in strength–doubling its members from 40 to 80 since its first meeting here last Thursday.
“It’s going better than expected,” Alliance president Jeff Steinke said Monday evening.
Besides changing its name from the Crossroute Forest Sportsman’s Alliance to avoid confusion with other clubs such as the Fort Frances Sportsmen’s Club, the Alliance also now sports a board of directors, including vice-president Jim Whitehead, treasurer Jon MacDonald, and secretary Tim Grynol.
George Chabot, Mike Sheppard, Milt Strachan, Darren Ball, Brad Cousineau, Mark Angus, and Terry Ross make up the remaining directors.
A self-proclaimed “watchdog” of the local Ministry of Natural Resources, the Alliance already has made it known it wants to make the public aware of any MNR issues that may affect them, such as keeping the Trout Road closed.
But Steinke noted the group’s executive will meet again Feb. 14 to “find a focus.”
“The meeting will include guests from other groups with similar objectives. Our next move is to create a mission,” he remarked.
Other business will include setting a date for the next general meeting and addressing some questions raised at the inaugural one Feb. 1, such as “Will the Alliance be permanent, or will it disband after the Trout Road issue is resolved?”
Steinke added the Alliance, which made its first appearance at a rally Jan. 22 outside the local MNR office, has drawn attention since then. He said he’s been contacted by–and offered support from–several interest groups in Northern Ontario, including the local Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters.
But he said partnerships aren’t necessarily anything the Alliance will rush into. “We’re going to weigh all the odds, and then discuss it with the general membership,” Steinke noted.
MNR district manager Bill Darby was somewhat tight-lipped when asked his thoughts about the new group.
“The Alliance has been in contact with the MNR recently to obtain information and verify some facts,” he said yesterday morning. “That’s the kind of healthy dialogue I encourage.”
Meanwhile, Darby received proposals on the Crossroute Forest Management Plan from Abitibi-Consolidated, the Fort Frances Sportsmen’s Club, and North Western Ontario Tourism Association (NWOTA) yesterday.
He’ll now spend the next 15 days deciding what the Crossroute F.M.P. will say based on those ideas.
The plans then will be unveiled to the public March 5, at which time a 60-day review period begins.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
