Whereas
in September 2012 the provincial government cancelled the 70 year old Ontario
Ranger Program (ORP), formerly known as the Ontario Junior Ranger Program;
AND
WHEREAS when the government cancelled the Ontario Ranger Program it claimed
the Stewardship Youth Ranger Program (SYP), an existing day program would
deliver the same experience and would offer more jobs;
AND
WHEREAS this day program does not offer the same quality of experience youth
gained under the previous ORP in respect to knowledge of resource management
and without the distractions of daily life;
AND
WHEREAS since 2012, 278 Ontario Ranger jobs have been eliminated;
AND
WHEREAS in previous years more than half of the Ontario Rangers were students
from large urban centres. By contrast this year, the current day program is
just not accessible to those students in those urban centres;
AND
WHEREAS when the government cancelled the ORP, many youths lost an
opportunity for a once-in-a-lifetime experience because the ORP only required
enrolment in an Ontario high school and acceptance into the program was based
on a postal code lottery system;
AND
WHEREAS cancellation of the 70 year old ORP does a disservice to public
services in Ontario to those who have come to admire and respect the natural
beauty of our province;
AND
WHEREAS Conservation Authorities encourage students to learn about the
importance of conserving our shared natural environment and what they can do
to make a positive impact;
AND
WHEREAS the provincial government committed $295 million dollars in the 2013
provincial budget for youth employment;
THEREFORE
be it resolved that the Town of Newmarket supports the Friends of the Ontario
Ranger Program campaign to restore the Ontario Ranger Program in the 2014
provincial budget;
AND
be it further resolved that the Town of Newmarket shall send a letter to
Premier Kathleen Wynne and the Minister of Natural Resources, David
Orazietti, urging their government to restore the Ontario Ranger Program for
future generations of young people;
AND
be it finally resolved that the Town of Newmarket forward this resolution for
support to the other 35 Conservation Authorities.
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