Milburn Kendrick Proposal Cancelled - A Win for Crown Land Access

On April 14, 2025, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks confirmed what thousands of land users demanded: the Milburn Kendrick Conservation Reserve proposal will not proceed.

This is more than a win for Haliburton, it’s a message to all of Ontario and beyond: when people unite, speak up, and push back with facts, we can stop unjust land designations.

This outcome is a direct result of community action, led by residents and land users, who stood up for fair process, public consultation, and access to public land.

It happened because everyday Crown land users, hunters, riders, anglers, trappers, and trail supporters, did what big name organizations wouldn’t. We showed up. We got organized. We read the law. And we challenged the narrative.

Why We Fought Back

The Milburn Kendrick Area of Interest (MKAI) was just one piece of a sweeping plan to reclassify over 60,000 hectares of Crown land in the Highlands Corridor. It was sold as “protection,” but the fine print told a different story: locked gates, lost trails, and permanent restrictions.

Citizens for Crown Land Protection (CCLP) was founded as a grassroots organization to oppose restrictive conservation designations that risk shutting out traditional and recreational users. Our mandate is rooted in supporting fair, responsible, and sustainable access to Crown land, especially for snowmobilers, ATV riders, hunters, anglers, and trail users who depend on this land.

While Others Stayed Silent, You Took a Stand.

While individual land users spoke out and organized, many organizations that claim to represent outdoor recreation,  including OFAH, KATVA, and others, chose not to oppose the Milburn Kendrick proposal. In fact, some even offered conditional support, despite the designation's permanence and the lack of any legal guarantees. They did so knowing full well there’s no mechanism to enforce those conditions once land is designated. 

But users knew better. You knew this wasn’t just about Milburn Kendrick. You knew what was really at stake: the future of public access across Ontario and Canada.

This Is What Happens When People Speak Up

This win proves one thing: conservation designations can be stopped.