First Nation completes draft land use plan.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry announced that a northwestern Ontario First Nation reserve has completed the draft for its community land use plan.

The plan identifies opportunities for mineral exploration and development, infrastructure, tourism and renewable energy, and proposes dedicated protected areas of cultural and ecological value.

Open houses were scheduled for June in Deer Lake and Red Lake for the public to review and provide input.

Deer Lake is an Oji-Cree community of 1,100 located 180 kilometres north of Red Lake. The reserve is more than 1,600 hectares. The land use plan encompasses more than 400,000 hectares of land in the Far North.

"This draft plan is an important milestone in the Far North Planning Initiative and an excellent example of how First Nations and Ontario are building a positive relationship and are working together for the future of the...