Ontario’s largest conservation commitment to date is announced

Over the next 10 to 15 years, the province will work with scientists and communities to map out the specific lands that are the most valuable as carbon storehouses and for species protection and which lands have the greatest resources and should be developed.

"We're going to strike the right balance between conservation and development," McGuinty said. In the interim, the government is relying on prospective developers' respect for the laws governing Crown and First Nations lands to protect the region's forests and wetlands.

The government will introduce legislation in the fall to reform the outdated mining act so all future mine developments will need approval of local First Nations, which will get a share of the revenues.

"We get to say to our aboriginal communities: if there is some mining exploration here, and you permit that, you get a piece of the action," McGuinty said, adding that the government would give them a cash down payment this fall.

Conservative and NDP critics accused McGuinty of throwing a wrench into the $11 billion mining industry, when Ontario's struggling economy can least afford it, simply to score cheap political points for being seen as a green premier.

But the Ontario Prospectors Association welcomed the announcement, saying it agreed some conservation was needed and that the mining act changes would bring needed certainty to the industry.

Environmental groups were also thrilled, calling the announcement visionary.

"The premier has shown leadership, which we hope will set the tone for forest protection across the country," said Gillian McEachern of ForestEthics, which has spent three years trying to get Ontario's far north on the radar of southern-focused politicians and media.

"(Protecting half) is the most we've ever seen a government leader commit to," she said.