10-36-80/5 Vol 2 (CCE/Prop)15 March, 1963
Deputy Minister,
Department of Transport
Ottawa 4, Ontario
Attention: Real Estate Division
Dear Sir:
Re: Forestry Towers and Access Roads
Deferred Gap Filler Programme
Please refer to my letter of 20 February last, file 10-36-80/7 Vol 2, in which you were requested to complete the property acquisition at the 25 Gap Filler sites which have been partially constructed and to attempt to obtain options until the end of 1964 on the lands for the 19 sites where no work has commenced.
Our project engineers have now completed a study of the forestry tower and access road facilities involved in the programme and it has been decided that the Ontario Department of Lands and Forests and the various forest protective associations and paper companies should be informed of the delay in completion of construction and advised that existing towers are to be used until such time as our building programme starts again. The list hereunder sets out the sites in question and the responsible agencies:
| Batchawana, Biscotasing, Oba, Elliot Lake and Timmins | Ontario Department of Lands and Forests |
| Belleterre and Nishkotea Lake | Ottawa River Forest Protective Association Limited |
| Beaver Tower | Lower Ottawa Forest Protective Association Limited |
| Squatteck | Southern St Lawrence Forest Protective Association Limited |
| Whites Brook | New Brunswick International Paper Company |
| Todd Mountain | Canadian International Paper Company |
| Atikokan | The Ontario officials should be advised that a joint Radar-Forestry Tower has been erected and may be used, but there is no electrical power to the installation |
The construction of access roads has been completed at Atikokan, Batchawana, Belleterre, Biscotasing, Elliot Lake, Oba, Timmins and Todd Mountain and the department will allow use of the roads by forest protection staffs if the agency will accept temporary responsibility for their maintenance. Buildings and services have also been constructed at all of these sites except Batchawana and I would be pleased if you would have your regional offices find out whether the agencies will accept temporary outward custody of the installations during the period their personnel are in the areas, advising this department of any damage being done to the structures.
Yours sincerely,
(EB Armstrong)
Deputy Minister