OPERATIONS BRANCH 



The objectives of the Operations Branch are to promote 

 public understanding of Department activities and purposes; 

 to encourage good safety practices in forest work and recre- 

 ational activities; and to effect efficiency in purchasing and 

 other services for the Department. The branch is divided 

 into six sections — Office Management, Purchasing, Central 

 Supply Warehouse, Conservation Information, Conservation 

 Education and Accident Control. 



The following is a brief summary of Operations Branch 

 activity during the past fiscal year. 



OFFICE MANAGEMENT 



Inventory of major equipment belonging to the Department 

 was conducted. Departmental circulars and bulletins were 

 processed and distributed. Communication with the federal 

 Department of Transport for licensing Department boats was 

 maintained. Records of Crown lands were kept. 



PURCHASING 



Supplies were stored in quantities based on consumption 

 rates and shipped upon requisition. Requirements of all 10 

 Branches were either supplied from warehouse stock or 

 purchased directly. 



CENTRAL SUPPLY WAREHOUSE 



Supplies and equipment shipped by the Section amounted 

 to 244 tons. Supplies received totalled 348 tons. Forms, 

 reports, booklets, circulars and bulletins were produced, 

 collated and distributed. 



Thirty types of hunting, angling, bait fish, roll net, dip net, 

 frog, guide, trapping, trap-line and dog licences were issued 

 to licence issuers and district offices. The number of 

 licences prepared and checked for mailing and express 

 totalled 1,756,000 and were forwarded on 15,233 invoices to 

 more than 3,000 issuers. 168,900 Provincial Park annual 

 vehicle permits, 378,000 daily permits, 304,900 campsite 

 permits and 290.500 fur seals were distributed. 



CONSERVATION INFORMATION 



The Section worked through many media to disseminate 

 information. A weekly news release, with a mailing list of 

 3,500, circulated Department news, regulations and informed 

 opinion. News of more than normal urgency was supplied 

 directly to news outlets by press releases. Articles and back- 

 ground material were prepared on request. Speech material 

 for Department personnel was also prepared. 

 The Photograph Library loaned 9,500 black-and-white orints 

 and 1,000 colour transparencies. The library now has 35,000 

 negatives and 4,700 colour transparencies. 

 During the year, 35,300 answers were returned by mail to 

 persons requesting information. 



CONSERVATION EDUCATION 



The Section's film library contains 233 titles. Approximately., 

 1,350 films were loaned to field offices. I 



A set of 15 one-minute television shorts entitled "Do you. 

 know?" were made available. Footage for a new nursery 

 film, "Seeds to Trees", was gathered. 

 Visual conservations appeals were featured in the Departs 

 ment's exhibits at shows and fairs. Major exhibits were^ 

 mounted for the Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto; 

 Central Canada Exhibition, Ottawa; and the Royal Agricul- 

 tural Winter Fair, Toronto. 



Illustrated lectures on all aspects of the Department's work 

 were given. Head office and field staff presented 2,576' 

 lectures to audiences totalling 209,502 during the year. 



ACCIDENT CONTROL 

 THE LOGGERS' SAFETY ACT 



During 1966, approximately 824 inspections of logging 

 operations were made. Accident Control officers attended 

 96 meetings having regard to the application of the Act. 

 HUNTER SAFETY TRAINING 



In 1966, 19,342 students graduated compared to 17,577 in 

 1965, making a total of 121,953 graduates since the program 

 began in 1957. Several instructors' workshops were con- 

 ducted. 



SAFETY IN PROVINCIAL PARKS 



During the months July to September, the Department 

 sponsored a "Water Safety Demonstration" program spon- 

 sored by the Ontario Safety League. The demonstrations 

 were viewed by more than 150,000 persons. 

 WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION 



Workmen's Compensation costs and the number of claims 

 submitted have increased for the fiscal year The total num- 

 ber of compensable claims was 588, an increase of 21 over 

 that for the previous fiscal year. Total cost of Department 

 claims was $171,315.47, an increase of $26,642.76. Average 

 cost per claim was $159.00, an increase of $41.00 per claim. 



