Gatineau Park needs proper protection
Recreation, yes, but conservation is top priority, writes Nikita Lopoukhine.
The National Capital Commission (NCC) recently released its 2020 draft of the Gatineau Park Master Plan. Buried towards the end of the draft plan is a presentation of the advantages and the need for modernizing the park's legal framework.
This may surprise readers who think Gatineau Park is a “real park” under a federal act. Sadly, Gatineau Park's boundaries are not legislated, and as such lands can be sold, traded without parliamentary approval and houses are still being constructed on the remaining private land within the park. As the draft plan points out, legislation would firm up the park's conservation mission and its protection, modernize pricing of activities, establish regulations and assign powers of protection.
To be sure, the idea of governing legislation for Gatineau Park is not new: Over the past several decades, individuals and conservation organizations have petitioned Parliament, and met with ministers, senators and members of Parliament. Social media campaigns to “make it a real park” are ongoing.
To date, senators and MPs and even ministers have sponsored eight pieces of legislation. However, each died on the Order Paper for a variety of reasons. This underlines the absence of real parliamentary commitment and the lack of a clear assignment of responsibility in a ministerial mandate letter.
The status quo is not acceptable. Several options exist for governing legislation.
One option would be to modify the National Capital Act under which the NCC operates. The act presently does not reference Gatineau Park, other than providing for payments in lieu of taxes to adjoining municipalities. Modifying the National Capital Act perhaps would be the simplest approach, but would nevertheless need to specify park boundaries, authorities, and powers that would parallel the content of a stand-alone act.
Another option is a standalone act, such as the act establishing Toronto's National Urban Rouge Park, managed by Parks Canada. A further consideration is to have Gatineau Park managed co-operatively with Parks Canada as part of a string of “urban parks” across Canada. Having access to protected areas in proximity to urban areas was highlighted this summer by the COVID-19 pandemic. In times of crisis, people seek solace in nature. Gatineau Park broke all previous visitation records this summer.
A third option is to have Gatineau Park listed under the National Parks Act. As such, Gatineau Park would have the highest level of protection equal to the iconic Nahanni, Banff, Jasper and all the other globally recognized Canadian national parks. And, it would fulfil the original vision of an eastern national park, mirroring the western parks of the Rocky Mountains. Indeed, Gatineau Park is already larger in area than many national parks.
Gatineau Park, on the doorstep of the National Capital, containing the prime minister's summer residence, the House of Commons Speaker's residence and the historic Mackenzie King Estate, deserves the attention of our legislators. With climate change impacts on our horizon, expanding urban developments and growing recreation demands, it is critical that Gatineau Park's biodiversity be given the high level of protection it deserves.
Otherwise, without legislative protection and regardless of the current Master Plan's intentions, Gatineau Park will continue to be threatened by boundary modifications, policy shifts and, most importantly, the loss of ecological integrity.
Gatineau Park belongs to all Canadians, but we in the National Capital Region benefit the most since Gatineau Park is in our immediate proximity. As such, we owe it to ourselves, but also to all Canadians, to ensure that while the park is a great space for recreation, conservation must be the priority. Do not miss the opportunity to submit your comments on the draft plan by this weekend. Nikita Lopoukhine is former director general, National Parks Directorate, Parks Canada and chair emeritus, World Commission on Protected Areas, International Union for the Conservation of Nature; and presently serves on the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society Board at the national and Ottawa Valley chapter levels.