GTA park goes national

Rouge Valley to be first near-urban preserve

OTTAWA— The Conservative government confirmed a long-time hope among nature lovers Thursday with the announcement that Toronto’s Rouge Valley will become Canada’s first near-urban national park.

While the budget did not provide funding figures or a timeline, Environment Minister Peter Kent is expected to reveal more details on April 11 when he speaks to Toronto’s Albany Club.

“The government will be taking steps towards the creation of Canada’s first national near-urban park in the Rouge Valley,” says the budget.the nearly 50-square-kilometre green space stretches north from Lake Ontario and is bordered by Toronto and Markham in the west and Pickering in the east. It has long been popular with joggers, hikers and cyclists, but the government hopes the valley’s new designation — which comes with an onsite interpretive centre and dedicated staff — will curb the trend of declining attendance to Canada’s national parks.

Pauline Browes, who was MP for Scarborough under the Brian Mulroney government and minister of state for the environment, said the high standard of preservation required for national parks will make Rouge Valley a challenge for Parks Canada. While Thursday’s budget made no mention of funding, Browes, who has worked with the community for years to try to get Rouge Valley designated as a national park, estimated that at least $100 million would be needed over a 10-year period for operating and capital costs.

The budget also promises $50 million over two years to protect wildlife species at risk, while Environment Canada is expected to announce the creation of a hunting and wildlife advisory panel in the coming months.