A PDF showing letters to the editor of The Globe and Mail from a former Parks Canada chief scientist and FRW’s president slam Rouge National Urban Park legislation.
Important news
30 Thursday Jul 2015
Posted in Home, Publications
Tag Archives: National Park
Petition asks feds to respect and strengthen existing plans for the Rouge and establish a sustainable 100 km2 national park
20 Saturday Jul 2013
Posted in Home, Show Your Support
In celebration of Canadian Environment Week (June 2-8, 2013), MPs Rathika Sitsabaiesan, John McKay, Kirsty Duncan, Elizabeth May and John McCallum submitted copies of the Rouge National Park petition — signed by a total of 3200 Canadians — to the federal government.
The petition asks the government to respect and strengthen existing Rouge Park Plans and establish an ecologically healthy and sustainable 100 km2 Rouge National Park that links Lake Ontario to the heart of the Oak Ridges Moraine with publicly-owned Greenbelt lands.
You can access the petition online at http://www.change.org/petitions/create-a-sustainable-ecologically-healthy-100-square-kilometre-rouge-national-park
Over the last 25 years, visionary federal, provincial and municipal political leaders have listened to the public and worked together to create the existing Rouge Park, a Greenbelt gem near Toronto.
In May of 2012, the federal government announced a plan to create a Rouge National Urban Park and a park concept document was released. “Unfortunately, the draft national park concept is critically inconsistent with the vision, plans and legislative framework already developed for the current Rouge Park,” says Jim Robb of Friends of the Rouge Watershed (FRW). “Continuing in this direction would undermine the park’s ecological health, water quality, First Nation heritage and visitor enjoyment potential.”
And it’s not only community groups like FRW who are worried about the proposed concept of the park. Local MPs Rathika Sitsabaiesan and John McKay have commented on the new “National Urban Park” concept.
“The vision of approved Rouge Park Management Plans (1994 and 2001) centres on the protection and appreciation of the park ecosystem,” says MP John McKay, who went on to say that “the federal government should create a 100 km2 Rouge National Park which supports and implements this longstanding public vision.”
“During the creation of Rouge National Park, the federal government has a clear responsibility to strengthen and implement the vision and objectives of existing Rouge Park Plans,” says MP Rathika Sitsabaiesan. “That includes the Provincial Greenbelt Plan, the Rouge Natural Heritage Action Plan (2008) and the International Agreement for improving Great Lakes water quality.”
MP Kirsty Duncan, Etobicoke North riding, has stated that “the publicly-owned lands surrounding the Rouge River in Toronto, Markham and Pickering should be permanently protected. A 100 km2 Park will protect and restore part of Canada’s endangered Carolinian Life Zone, improve the quality of water returning to Lake Ontario and Toronto Area beaches, and provide millions of Canadians with a transit-accessible National Park.”
The new National Park will not only serve millions of residents in the GTA, but all Canadians and visitors alike.
“Having worked on protection of the Rouge since the late 1980’s, I wish I could be more enthusiastic of the current plans,” says MP Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party. “At this point they fall far short of the protection and restoration of a sustainable natural habitat system which links Lake Ontario to the Oak Ridges Moraine. It is critical that we defend Canadians’ ability to appreciate this beautiful part of Canada’s endangered Carolinian and mixed woodland ecological zones.”
In celebration of Canadian Environment Week, MPs Rathika Sitsabaiesan, Chris Alexander, John McKay, Kirsty Duncan and Elizabeth May will submit copies of the Rouge National Park petition, signed by a total of 3200 Canadians.
The petition asks the federal government to respect and strengthen existing Rouge Park Plans and establish an ecologically healthy and sustainable 100 km2 Rouge National Park which links Lake Ontario to the heart of the Oak Ridges Moraine with publicly owned Greenbelt lands.
The theme of Canadian Environment Week is Water: Working Together. “By voicing public concerns and working together, these MPs are encouraging the Canadian Government to create a healthy 100 km2 Rouge National Park which will help to protect and restore water quality, ecological health and public health within Toronto’s Great Lakes water quality “Area of Concern,” says Mr. Robb.
You can access the petition online at http://www.change.org/petitions/create-a-sustainable-ecologically-healthy-100-square-kilometre-rouge-national-park
Potential Rouge National Park Versus Current Park Study Area
23 Monday Jul 2012
Posted in Maps
Tags
Greater Toronto Area, National Park, Parks Canada, Rouge National Park, Rouge River, Rouge Valley
100 km2 Potential Rouge National Park (left) versus 60 km2 current Park Study Area (right), which excludes federal Greenbelt lands in Pickering. (Double click for larger view).
Public Benefits of Creating a 100+ km2 Rouge National Park
15 Tuesday Nov 2011
Posted in Home
Tags
Carolinian Forest Zone, Cross Canada Trail, First Nation, Greater Toronto Area, Lake Ontario, national historic site, National Park, Oak Ridges Moraine, pioneer heritage
1. Give millions of Canadians access by transit to a beautiful and biologically diverse National Park, improving quality of life and health in the GTA;
2. Protect and expand a designated area of Canada’s rare Carolinian Forest Zone, the zone with the most endangered species, but the fewest parks;
3. Reach out to urban Canadians, young and old, to nurture a vital part of our shared Canadian identity and character and our love of natural areas and national parks;
4. Protect and restore core habitat areas and ecological corridors and provide public trails to connect Lake Ontario and the Waterfront Trail to the Oak Ridges Moraine and Cross Canada Trail;
5. Protect and restore water quality, trout and Atlantic salmon streams, and habitat for more than a dozen designated federal species at risk and many provincially and regionally rare species;
6. Protect and respect the area’s rich First Nation and pioneer heritage, two National Historic sites and healthy local food production and
7. Create compatible recreation, tourism and agricultural opportunities, improve property values, and attract businesses, jobs and revenues to nearby communities.
Celebrate Parks Canada’s 100th birthday
15 Tuesday Nov 2011
Posted in Events
Tags
Blanding's turtle, Carolinian Life Zone, Cross Canada Trail, Duffins Creek, Eco-zone, Greater Toronto Area, Greenbelt, Lake Ontario, Markham, National Park, nationally rare species, Oak Ridges Moraine, Parks Canada, Petticoat Creek, Pickering, Rouge National Park, Rouge River, Waterfront Trail
In 2011, we are celebrating a century of excellence by Parks Canada, protecting and presenting significant examples of Canada’s natural and cultural heritage.
Canada’s existing 42 National Parks represent bold, long-term visions which protect and nurture important parts of our identity, character and country.
As the maps below outline, the federal government owns 57+ km2 of “Greenbelt” designated lands in north Markham and Pickering surrounding the potential Pickering Airport lands.
Adding these 57 km2 of publicly owned “Greenbelt” lands to Rouge Park will create a spectacular 100 km2 Rouge National Park which links Lake Ontario to the Oak Ridges Moraine.
Creating a 100+ km2 Rouge National Park, on public land in Canada’s most populous region, will be a fitting celebration of Parks Canada’s 100th birthday.
We will need foresight from our elected leaders and Parks Canada to protect enough public land in Rouge National Park to:
1. protect and restore a significant part of Canada’s most endangered Eco-zone, the Carolinian Life Zone (the Eco-zone with the fewest natural parks);
2. accommodate growing public enjoyment of Rouge National Park without degrading its natural and cultural treasures and “National Park” quality of experience;
3. protect, restore and expand habitat for many regionally, provincially and nationally rare species (e.g. Atlantic salmon, red side dace, Blanding’s turtle);
4. improve water quality in the Rouge River and at Rouge Beach to fulfill Great Lakes Water Quality Agreements;
5. connect Lake Ontario and the Oak Ridges Moraine and the Rouge, Petticoat and Duffins Creek watersheds with a sustainable Natural Heritage System;
6. connect the Waterfront Trail along Lake Ontario with the Cross Canada Trail in the Oak Ridges Moraine;
7. improve water quality, air quality, ecosystem health, outdoor education, outdoor recreation and public health;
8. protect lands for local, healthy, sustainable food production.
Rouge National Park needs to be at least 100 km2 to meet its ecological, social and economic potential.
Working together, we can overcome the challenges and create a timeless and priceless 100 km2 Rouge National Park legacy for all Canadians.
This lasting legacy can become reality with the vision, leadership and involvement of Greater Toronto Area (GTA) residents, our elected leaders and Parks Canada.
Why the Rouge Needs National Park Status
14 Monday Nov 2011
Tags
Carolinian Canada, Carolinian Forest Zone, Duffins Creek, endangered species, federal lands, First Nation, Lake Ontario, Markham, municipal, national historic site, National Park, Oak Ridges Moraine, Parks Canada, Pickering, protection, Provincial Greenbelt Plan, Rouge Park, Rouge River, watersheds
1. Better Protection: To avoid incremental degradation from development pressures, Rouge Park needs legal Park status and the protection provided by Parks Canada’s leadership and legislation.
2. Expertise: Rouge Park,a Carolinian Canada site with many nationally rare species, needs the expertise of Parks Canada to protect and restore the area’s rich natural and cultural heritage.
3. Additional Public Parkland: The federal government owns 57 km2 of Greenbelt land in north Markham and Pickering. Adding these public lands to the existing Rouge Park will complete the “Lake Ontario to Oak Ridges Moraine” ecological link and create a sustainable 100 km2 national park.
4. Better Funding: Rouge Park needs a stable source of funding to protect and restore the ecological and cultural integrity of the Park, acquire more land and improve trail systems and visitor programs.
