Outdoor News and Blogs

Author and academic Andrew Cohen is to be commended for advocating creation of a national park in the Gatineau Hills.

Writing about creation of the Rouge Valley National Park in the April 24^th Ottawa Citizen, he says national parks are touchstones of democracy which provide educational and recreational benefits to the public and that more of them are needed.

Arguing for expansion of natural spaces throughout Canada, Mr. Cohen makes a bold proposal: “We should,” he says “[...] create a national park in the Gatineau Hills, where they are foolishly cutting down old-growth trees and building houses.”

Praiseworthy as it is, Mr. Cohen’s proposal is virtually unworkable, for a variety of reasons.

First, it would require expropriation of all private lands inside the park – section 5(1)(a) of the National Parks Act says Parks Canada must own all land inside park boundaries.

Second, federal government policy and legislation prohibit the federal government from expropriating to create parks. In fact, federal expropriations to create parks are a thing of the past. Today, the process for creating national parks stipulates the province must expropriate the lands before handing them over to the federal government [1]. Imagine the upheaval were the Quebec government to expropriate lands at Meech and Kingsmere Lakes for a Gatineau National Park. The Rhodesians would be out with their pitchfords and tar buckets …

So, that’s not happening anytime soon …

Third, whether it be in the press, or in its long-term plans, Parks Canada has repeatedly said it wants nothing to do with Gatineau Park.

And if the government still insisted on creating a Gatineau National Park despite all these hurdles, its only option would be to balkanize park territory by tracing a boundary around private lands – as was done for Newfoundland’s Gros Morne Park. Doing this would further limit public access to key sites such as Meech and Kingsmere Lakes.

Fortunately, creating a “people’s park” in the Gatineau Hills remains possible. The proposal made by NDP MP Nycole Turmel would do this by amending the National Capital Act to allow Gatineau Park to be managed in accordance with the philosophy of our national parks.

Ms. Turmel’s plan would mandate conservation and ecological integrity as top management priorities for Gatineau Park; enshrine its boundaries in legislation; respect Quebec’s territorial integrity; eliminate private property; and dedicate the park to future generations.

That’s precisely the recipe provided by Canada’s National Parks Act.

Unfortunately, in the absence of such protection, the NCC has removed 8 sq. km from Gatineau Park and allowed construction of 123 new houses inside it since 1992 – along with a new superstore, coffee shops, gas station, fire hall, hospital, crematorium, municipal pumping station and five new roads.

Mr. Cohen also deserves applause for saying that Canada’s national parks’ are as much about people as they are about conservation – that’s a key point rejected by many ecologists and the people running Gatineau Park.

Now if he could only write a full column on turning Gatineau Park into a real “peoples’ park.” As an expert on the political, social and cultural organization of Ottawa, I’m certain his contribution would prompt enlightened debate on the issue.

Read Professor Cohen’s column at: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/Expanding+Canada+empire+opportunity/6504938/story.html

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[1] See “Constitutional Problems Related to Creation and Administration of Canada’s National Parks,” in J.Owen Saunders, Managing Federal Resources in a Federal State, Carswell, 1986, p. 215.

The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS-OV) is applauding Hull-Aylmer MP Nycole Turmel for keeping her campaign promise by outlining a plan to introduce protective legislation for Gatineau Park.

In a release issued on April 22, CPAWS-OV said recent assault’s on the park’s ecological integrity – “including the construction of yet another house at Meech Lake and extension of Highway 5 near Wakefield” – confirm the need for strong legislation.

Ms. Turmel’s proposed legislation, says the CPAWS release, will “provide a number of protections identical to those afforded by the National Parks Act. Those provisions, according to CPAWS, would include boundaries set in legislation that can only be changed by legislation; a mandate requiring that maintenance and restoration of ecological integrity be the first priority for park management; and acquisition of private property inside the park.

Says Doug Anions, chairman of CPAWS Gatineau Park Committee: “Ms. Turmel’s proposed legislation is a definite step in the right direction. It addresses many of our concerns. A century ago, Gatineau Park was to become our first national park east of the Rockies. We are calling on the government to support this legislation as it moves forward.”

The release notes that growth of municipalities surrounding the park is destroying critical habitat in and adjacent to it. While I agree that urban sprawl is a threat to the park, I question the figure of 2.7 million visits per year that CPAWS uses in its release – that means an average of 7,417 visits per year! Funny thing is: both the Master Plan (2005) and the Recreational Services Plan (2010) for the park place that figure at 1.7 million visits per year.

In fairness to CPAWS, however, the 2.7 million figure is drawn from the NCC’s web site… I have made inquiries with the NCC.

“Without strong legislated protection,” says CPAWS, “Gatineau Park, as we know it today, will cease to exist.”

In an earlier release (May 2010), CPAWS had outlined conditions it believed to be essential for strong park legislation:

1. Establishing Gatineau Park in legislation and dedicate it to future generations;

2. Ensuring that it be managed primarily for its ecological integrity;

3. Providing the National Capital Commission with a legislated mandate to acquire private property located inside Gatineau Park;

4. Stipulating that changes to Gatineau Park boundaries can only be made by statute, as is the case for Canada’s national parks.

The environmental group “is calling on all parties in the House of Commons to support Ms. Turmel’s proposed legislation, much as they did when a bill to expand Nahanni National Park was passed with broad support.”

Other groups backing Ms. Turmel’s initiative are the Sierra Club, the Outaouais’ Regional Council for the Environment and Sustainable Development, Nature Québec, the Vélo Plaisirs bicycle club and the Gatineau Park Protection Committee.

See full press release in English and French at www.cpaws-ov-vo.org

Edited French release below:

La SNAP Vallée de l’Outaouais applaudit l’intention de la députée Turmel de protéger le parc de la Gatineau

Ottawa, le 22 avril 2012 – La Section Vallée de l’Outaouais de la Société pour la nature et les parcs du Canada (SNAP VO) félicite la députée de la circonscription de Hull-Aylmer, Nycole Turmel, d’avoir tenu sa promesse électorale en annonçant son intention de déposer un projet de loi pour protéger le parc de la Gatineau.

Tel qu’illustré par les récentes attaques sur l’intégrité écologique du parc de la Gatineau – soit la construction d’une autre maison au lac Meech et le prolongement de l’autoroute 5 dans le secteur de Wakefield – le temps est venu d’adopter une loi solide pour protéger le parc.

Par ailleurs, la SNAP-VO incite les autres partis politiques à appuyer ce projet de loi, comme ils l’ont fait en adoptant une loi pour agrandir le parc national Nahanni.

La proposition madame Turmel ne créera pas un parc national; néanmoins, elle donnera au parc de la Gatineau plusieurs protections semblables à celles accordées aux parcs nationaux, y compris des limites fixées dans la loi ne pouvant être modifiées que par un loi du Parlement. À l’heure actuelle, la Commission de la Capitale nationale (CCN) peut vendre des portions du parc comme bon lui semble sans l’accord du Parlement. De plus, le projet de loi de madame Turmel prévoit que le parc sera géré avant tout pour le maintient et la restauration de son intégrité écologique, et obligera la CCN à acquérir les terrains privés situés à l’intérieur de ses limites.

Aux dires de Doug Anions, président du Comité du parc de la Gatineau de la SNAP-VO, « La proposition de Madame Turmel est un très bon pas dans la bonne direction. Cette proposition de projet de loi répond à plusieurs de nos objectifs quant à la protection du parc. Comme on le sait, le parc de la Gatineau était sensé être notre premier parc national à l’est des Rocheuses, et nous incitons le gouvernement à appuyer ce projet de loi ».

Selon la CCN, le parc de la Gatineau reçoit 2,7 millions de visites annuellement, faisant de lui l’un des parcs les plus achalandés au pays. De plus, la ville de Gatineau et les municipalités rurales ne cessent de grandir et des habitats critiques disparaissent tant dans le parc que sur sa périphérie. En l’absence d’une loi fédérale rigoureuse, la SNAP-VO craint que le parc de la Gatineau, tel que nous le connaissons aujourd’hui, n’existera plus.

Nous félicitons la députée Turmel pour son engagement envers la protection du parc de la Gatineau.

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Pour de plus amples informations sur la SNAP Vallée de l’Outaouais et au sujet de menaces au parc de la Gatineau, veuillez visiter notre site internet au www.cpaws-ov-vo.org. Cliquez ici pour la version PDF de ce communiqué.

Pour informations supplémentaires ou requêtes médiatiques, communiquez avec :

John McDonnell
Directeur général
613-232-7297 ou par courriel : jmcdonnell@cpaws.org

NDP MP Nycole Turmel unveiled a plan to give Gatineau Park the legal protection environmentalists have been demanding for several decades.

Ms. Turmel revealed the details of her plan at an Earth Day news conference on April 22, surrounded by municipal officials, environmental groups and other park supporters, saying the NDP will be tabling legislation to protect the park, as well as organizing public consultations and launching a petition drive on the issue.

Called “Together, let’s protect Gatineau Park,” Ms. Turmel’s plan will, besides providing for direct public involvement, offer Gatineau Park protection similar to that enjoyed by all other Canadian national parks.

In the absence of proper legal protection, the National Capital Commission has removed nearly eight square kilometres of Gatineau Park land, while allowing construction of 123 new houses and five new roads inside its boundaries.

Recent violations of the park’s territorial and ecological integrity include the building of Highway 5 through it as well as construction of a new house at Meech Lake.

A translated version of Ms. Turmel’s Earth Day speech is provided below. As well, the original French version will be posted as a comment to this article.

Nycole Turmel, MP for Hull-Aylmer and Opposition Whip: Press Conference, April 22, 2012, 10:00 am (unofficial translation by Jean-Paul Murray, MA, LTAC):

Hello and welcome to Relais Plein-air. Thank you for accepting my invitation.

As you can see, Relais Plein-air is a gateway to Gatineau Park. Each week, hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people pass through here on their way to discover the natural beauty and rich heritage of this Canadian jewel.

This is where I wanted to tell you about my intentions regarding Gatineau Park.

But before going into the details of my announcement, allow me to introduce the people joining me today.

All of you will have all recognized NDP MPs Françoise Boivin (Gatineau) and Mathieu Ravignat (Pontiac).

I also welcome Pierre Ducasse, who is president of the NDP Hull-Aylmer constituency association.

As well, from the City of Gatineau, Mr. Patrice Martin, STO Chairman and councillor for the district of Wright-La-Montagne, and Mr. Pierre Philion, councillor for the district of St. Raymond-Vanier.

We are also fortunate to have representatives from civil society organization, including:

• Nicole Desroches, Executive Director of the Outaouais’ Regional Council for the Environment and Sustainable Development (CREDDO);

• John McDonnell, Executive Director, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Ottawa Valley Chapter (CPAWS-OV);

• Jean-Paul Murray, Secretary of the Gatineau Park Protection Committee (GPPC);

• Bertrand Daigneault, president of the Vélo Plaisirs bicycle club.

• Two other NGOs support our initiative, but couldn’t be here today: the Sierra Club and Nature Québec.

***

Today, as we celebrate Earth Day, we are gathered around a simple idea: Gatineau Park is a national treasure that we must protect and preserve for future generations.

If we want to bequeath a healthy park to generations that will follow us, a park like the one we know today, we must act now.

And I intend to do my part.

That’s why I’m announcing the launch of my campaign today, a campaign whose theme is: “Together, Let’s Protect Gatineau Park.”

The campaign has three components:

First, as I promised in the last election, I will table a bill to protect Gatineau Park.

For seven years now, the NDP has been proposing legislation to protect the park, and this latest initiative must be the right one. The status quo is no longer acceptable for the park.

As we speak, Gatineau Park continues to lack legal status and boundaries properly enshrined in federal law. Portions of its territory can be sold to private interests without Parliament having any say in the matter.

Is this normal? Not in my view. The bill I’ll be tabling will aim to correct these anomalies.

My legislative proposal will also give statutory mandate to the NCC’s policy for acquiring private lands inside park boundaries.

Finally, unlike bills tabled by my predecessors, my initiative will not include a right of first refusal.

***

These are great ideas; I adhere to them and wish to transpose them into my private bill. Before going ahead, however, I want to consult the public.

Which brings us to the second component of my campaign – organizing a public consultation on the park’s future, to take place next May 26^th at 2:00 pm, here at Relais Plein-air (397, Boulevard Cité des jeunes, Gatineau).

I’m doing this because I want the public to take ownership of the bill I’ll be tabling and to participate in its creation. I’ve underlined the principles I hold to – but the public also have a thing to say about the park’s future.

I want to hear from them, to draw inspiration from their views and submit a bill reflecting their expectations.

So I’m encouraging people to attend this public consultation in large numbers. They can register on my website or by contacting my constituency office.

Public participation is also a feature of my campaign’s third component, a petition entitled “Together, let’s protect Gatineau Park,” to be released tomorrow throughout Canada.

This petition will be available at my riding office, on my website and through organizations supporting us here today.

For this project to succeed, the public must be involved, it must tell political representatives to make park protection a priority.

By working together, I’m convinced we will change things.

Happy Earth Day to all.

International development expert Denise Deby, who also writes about social and environmental issues, posted a succinct article on a variety of issues facing Gatineau Park at Green Living Ottawa.

She notes that park managers talk the talk, but …

The National Capital Commission, which manages Gatineau Park, says conservation and environmentally-respectful recreation are priorities for the Park. Sounds like it’d be protected—but that protection is somewhat precarious.

Read full post at: http://greenlivingottawa.com/

The Quebec Superior Court granted the provincial department of transportation (MTQ) a provisional injunction on February 27, preventing A5X protesters from obstructing construction of the Highway 5 extension near Wakefield.

Arguing that the MTQ had obtained all necessary permits, the judge said he had no other option but to grant the 10 day injunction. His decision, he said, rested on the urgency of the situation – given the trees had to be cut before April 1 – on protesters blocking access to the sight, and on their causing safety problems.

The injunction orders defendants, members of A5X and all other persons to stop undermining and disrupting deforestation and other work either by blocking the access road,by being present on the site or by sitting in trees along the Highway 5 construction zone in the municipalities of Chelsea and Wakefield.

Although members of A5X were disappointed by the decision, they said they had no intention of engaging in civil disobedience, and have asked all members to respect the injunction. However, they’ll continue protesting by setting up a camp and demonstrating on nearby private lands whose owner has given them permission to do so.

As well, they’ll continue lobbying Premier Jean Charest, citing serious issues with the project. Says spokesperson Anne Winship: “This court ruling doesn’t make the highway right. We need a re-design, and the premier has to be made to see this out-dated 25-year-old highway plan will create huge problems for people, the landscape and the tourist economy.”

About 50 A5X supporters attended the February 27 hearing at the Hull courthouse. Defendants are to return to court on March 5, to present their case in more detail at a hearing on an interlocutory injunction.

Clearcutting inside Gatineau Park began on February 28 – less than a day after the court decision. Work along the north side of Brown Lake Road is likely to begin February 29. Word is the Mother Tree – the 300 year old pine – will be cut in late afternoon.

As it was about to cross Brown Lake Road, heavy machinery knocked down a power line late Tuesday afternoon, forcing Hydro-Quebec to stop all construction work temporarily.

The photo of the tree harvester was snapped on February 28, 2012 inside Gatineau Park. The Valmet Komatsu was less than 100 metres from Brown Lake Road.

French version of this post available in comments section.