Parks Canada Agency: Appearance before the Standing Committee – March 24, 2022
National Marine Conservation Areas establishment
Q1. What is the current status of protection of Canada’s marine areas?
Currently, 13.81% of Canada’s marine waters are protected. Parks Canada-managed national marine conservation areas and national parks with marine components contribute 2.12% of this value, making the Agency the second-largest contributor of any province, territory or federal organization.
Parks Canada’s largest contribution to the marine conservation targets is the 108,000 square kilometre Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area, which contributes approximately 1.9% to the target.
Q2. How will Canada contribute to the achievement of the Government of Canada’s marine conservation target commitment to protect 25 percent of Canada’s marine areas by 2025 and 30 percent by 2030?
As part of the Government’s commitment to the marine conservation targets, Budget 2021 provides funding to Parks Canada to establish 10 new national marine conservation areas.
Under Budget 2021, the Government of Canada made an historic investment in protecting the health of Canada’s oceans, including $1.06 billion over five years to reach ambitious marine conservation targets. Parks Canada was allocated $53.6 million to undertake feasibility assessments and negotiations leading to the establishment of 10 new national marine conservation areas that would contribute 230,000 km2 or at least 4 percent to the 25 percent by 2025 target.
Parks Canada currently has seven active proposals for new national marine conservation areas across Canada. Of these, four are in the process of undertaking a feasibility assessment, while three new proposals have announced the launch of feasibility assessments in the past twelve months:
In August 2021, Parks Canada, several First Nations and the Province of British Columbia announced the launch of a feasibility assessment for a new national marine conservation area reserve for the Central Coast;
In August 2021, a feasibility study was launched with Indigenous communities for a national marine conservation area in Western James Bay and Southwestern Hudson Bay.
In February 2022, Parks Canada and the Nunatsiavut Government announced a commitment to complete a feasibility assessment for the Torngats Area of Interest, a marine area adjacent to the Torngats National Park in northern Newfoundland and Labrador.
Q3. How does Canada support the participation of Indigenous peoples in marine conservation?
Parks Canada places a priority on working with Indigenous peoples to establish new national marine conservation areas, as seen in the recently launched feasibility assessments on Central Coast, Western James Bay and Southwestern Hudson Bay, and the Torngats Area-of-Interest: all of these projects are being undertaken in partnership and collaboration with Indigenous peoples.
Parks Canada provides funding to support Indigenous leadership in national marine conservation establishment projects through contribution agreements.
Parks Canada’s commitment to enabling Indigenous peoples to fulfill their roles as traditional stewards of waters has resulted in many Indigenous governments and communities expressing a desire to see additional sites established as national marine conservation areas.
In a recent example, the marine area of western James Bay and Southwestern Hudson Bay was brought forward for protection to Parks Canada through the leadership of the Mushkegowuk Council. The Council unanimously agreed that the area requires protection and sought partnership with Parks Canada to collaborate and work towards the establishment of the area as a national marine conservation area.
Q4. How are national marine conservation areas protected?
Administered by Parks Canada under the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act, national marine conservation areas (NMCA) are protected areas managed for ecological sustainability. They include the seabed, the water above it and may also take in wetlands, estuaries, islands and other coastal lands.
NMCAs focus on ecological sustainability, which means harmonizing conservation practices with human activities such as fishing, shipping and recreation. In line with the 2019 federal protection standards for marine protected areas, oil and gas exploration and exploitation, mining, dumping and bottom trawling are prohibited throughout these special areas. The Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, and the Minister of Transport retain their responsibilities for the management of fisheries and marine navigation and safety within NMCAs.
NMCA management involves working closely with others who use the lands, waters, and living resources to reach common goals, and most importantly, a healthy, sustainable ecosystem.
National Park Establishment and Expansion
Q1. What is the current status of protection of terrestrial areas in Canada?
The Government of Canada has achieved 13.5 percent protection of terrestrial areas and inland waters to date.
Parks Canada’s 47 national parks and two freshwater national marine conservation areas (NMCAs) contribute 3.53 percent towards the 13.5 percent total, accounting for over 25 percent of the total.
This represents 75 percent of the federal contribution and is the largest contribution of any province, territory or federal organization to the terrestrial target.
Negotiations for formal establishment agreements are underway for two additional national park reserves.
Parks Canada is working with B.C. and the Syilx / Okanagan Nation to establish a national park reserve in the South Okanagan–Similkameen.
In January 2022, Parks Canada signed a memorandum of understanding with the Epekwitk Assembly of Councils to establish a new national park reserve in Pituamkek/Hog-Island Sandhills chain in northwestern PEI.
Q2. How will Parks Canada contribute to the achievement of the GC target to conserve 25% of Canada’s land by 2025 and 30% by 2030?
The investments from Budget 2021 include $460 million over five years to create 10 new national parks and 4 new freshwater marine conservation areas, while working to acquire the land needed to expand and complete existing national parks, among other projects. This will contribute 303,000 km2 or 3 percent to the 25-percent target
A roadmap to achieve the target has been established. The negotiations for establishment of two new National Parks in BC and PEI are underway. Five additional sites have been identified and discussions are underway with provincial/territorial governments and Indigenous groups. Indigenous groups and NGOs are also expected to identify three additional prospective sites. Four freshwater NMCA sites have also been identified.
Q3. Can we realistically achieve our National Parks target by 2025?
Budget 2021 provides funds for feasibility work and negotiations, and Parks Canada is actively piloting the development of a more efficient feasibility process to accelerate our work. A roadmap to achieving the target has been established.
Indigenous partners are bringing vision, data, support, and specific projects for consideration, which facilitates greater efficiency and collaboration.
To ensure recognition of a protected area’s establishment as part of target achievement, Parks Canada seeks to reach the ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ stage of the process, at which point the parties declare the proposal is feasible under certain terms and conditions; confirm a boundary and ensure interim protection of site.
Q4. How does Canada support Indigenous stewardship of the lands within protected areas?
The Government of Canada is committed to enabling Indigenous peoples to fulfill their roles as traditional stewards of lands and waters within protected areas, and Parks Canada places a priority on working collaboratively with Indigenous Peoples in establishment and co-management of new protected areas.
Many Indigenous governments and communities have expressed a desire to see additional sites established as national parks and national marine conservation areas. For example, the Mi’kmaq of PEI worked with Parks Canada to protect a traditional area and sacred place as a national park reserve.
National Urban Park Program
Q1. What work has been done so far to achieve the commitment of creating 15 new national urban parks, one in each province and territory, by 2030?
On August 4, 2021, the Government of Canada launched a new program to support the creation of a network of national urban parks. This program is supported by Budget 2021’s historic investment of $2.3 billion in Canada’s Nature Legacy to address the biodiversity crisis, protect and conserve nature, and create jobs in nature conservation, with up to $130.9 million provided specifically toward the creation of a network of national urban parks.
Parks Canada is working on the development of a national urban parks policy, which will be informed by experience with the initial candidate sites as well as input from municipal, provincial, and Indigenous governments and organizations, as well as other partners and stakeholders.
The policy will guide the creation of the network of national urban parks, which will include areas managed under a range of flexible governance models, including federally administered places, third party administered places, and partnership models.
To date, exploratory work to assess the potential for national urban park sites has begun in:
Victoria, BC
Edmonton, AB
Meewasin Valley (Saskatoon), SK
Winnipeg, MB
Windsor, ON
Halifax, NS
Parks Canada has also begun initial discussions with Montreal.
Three pillars are at the core of Parks Canada’s work to establish national urban parks:
Protecting and conserving nature, including nature-based solutions for climate change;
Connecting Canadians with nature; and
Advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
Canada currently has one national urban park: the Rouge National Urban Park, in the Greater Toronto Area. This park, which is within a one-hour drive for 20% of Canada’s population, helps to protect biodiversity in densely populated southern Canada and is home to almost 1,700 species, including 27 species at risk.
Q2. What are the benefits of urban parks?
The National Urban Parks Program will contribute to Canada’s commitment to protecting biodiversity and conserve 25 percent of land and inland waters and 25 percent of marine and coastal areas by 2025, working toward 30 percent by 2030.
Urban parks offer significant benefits to cities and local economies. They are important economic generators, while also helping to conserve biodiversity, protect ecosystems, mitigate climate change, and deliver health, well-being, social cohesion and other benefits to Canadians through enhanced access to nature. The national urban parks program also seeks to advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples living in urban areas.
In a survey of over 1,600 Canadians conducted by Parks Canada, 70% said they appreciate parks more since physical distancing began. Additionally, a survey of over 50 municipalities had over half reporting an increase in park use since the pandemic began.
Historic places legislation
Q1. When will the Government introduce legislation to protect historic places in Parliament?
Budget 2021 announced the government’s intent to introduce legislation that would establish a transparent and inclusive designation framework and the sustainable protection of the over 300 federally-owned historic places.
This commitment was reiterated in the December 2021 mandate letter.
We are committed to introduce legislation to protect federally-owned historic places at the first available opportunity in this mandate.
Q2. How will legislation to protect federally-owned historic places advance Reconciliation?
The planned legislation will directly benefit Indigenous peoples, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, through the addition of distinction-based representation on the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, in keeping with Call to Action 79(i), as well as providing greater opportunities to protect and present the contributions of Indigenous peoples to Canada’s natural and cultural heritage.
The planned legislation is informed by engagement with Indigenous groups. Over 40 Indigenous groups provided their views through virtual meetings between winter 2020 and summer 2021.
Furthermore, barriers to Indigenous participation as members of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board are being addressed. Actions taken include revisions to the required qualifications and generating better awareness of vacancies amongst potential Indigenous applicants. The two most recent appointees to the Board, representing the Yukon and Northwest Territories, identify as Indigenous persons.
National trails tourism strategy
Q1. The tourism sector has suffered due to the COVID-19 pandemic, what is the government’s plan to advance trails tourism in Canada?
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant impacts for Canada’s tourism sector. The industry is working hard to rally and national organizations such as Destination Canada and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada predict that recovery will take three years.
The federal government is committed to the recovery of the tourism sector. Budget 2021 announced $1 billion in funding over three years to support tourism, events, and festivals, including $500 million dedicated to a Tourism Relief Fund for small businesses delivered by regional development agencies.
Canada is known worldwide for its natural and cultural heritage places. Outdoor experiences, including the enjoyment of trails, are expected to make important contributions to the recovery of Canada’s tourism sector and to its long term sustainability. I will be supporting my colleague, the Minister of Tourism, in the development and implementation of a trails tourism strategy that will help advance natural and cultural tourism on Canada’s many trail networks.
Funding for the Trans Canada Trail
Q1. Will the Government continue to support the Trans-Canada Trail as expressed in Minister Guilbeault’s mandate letter?
The Trans Canada Trail is a valued asset for recreation and active transportation in thousands of communities across Canada. It helps Canadians connect with nature and also helps to reduce emissions and contribute to the fight against Climate Change.
The Government of Canada has provided financial support to the Trans Canada Trail since the initiative was launched in 1992. Current funding to the Trail concludes this fiscal year.
The government is committed to the important work of the Trans Canada Trail and officials at Parks Canada have been working closely with officials of the Trans Canada Trail to develop a business case for the Trail’s ongoing development and for increasing access to the Trail so that it can be used and enjoyed by even more Canadians.
