No. ON004/02For release - May 24, 2002
OTTAWA — Transport Minister David Collenette, along with the Members of Parliament from the Eastern Greater Toronto Area, today announced the Government of Canada's Green Space Strategy to protect the federally owned portion of the Oak Ridges Moraine and areas around the Rouge Park as Green Space in perpetuity.
The Green Space Strategy has been produced following 12 months of consultations during which Transport Canada officials have worked closely with communities, environmental groups and other federal and provincial agencies. Today's announcement builds upon the commitment made by Minister Collenette on March 23, 2001, when he announced the federal government's action to ensure that this portion of the Oak Ridges Moraine and a corridor through the Pickering Lands connecting the Rouge Park with the Oak Ridges Moraine are protected in perpetuity as Green Space.
"We have listened and have heard the desire of all stakeholders -- to ensure that the federal protection of this Green Space can never be changed," said Mr. Collenette. "The best way to achieve protection in perpetuity is to retain federal ownership of all the Green Space Lands. Continued federal ownership will provide the assurances desired by our stakeholders and the commitment that these lands will be protected for future generations."
The government's Green Space Strategy has three components:
Protection through continued federal ownership;
Guiding Principles under which the Lands would be managed and protected in perpetuity; and
Creation of a Stewardship Advisory Committee composed of external land management entities and led by the Department with a mandate over the following twelve months to develop a Master Plan embracing the Guiding Principles.
"All groups that participated in the consultation process are to be commended for their commitment to ensure the overall protection of these lands for Green Space," said Mr. Collenette. "On behalf of the federal government and the officials at Transport Canada, I extend our appreciation for their valuable contributions and support."
In addition to the consultation activities, the federal government is finalizing details to transfer the administration and management of the GAP to the Rouge Park Alliance via the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.
"Establishing the Stewardship Advisory Committee turns another page in the federal government's management of the Pickering Lands Site by involving those who have a long standing commitment to the preservation of the Rouge Park and the Oak Ridges Moraine," said Mr. Collenette. "The efforts of the Committee over the coming months will ensure a transparent process throughout the development of a Master Plan. I look forward to reviewing the results of their work."
A backgrounder and a map showing the area intended to be protected as green space are attached.
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Contacts:
Anthony PolciCommunications DirectorOffice of the MinisterOttawa(613) 991-0700
Gail CrossmanDirector, CommunicationsTransport CanadaToronto(416) 952-0156
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BACKGROUNDER
HISTORY OF THE PICKERING LANDS
1972
Approximately 7,350 hectares of land, encompassing the municipalities of Pickering, Markham and Uxbridge, were expropriated by the Government of Canada at a cost of $120 million. The intent was to retain the lands for a potential international airport site for the greater Metropolitan Toronto region.
As a temporary measure, a Provincial Order was enacted to partially restrict development around the Pickering Lands.
1975
Plans for a "Minimum International Airport" got underway; however, construction was halted in September due to the provincial government's withdrawal of support for essential off-site arrangements such as roads, water and sewer services.
The lands were placed under the administration of Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) through an Interdepartmental Memorandum of Understanding with Transport Canada. An overall site management policy was established by Transport Canada.
1984
A Transport Canada study, The Pickering Land Review Project, was initiated; two years later, recommendations from the study proposed that the lands be retained for an eventual airport. The study also recommended that 3,645 hectares (9,000 acres) be considered surplus and sold.
1989
Transport Canada announced that land sales would be put on hold pending completion of the Southern Ontario Area Airports Study (SOAAS).
1992
The federal budget called for a portion of the Pickering Lands to be sold in support of a government-wide initiative to streamline and improve federal services; in August, it was announced that 2,064 hectares (5,100 acres) would be sold.
March 1994
The sale of surplus land was deferred by the Government of Canada until the SOAAS recommendations could be more thoroughly reviewed and considered and until the department's new policy on airports could be established.
July 1994
Transport Canada announced a new National Airports Policy (NAP) which, for the first time, provided Canada with a comprehensive framework that clearly defined the federal government's role regarding airports.
The federal government began transferring the operations of most of its airports to airport authorities composed of representatives from local groups, including municipal government, residents and Boards of Trade.
Under the NAP, the federal government announced it would maintain its role as regulator and changed its role of airport owner and operator to that of landlord. As a result, the decision to sell any land at Pickering was deferred until a decision to build an airport was made by a local authority.
March 1995
The Southern Ontario Area Airports Study (SOAAS) was released. The study examined options for meeting long term aviation demand in South-Central Ontario once Lester B. Pearson International Airport reached maximum capacity. The SOAAS determined that the Pickering Lands could be developed into a commuter/corporate airport in the 21st century.
July 1998
Transport Minister David Collenette initiated regulatory action to protect the option of developing a potential, future airport on the Pickering Lands for a local entity.
November 1998
A decision was made to defer the declaration process to enable local governments and interest groups to be active participants in the development and implementation of alternatives to federal airport zoning regulations. A multi-stakeholder committee was formed comprised of affected municipal, local interest groups, and Transport Canada.
March 2001
Transport Minister David Collenette announced that immediate action would be taken to protect the federally owned portion of the Oak Ridges Moraine and area around the Rouge Park as green space. This area totals 3,051 hectares (7,562 acres).
April 2001
Transport Minister David Collenette announced that an agreement had been reached between the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) and Toronto Airways Ltd. for the continued operation of Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport. The agreement would allow capacity to be maximized, thereby delaying for many years a decision to build a reliever airport on the Pickering Lands.
The Minister also announced that the department would proceed with the designation of the property as an airport site under the Aeronautics Act. This step represents prudent long term technical planning, and will protect the site for possible future aviation requirements.
August 2001
The Order declaring the Lands an airport site was signed on August 1, 2001 and appeared in the Canada Gazette, Part II on August 15, 2001.
Green Space Project team initiated consultations with a number of tenants, elected officials, government agencies as well as environmental groups to seek their input and ideas on how the federal government should go about preserving these lands.
March 2002
Green Space Project team completed consultations.
May 2002
The Minister announced the Green Space Strategy for protection in perpetuity. The strategy is a three-pronged approach: Continued federal ownership; Guiding Principles for future management and the formation of a Stewardship Advisory Committee to develop a Master Plan over the next twelve months.
BACKGROUNDER
OAK RIDGES MORAINE
The Oak Ridges Moraine is one of the most significant landforms in southern Ontario. The Moraine gets its name from its rolling hills and river valleys extending 160 kms from the Niagara escarpment to Rice Lake and was formed 12,000 years ago by advancing and retreating glaciers.
The Moraine contains the headwaters of 65 river systems (35 in the GTA alone) and has a wide diversity of streams, woodlands, wetlands, kettle lakes, kettle bogs and significant flora and fauna. It is one of the last remaining continuous green corridors in southern Ontario: it is still 30 per cent forested and is one of the last refuges for forest birds in all of southern Ontario.
The Minister of Transport has recognized the importance of preserving this valuable part of our natural heritage. The announcement today enforces our strong commitment to preserving the environment.
The Oak Ridges Moraine is receiving extensive public attention and is considered to be environmentally sensitive land. The department holds approximately 5,562 acres (2,251 hectares) of land on the Oak Ridges Moraine at the northern portion of the Site, and has been approached on several occasions to consider the possibility of transferring various parcels of land within the Oak Ridges Moraine for conservation initiatives.
Over the past twelve months, the department has consulted with a broad range of key stakeholders and the public in order to ascertain the best Strategy for continuing protection of these environmentally sensitive lands for future generations. The department in consultation with key stakeholders and the public developed a three-fold Green Space Strategy that will be carried out over the ensuing twelve-month period. The Green Space Strategy includes, continued federal ownership, 15 guiding principles, and the formation of a Green Space Stewardship Advisory Committee to prepare a Master Plan.
BACKGROUNDER
ROUGE PARK CORRIDOR
The Rouge River watershed is approximately 340 square kilometers in size, and includes lands within Toronto, Markham, Richmond Hill, Whitchurch-Stouffville, Pickering, and more specifically the federal Pickering Lands Site. The Rouge River has its headwaters in the Oak Ridges Moraine and flows southerly into Lake Ontario, entering the Lake at the boundary between Pickering and Toronto.
The Rouge Park is divided into two main sections - southerly section from Lake Ontario to Steeles Avenue, and a northerly section from Steeles Avenue to the Oak Ridges Moraine. In order to ensure that the Rouge Park north of Steeles would be a contiguous and complementary extension of the existing Rouge Park, the Rouge Park North Management Plan was established. This Plan seeks to provide a strategy for the creation of a linear park system connecting the Oak Ridges Moraine to Lake Ontario, along the Rouge River and its tributaries.
The Rouge North Management Plan envisions that publicly owned lands within the river corridors will be designated as Rouge Park, as well as the adjacent lands. For lands under private ownership, Rouge Park Stewardship Programs and Partnership Programs have been proposed, aimed at encouraging and assisting landowners in the implementation of projects and management programs on their properties that would protect and enhance the ecological integrity of the river system.
The Rouge Park Alliance is a voluntary partnership of interested groups and agencies that advocates the protection, enhancement and restoration of the Rouge Watershed. Transport Canada sits on some of its committees.
Transport Canada is dedicating 50 hectares (124 acres) of property known as the Gap, at Little Rouge and Reesor Road, part of Lots 16 and 17, Concession #9 in the Town of Markham, for Rouge Park purposes. This land, located at the south west corner of the Site, is currently leased (agriculture and residential) and being cultivated, with the leases set to expire in 2003.
The Department acknowledges and supports in principle, the vision of the Rouge Park North Management Plan and agrees to the dedication of the 'gap' parcel, in the southwesterly section of the Site.
Another area, in the range of 2000 acres on the western perimeter of the Pickering Lands, known as the Alternate Rouge Park Corridor, will also be preserved as Green Space.
Over the past twelve months, the department has consulted with a broad range of key stakeholders and the public in order to ascertain the best Strategy for continuing protection of these environmentally sensitive lands for future generations. The department in consultation with key stakeholders and the public developed a three-fold Green Space Strategy that will be carried out over the ensuing twelve-month period. The Green Space Strategy includes, continued federal ownership, 15 guiding principles, and the formation of a Green Space Stewardship Advisory Committee to prepare a Master Plan.
