Qausuittuq National Park to be Canada’s 45th National Park
June 16, 2015 – Ottawa, Ontario – Parks Canada
The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, yesterday announced the introduction of a Bill to establish Qausuittuq National Park under the Canada National Parks Act. The Bill is a step towards creating Qausuittuq as Canada’s 45th national park and takes action to conserve Canada’s lands and waters and connect Canadians to nature in support of Canada’s National Conservation Plan.
Qausuittuq, on northern Bathurst Island in Nunavut, will join Canada’s system of national parks – one of the finest and most extensive networks of protected natural areas in the world. The new national park will protect the area’s natural and cultural heritage, including the endangered Peary caribou and other wildlife, and will give the adventurous tourist unprecedented access to one of the more remote corners of the world.
The Government of Canada is committed to engaging communities and partners to protect and present our natural places while fulfilling requirements under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement in the creation of Qausuittuq National Park. Inuit will fully benefit from the opportunities arising from the creation of the national park and the park will be managed in cooperation with Inuit for the benefit, education and enjoyment of all Canadians.
The creation of Qausuittuq supports Canada’s Northern Strategy: Our North, Our Heritage, Our Future by protecting our environmental heritage, contributing to the cultural and socio-economic well-being of the Inuit, and exercising our Arctic sovereignty.
Jonathan Lefebvre
Office of the Minister of the Environment
819-997-1441
Media Relations
Parks Canada
1-855-862-1812
www.twitter.com/parkscanada
