Rouge National Urban Park Management Plan Tabled in Parliament

Press Release

First ever management plan for the Rouge prioritizes conservation and connects Canadians to nature, heritage and agriculture in the GTA

January 17, 2019        Toronto, Ontario        Parks Canada Agency

Rouge National Urban Park protects nature, culture, and agriculture in an integrated way, and stretches from Lake Ontario to the Oak Ridges Moraine across the cities of Toronto, Markham, and Pickering and the Township of Uxbridge.

The first ever management plan for Rouge National Urban Park was recently tabled in Parliament by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine McKenna. This plan will guide the management of Canada’s very first national urban park as the Rouge moves from establishment to full operations.

Canada’s protected areas help Canadians discover nature and learn more about the environment.

Highlights of the plan include:

· Enshrining ecological integrity as the park’s first priority with a focus on species at risk and programs to restore the park’s ecosystems.

· A commitment to reconciliation and working with Rouge National Urban Park’s First Nations Advisory Circle on all aspects of the park’s management and operations, including restoring the park’s ecosystems, preserving its cultural heritage and helping develop programming for visitors.

·  Long-term certainty for park farmers and protection of some of the last farms in the GTA, many located on Class 1 soil – the richest, rarest, and most fertile in Canada.

· A connected trail network from Lake Ontario to the Oak Ridges Moraine via dozens of kilometres of new hiking trails.

· An emphasis on “Learn-to” programming, where GTA residents, including newcomers to Canada, can learn to camp, paddle and hike for the first time as well as grow their own food.

· New visitor and learning facilities as well as welcome areas in the Toronto, Markham, Pickering, Whitchurch-Stouffville, and Uxbridge areas of the park.

· An expanded park shuttle service to connect GTA residents to the park.

Over the last decade, Parks Canada has engaged more than 20,000 Canadians and has worked closely with Indigenous Peoples, all levels of government, community groups, conservationists, park farmers, local residents, volunteers, and many other groups to establish Rouge National Urban Park and complete its first management plan.

In 2017, the Government of Canada passed amendments to the Rouge National Urban Park Act to prioritize ecological integrity in the management of the park, while also providing long-term certainty for park farmers. These amendments ensure the park will have the strongest ecological protections, while affirming the role of park farmers, so they can continue carrying out their important agricultural activities.

The tabling of this plan in Parliament marks another important milestone in the creation of Canada’s first national urban park. Through this management plan, Parks Canada is meeting its promise to protect the environment,  while also providing Canadians with opportunities to experience and discover nature and history in new and innovative ways.

The Rouge National Urban Park Management Plan is available for viewing on the Parks Canada website at: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/on/rouge/info/gestion-management/gestion-management-2019.

Quotes

“Canada’s national parks, historic sites, marine conservation areas—and Rouge National Urban Park—belong to all Canadians and tell the stories of who we are, including the history, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous peoples. The Government has followed through on its commitment to enhance Rouge National Urban Park and ensure ecological integrity is the first priority in park management. The vision for Rouge National Urban Park brings together multiple levels of government, Indigenous peoples, farmers, conservationists, and many other dedicated people and organizations.”

Catherine McKenna
Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada

Quick facts

• Once completed, Rouge National Urban Park will encompass an area 79 km² in size, making it one of the world’s largest protected areas in an urban setting – 19 times larger than Vancouver’s Stanley Park, and 23 times bigger than New York’s Central Park.
• Rouge National Urban Park has a rich diversity of nature, culture, and agriculture, including more than 1,700 species of plants and animals; large tracts of some of the rarest and most fertile farmland in the country; and human history dating back more than 10,000 years, including some of Canada’s oldest known Indigenous sites.
• Since 2015, Parks Canada has completed 41 restoration projects in Rouge National Urban Park in collaboration with Indigenous peoples, farmers, volunteers, conservation groups and community organizations – close to 124 acres of wetland and riparian habitat has been restored, more than 50 acres of forest habitat has been restored, and more than 70,000 native trees, shrubs and aquatic plants have been planted in the park.

Related products

• Backgrounder: Top 10 Highlights of the Rouge National Urban Park Management Plan

Associated links

• Parks Canada website
• Rouge National Urban Park
• Rouge National Urban Park Twitter
• Rouge National Urban Park Facebook

Contacts

Jeffrey Sinibaldi
Acting External Relations Manager
Rouge National Urban Park
647-271-8189
jeffrey.sinibaldi@canada.ca

Media Relations
Parks Canada Agency
1-855-862-1812
pc.medias-media.pc@canada.ca

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