CPAWS & Gatineau Park
This evening I attended an event put on by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society Ottawa Valley Chapter. The session had been billed as about Gatineau Park but in fact was divided in two parts. The first was a short presentation by CPAWS on their involvement and wishes with respect to Gatineau Park. The second was a film presentation about climate change affects in the arctic.
There were about 15 people in attendance including a number there on behalf of the Alpine Club of Canada Ottawa Section who in turn represented in some measure the Ottawa-Gatineau Climbers Access Coalition.
The main points of the CPAWS presentation were:
- to remind the audience of CPAWS interest in having legislative protection for Gatineau Park similar to that of National Parks administered by Parks Canada
- that this enables the NCC to sell property in the park
- to quickly review Bill C-37 noting its status as dead due to prorogation but having some potential for reintroduction; also noting that CPAWS had submitted suggestions for amendments to the bill
- CPAWS advocates for private land owners within the park to be able to hand their properties to their descendants but not to sell to other owners, instead being obligated if they wish to sell, to sell (at fair value) to the park itself.
- That there needs to be a stronger mechanism to control development within Gatineau Park and that its lack has enabled large houses to be built inside the park.
- Their feeling is that while C-37 dealt peripherally with Gatineau Park its main focus was on NCC governance. They hope for a stronger focus on Gatineau Park protection in any bill brought forward to replace or restart C-37.
- CPAWS has also submitted comments toward the current Green Transportation Planning process. They have suggested reduction of car traffic in the park complemented by shuttle bus access from park-and-ride locations.
- They expressed concern about the Highway 5 extension as well as the planned exit into the Meech Creek Valley.
There was a short question and answer period that touched on the plans for development of the Meech Creek Valley (a certain percentage had been planned) as well as access restrictions expected along the Eardley Escarpment.
The video was well done (NFB co-production) and (as these things are) unsettling.
January 27th, 2010 - 23:52
I was there as well. A good summary; however, your second point should be along the lines of: “this lack of legislative protection allows the NCC to sell land in Gatineau Park.
The way it’s written it makes it sound like CPAWS is advocating legislation that would allow the NCC to sell land.