New Parks, Marine Conservation Area, Tougher Spill Rules

Summary#

This bill updates several federal laws about parks and marine areas. It tightens rules on dumping harmful substances in national parks and the Rouge National Urban Park. It creates one new national park reserve and one large national marine conservation area. It also adjusts the boundaries or descriptions of several existing parks and changes one park’s name.

• Broadens and clarifies offences for discharging or depositing harmful substances in parks; adds a duty to report and clean up spills (Canada National Parks Act s.32; Rouge National Urban Park Act s.17–19).
• Establishes the Akami-Uapishkᵁ–KakKasuak–Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve (~10,700 km²) with specific rules for traditional land users and aircraft access (Schedule 2; new ss.41.6–41.7).
• Establishes the Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area (~108,000 km²) in Nunavut, effective upon approval of an interim management plan (Schedule; Coming into Force).
• Expands or updates descriptions for Grasslands, Riding Mountain, Thousand Islands, Point Pelee, Prince Edward Island (Greenwich), Tuktut Nogait, Quttinirpaaq, and Mingan Archipelago parks/reserves (Schedules/parts cited in bill).
• Renames “Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve of Canada” to “Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site” (various provisions).

What it means for you#

• Households and visitors

  • You cannot dump or release substances that harm the park environment or public safety. If a spill happens, you must notify the superintendent and take reasonable steps to stop harm and clean it up (Canada National Parks Act s.32(1)–(2); Rouge National Urban Park Act s.17(1)–(2)).
  • If you do not act, the superintendent can order you to act. If you still do not, the Minister will act and you must pay cleanup costs (Canada National Parks Act s.32(3)–(4); Rouge s.17(3)–(4)).
  • More protected lands and waters may mean more places to visit, with site-specific rules and seasons (various Schedules).

• Traditional land users in the Mealy Mountains region (Labrador)

  • If you meet the bill’s definition of “traditional land user,” you can apply for a document from the superintendent. With that document, you may carry out traditional activities on public lands in the park reserve, such as over-snow travel to cabins, fishing (including ice fishing), berry picking, gathering medicinal plants, motor boating, camping, wood cutting for personal use, and specified hunting, trapping, and snaring (new s.41.6(1)–(3), (10)).
  • The superintendent must issue the document if you qualify and may set conditions for conservation, sustainable use, and safety; the document can be revoked if you no longer qualify (s.41.6(1)–(2)).
  • Inuit identified in the 2005 Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement may harvest in the overlap area in line with that agreement and Newfoundland and Labrador laws that implement it (s.41.6(4)–(6)).

• Hunters, trappers, and fishers in the Mealy Mountains park reserve

  • Traditional land users are exempt from certain national park regulations for specified activities and species (ducks, geese, ptarmigan, grouse, porcupine; snowshoe hare snaring) and may transport firearms for safety, hunting, and trapping, subject to conditions (s.41.6(3)).
  • Recreational fishing seasons are set: certain waters June 15–September 15; all others February 1–September 15 (s.41.6(9)(b)–(c)).

• Pilots and air operators in the Mealy Mountains park reserve

  • Take-offs and landings on public lands are allowed only with superintendent authorization, which must consider safety, sustainable use, and conservation (s.41.6(7)–(8)).

• Farmers in Rouge National Urban Park

  • The bill confirms that the new discharge/deposit and spill response rules do not prevent agricultural activities done under a federal lease, if done according to that lease (Rouge s.19).

• Businesses handling pesticides or toxic substances in parks

  • The Minister can regulate the use, transport, and storage of pesticides and other toxic substances, including products treated with them (Canada National Parks Act s.16(1)(t)).
  • Failing to follow designated regulations or spill orders is an offence (s.24(1); s.32(3)).

• Leaseholders and cabin users in the Mealy Mountains park reserve

  • Existing leases and licences of occupation continue and may be renewed under their terms, even if inconsistent with the Act; the Minister may lease or license existing cabins and “tilts” for personal use, and these may be renewed or assigned (s.41.6(1)–(6)).

• Timing

  • Special timing rules: air access and recreational fishing provisions for the Mealy Mountains park reserve take effect when related regulations come into force; the Tallurutiup Imanga NMCA takes effect when a notice confirms approval of an interim management plan by the Aulattiqatigiit Board (Coming into Force). Other amendments follow normal coming-into-force rules.

Expenses#

• Estimated net cost: Data unavailable.

• Key points:

  • No explicit appropriations or new fees are stated in the bill text (throughout).
  • No official fiscal note identified. Data unavailable.

Proponents' View#

• Strengthens environmental protection by banning harmful discharges and requiring prompt reporting and clean-up, with clear authority to order action and recover costs (Canada National Parks Act s.32; Rouge s.17–18).
• Secures large new protected areas: Mealy Mountains park reserve (~10,700 km²) and Tallurutiup Imanga NMCA (~108,000 km²), supporting conservation and biodiversity goals (Schedule 2; Schedule — Tallurutiup Imanga).
• Respects Indigenous rights by allowing traditional activities for qualified traditional land users and by recognizing harvesting rights under the Labrador Inuit Agreement in overlap areas (s.41.6(1)–(6), (10)).
• Clarifies regulatory powers over pesticides and toxic substances to reduce pollution risks in parks (s.16(1)(t)).
• Updates and expands several park boundaries, which proponents say improves ecosystem integrity and visitor management; examples include Riding Mountain (about 2,980 km²), Thousand Islands (about 18.888 km²), Point Pelee (about 15.2 km²), PEI (about 27.39 km²), Tuktut Nogait (about 18,180 km²), and Quttinirpaaq (about 37,800 km²) (respective Schedule amendments).
• Renames Gwaii Haanas to add “Haida Heritage Site,” which proponents view as better reflecting co-management with the Haida Nation (name changes cited in bill).

Opponents' View#

• Implementation and enforcement may require significant resources for monitoring, permits, signage, and spill response across vast and remote areas; the bill lists no funding levels (Data unavailable) (throughout; s.32, Rouge s.17).
• Allowances for traditional activities, including motorized over-snow travel, hunting, and commercial trapping, could create conservation trade-offs if not tightly managed, even with superintendent conditions (s.41.6(1)–(3)).
• Creation of the NMCA before final operating rules are public may create uncertainty for fishers and other users until the interim management plan is approved and communicated (Coming into Force — Tallurutiup Imanga).
• Expanded regulatory reach over pesticides and toxic substances may increase compliance burdens for businesses operating in or transiting parks (s.16(1)(t); s.24(1)).
• Complex boundary changes and special exemptions (e.g., exclusions for certain islands and Inuit Owned Lands in the NMCA) may be hard for users to interpret without detailed maps and guidance (Schedule — Tallurutiup Imanga).
• The bill deletes the Mount Agassiz Ski Area description without stating follow-up land-use plans, which may concern nearby communities seeking clarity (Schedule 5 amendment).