Gatineau Park Gets Stronger Protections

Summary#

S-229 would add a new Gatineau Park Act inside the National Capital Act. It defines the park’s legal boundaries, puts ecological integrity first in how the National Capital Commission (NCC) manages the park, limits sale of public land in the park, and expands regulation, consultation, and enforcement tools. It also requires long-term planning and encourages use of Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation businesses and workers for maintenance and conservation.

• Sets official park boundaries in Schedule 2 and prevents reducing the park’s area, except to correct title if a court finds the Crown lacks ownership (Schedule 2; Enlarging/No reduction clauses).
• Makes ecological integrity the NCC’s first management priority for the park (Ecological integrity clause).
• Bans disposal of public park land, with narrow exceptions for Algonquin Anishinabeg services and public infrastructure; land reverts if use ends (Disposal/Reversion clauses).
• Requires a Master Plan within 10 years and updates at least every 10 years, tabled in Parliament (Master Plan clauses).
• Requires consultations with the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation and adjacent municipalities, and public reporting on those consultations (Consultation clauses).
• Authorizes regulations to control activities, set cost‑recovery fees, and enforce rules through designated officers, with penalties set by regulation within Criminal Code limits (s.20(1.1)–(2); Enforcement officer clauses).

What it means for you#

• Households and park visitors

  • Expect stronger protections for wildlife and habitats. The NCC must put ecological integrity first in all park decisions (Ecological integrity clause).
  • Activities in the park may face new restrictions, permits, or seasonal limits once regulations are made (s.20(1.1)(a)).
  • User fees could be created or adjusted for facilities, services, and permits, but fees cannot exceed the NCC’s cost to provide them (s.20(1.1)(b), (1.2)).
  • Fines for breaking park regulations may apply, with maximums set by regulation within Criminal Code summary conviction limits (s.20(2)).

• Residents and property owners in or near the park

  • The legal park boundary is fixed in federal law. The area cannot be reduced except to correct title errors confirmed by a court (Schedule 2; No reduction clause).
  • Public park land cannot be sold or have interests granted except for specified public or Algonquin services; if that use ends, land returns to the NCC (Disposal/Reversion clauses).
  • Use or occupation of public park lands needs NCC permission; unauthorized use is prohibited (Interdiction — use of public lands).

• Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation

  • The Act recognizes the park is on unceded Algonquin Anishinabeg lands (Preamble).
  • The NCC must provide participation opportunities for Algonquin governing bodies and residents in plans and regulations and report how it considered their recommendations (Consultation clauses).
  • The NCC must also consider using Algonquin businesses and workers for park maintenance and conservation work (Maintenance and conservation work clause).
  • Public park lands may be disposed of to Algonquin organizations if needed for health, social, or cultural services (Disposal exceptions).

• Businesses

  • Service providers may face new permit rules and fees tied to NCC costs (s.20(1.1)(b), (1.2)).
  • Algonquin Nation businesses may see increased opportunities in maintenance and conservation contracts (Maintenance and conservation work clause).

• Municipalities and local governments

  • Adjacent cities and municipalities must be consulted on park planning and regulations, and the NCC must publish how it considered their input (Consultation clauses).
  • The NCC retains authority to pay grants in lieu of lost municipal and school taxes on NCC property in the park; the bill aligns the French text but does not expand this authority (s.16(3)).
  • Public park lands could be disposed of to municipal or other authorities only when required for public infrastructure or health facilities; land reverts if that use ceases (Disposal exceptions; Reversion).

• Law enforcement and compliance

  • The Minister may designate enforcement officers from federal, provincial, municipal, or Algonquin bodies; they have peace officer powers for park enforcement (Enforcement officer clauses; definition referencing s.10.08).
  • Some offences may be enforced under the Contraventions Act (Contraventions designation clause).

Expenses#

• Estimated net cost: Data unavailable.

• Key points

  • No fiscal note identified. The bill contains no direct appropriations or specified spending amounts (Bill text).
  • NCC may set user fees for park services, facilities, and permits, capped at cost recovery (s.20(1.1)(b), (1.2)).
  • NCC continues to have authority to pay grants to local authorities to offset lost municipal and school taxes on NCC property in the park; this is existing authority (s.16(3)).
  • Likely administrative costs for the 10‑year Master Plan cycle, consultations, regulation-making, and enforcement are not stated (Data unavailable).
  • Potential fine revenues and fee revenues depend on future regulations (Data unavailable).

Proponents' View#

• Clarifies and secures the park by defining legal boundaries and preventing area reductions, which limits ad hoc boundary changes and protects ecosystems (Schedule 2; No reduction clause).
• Puts ecological integrity first in all NCC management decisions, aligning the park with modern conservation standards and federal biodiversity commitments (Ecological integrity clause; Preamble).
• Stops disposal of public park land, with narrow exceptions for essential public or Algonquin services, and adds reversion to prevent permanent loss of park lands (Disposal/Reversion clauses).
• Improves accountability through a Master Plan tabled in Parliament and mandatory 10‑year reviews, with public reporting on consultations (Master Plan; Consultation clauses).
• Enables practical management by allowing targeted regulations, permits, and cost‑recovery fees to manage overuse and infrastructure strain (s.20(1.1)–(1.2)).
• Advances reconciliation by recognizing Algonquin ties, requiring consultation, and encouraging procurement from Algonquin businesses and workers (Preamble; Consultation clauses; Maintenance and conservation work clause).

Opponents' View#

• Expanded regulation powers could restrict popular activities or access, and add permits or fees that raise costs for users and outfitters (s.20(1.1)(a)–(b)). The actual scope depends on future regulations (assumption).
• Fines up to the Criminal Code summary conviction limits may be significant for casual users if rules are complex or change frequently (s.20(2)). Enforcement consistency across multiple designated bodies may vary (Enforcement officer clauses) (assumption).
• The ban on disposing of public land could slow or complicate municipal projects near or within the park; exceptions exist but are narrow and include reversion, which may deter long‑term infrastructure planning (Disposal/Reversion clauses).
• The requirement to consider Algonquin businesses for maintenance and conservation may affect procurement timelines or vendor pools if capacity is limited in some specialties (Maintenance and conservation work clause) (assumption).
• New planning, consultation, and enforcement duties could require extra NCC resources. Without added funding, service levels or timelines might suffer (Master Plan; Consultation; Enforcement clauses) (Data unavailable).