View the amendments contained in the brief that will be presented before the Standing Committee.

On October 29, 2014 at 4:30pm EST, Nature Canada’s affiliate, Ontario Nature, will go before the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development and ask for a stronger Bill C-40, a piece of legislation which will establish Canada’s first urban park – the Rouge National Urban Park.

Caroline Schultz, Executive Director of Ontario Nature, will present a set of five recommendations for amendments to the Act that will “clearly prioritize ecological integrity and require the protection of natural ecosystems and wildlife”. Nature Canada stands by our Ontario affiliate and we are strongly supporting their efforts to improve this bill.

Nature Canada deeply believes in the importance of creating an urban national park. Our NatureHood initiative is designed to help connect city-living Canadians with their nearby nature. Nature Canada has also been advocating for more national parks for the bulk of our 75 year history and we’re proud to have played a role in the creation of over 63 million acres of parks and protected national wildlife areas in Canada.

Unfortunately, Bill C-40 is weak and needs to be strengthened. As it stands, the legislation fails to meet standards for sustainability and ecological health and integrity set out in existing policies that cover Rouge Park.

If you’re as excited as we are about good, healthy urban parks, join us in cheering on Caroline Schultz on October 29, 2014 when she speaks before the Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development.