NDP MP Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre) celebrated Earth Day with the launch of a community campaign to protect Gatineau Park.

Paul Dewar with Stephen Hazell, Executive Director of Sierra Club Canada.

Gatineau Park is the only federal park without legislated protection. Unlike national parks, its boundaries can change, its land can be sold, and roads can be built inside it, without the review, knowledge or approval of Parliament. In recent weeks, communities in the region have expressed their concern about new development. Even the Minister responsible for the National Capital Commission has recognized these concerns.

“The park needs legislated protection” said Dewar, “Our community campaign is to put some pressure on the government to adopt the ideas outlined in my private members bill C-311 and provide the park the legislated protection it needs”.

Dewar was joined by representatives from the Sierra Club, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Conseil régional de l’environnement et du Développement durable de l’Outaouais, Ottawa Greenspace Alliance, and others.

The campaign aims at gathering support from communities in the National Capital Region to call on the government for action on Gatineau Park.

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