Develop A National Urban Park Strategy

WHEREAS many urban natural spaces (water and land) are under environmental threat from development, traffic, poor management, misuse, and industry;

WHEREAS existing legislation and overlapping jurisdictions (e.g. federal, provincial, municipal, and First Nations governments) fail to provide the highest level of environmental protection for natural areas in urban areas under threat;

WHEREAS urban natural spaces in Canada's largest cities are a last refuge for flora and fauna in these areas and often serve as natural corridors for their passage between other natural areas;

WHEREAS urban indigenous peoples depend on natural spaces in urban areas to connect with the land and engage in harvesting according to their traditions;

WHEREAS Parks Canada has already established Canada's first National Urban Park, the Rouge National Urban Park in Pickering, Ontario on May 15, 2015, but has stated clearly that they refuse to consider plans for other parks of this kind in other urban regions;

WHEREAS many urban natural spaces (water and land) are under environmental threat from development, traffic, poor management, misuse, and industry;

WHEREAS existing legislation and overlapping jurisdictions (e.g. federal, provincial, municipal, and First Nations governments) fail to provide the highest level of environmental protection for natural areas in urban areas under threat;

WHEREAS urban natural spaces in Canada's largest cities are a last refuge for flora and fauna in these areas and often serve as natural corridors for their passage between other natural areas;

WHEREAS urban indigenous peoples depend on natural spaces in urban areas to connect with the land and engage in harvesting according to their traditions;

WHEREAS Parks Canada has already established Canada's first National Urban Park, the Rouge National Urban Park in Pickering, Ontario on May 15, 2015, but has stated clearly that they refuse to consider plans for other parks of this kind in other urban regions;