Dear Senators,
Please pass Bill C-248, an act to amend the Canada National Parks Act (Ojibway National Urban Park of Canada).
Thanks to you, Bill C-248 has passed second reading in the Senate after all-party support in the House. It was being deliberated by the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources when Parliament adjourned for the summer. The Committee raised some reasonable questions about the bill that can be readily addressed through efficient amendments.
This private member’s bill sponsored by Windsor West MP Brian Masse would establish Ojibway under the National Parks Act. Bill C-248 is the best way to establish Ojibway and provide the highest level of protection for ecological integrity for the new Park. Ojibway National Urban Park would provide safe haven for Tallgrass Prairie and Savannah-the most endangered ecosystem in Canada. The area contains more rare species than anywhere else in Ontario, is resilient to a warming climate and wild weather and protects from floods, droughts and extreme heat. The new Park would boost tourism and other business, protect green infrastructure and provide an accessible introduction to Canada’s National Parks system.
Bill C-248 has solid support from Indigenous Peoples, including Caldwell First Nation; from municipalities including the City of Windsor and from local citizens, industry, environmental and labour groups. It is hugely popular.
Now that Parliament has returned, please pass Bill C-248.
Scroll down to see what else you can do to support Ojibway National Urban Park.
In September, we launched a lawn sign campaign with our supporters and partners in Southern Ontario to promote passing Bill C-248 to protect Ojibway National Urban Park under the Canada National Parks Act.
To date we have distributed almost 500 signs and many posters.
Now we invite supporters from across Ontario and beyond to purchase and display a lawn sign or poster, share images and support our work.
Let’s keep up the momentum and support legal protection for Ojibway with a lawn sign.
What you can do:
- Download a poster here. You can print, display in a window, community bulletin board or make your own lawn sign. Be creative!
- If you live near Windsor and haven’t obtained your sign please fill out the form below or contact Brian Masse’s office at (519) 255-1631 or brian.masse@parl.gc.ca to arrange a pick-up.
- Please take a photo of your displayed sign or poster and share it with us and your contacts.
- Support the protection of Ojibway. Donate today.
With your help, Ojibway National Urban Park will become a reality. Thank you!
Thanks to Friends of Ojibway Prairie and Brian Masse’s office for partnering on sign design and distribution and to the following for financial support of lawn sign production: Local 444 Unifor, Local 444 Unifor Windsor Regional Environment Committee, Local 200 Unifor Social Justice Fund, and the Greater Essex Elementary Local of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario. Bottom of Form
2024 Updates
In March, Caldwell First Nation signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Parks Canada and the parties continue to work towards co-governance of Point Pelee National Park and Ojibway National Urban Park. The door is open for other First Nations that may want to be involved in the future.
The federal spring budget granted Parks Canada $36 million for the establishment and $4.6 million for operation of Ojibway National Urban Park, signalling a profound commitment to the establishment of the Park.
Bill C-248, the private member’s bill sponsored by Windsor West MP Brian Masse, passed second reading in the Senate after all-party support in the House. It was being deliberated at Committee when Parliament adjourned for the summer. This bill would establish Ojibway under the National Parks Act and provide the strongest legal protection for Ojibway.
The Senate Committee raised some questions about the bill. During Committee testimony, Ontario reversed its commitment to include Ojibway Prairie Provincial Nature Preserve in the bill saying it needs more time to negotiate with Ottawa. Still, Ontario remains committed to transferring the lands at some point.
Senate deliberations are due to resume now that Parliament has returned.
Wildlands League remains steadfast in its support of the Bill C-248 as the best way to establish Ojibway and provide the highest level of protection for ecological integrity. We think that reasonable questions asked at Committee can be addressed through efficient amendments to the bill. We look forward to testifying at the committee if the opportunity arises.
Parks Canada consultation has wrapped up its feasibility phase of public consultations with a report and is now continuing stakeholder consultations in the planning phase.
Updates from Spring 2023
After passing third reading in the House of Commons with all-party support, Bill C-248 to establish Ojibway National Urban Park in Windsor is in the Senate! During debate, Senator Peter Boehm spoke of the importance of the Bill for quickly protecting the vanishing habitat of over 130 endangered species and for reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. He highlighted the importance of support for the Bill from Wildlands League, Friends of Ojibway Prairie, and the Caldwell First Nation.
You can read the full transcript and view the debate online.
View Wildlands League’s letter of support for Bill C-248 here.
Updates from Spring 2022
The Federal Environment Minister, Stephen Guilbeault, announced the transfer of Windsor’s Ojibway Shores property from Transport Canada to Parks Canada, and committed to completing Ojibway National Urban Park.
Your letters to the editor of the Windsor Star and support of Wildlands League helped make this happen! Thank you!
Transferring this last piece of undeveloped shoreline on the Detroit River to Parks Canada has set in motion a big win for nature. The Ojibway Prairie Complex hosts the most endangered ecosystem in Canada – Tallgrass Prairie – in the city with the most endangered species. Tallgrass also acts as an effective sponge for preventing Windsor’s annual floods. A new National Urban Park anchored on Ojibway Shores will increase protection for all six of Ojibway Prairie’s nature areas.
Your support enables us to press on for the completion of Ojibway National Urban Park and its connection to the wider landscape through ecological corridors. Our vision is an interconnected network for nature that will halt and reverse biodiversity loss while fighting climate change in Windsor.
This is how we will bring nature back in cities across Canada.
