Thank you, Catherine McKenna.
If you haven’t heard, our new federal environment and climate change minister, after just a short time in office, has already realized that millions of dollars in cuts Conservative governments inflicted on Parks Canada is not really in keeping with its mandate of ensuring ecological integrity within our national park system.
Many Canadians who don’t live in, or near, a national park, let alone the flagship (Banff National Park) as we all do, may not have realized that those cuts, many of them in Parks’ scientific sector, have resulted in slashes to the tune of $30 million since 2012 – this, at the same time Parks was saddled with a mandate to increase tourism by two per cent each year.
Wide cuts coupled with a demand for more tourism, particularly in the case of mountain parks adjoining the Trans-Canada, doesn’t really compute and clearly, McKenna has grasped this.
On a side note, we appreciate the fact ‘climate change’ was added to McKenna’s portfolio as it shows the federal Liberals at least recognize that things are different. Call it global warming or climate change (as in the very mild winter we are currently enjoying) – or argue against it – but it seems abundantly clear something has been altered on a global scale.
Cuts by the Conservatives included to science programs, of which Parks could at one time boast, and were no doubt valuable among others studying similar wildlife, management or systems.
Going forward, McKenna said she wants more focus on the philosophy of Canadians enjoying our parks and historic sites, including getting more newcomers to this country to visit and appreciate them.
We’re in favour of anything that relates to people embracing the natural, ecological side of our Parks system – appreciating our national parks as showcases of wilderness and the environment – rather than embracing the onslaught of splashy new special events – events held within, but not related to, our national parks – that has become the norm.
In perusing McKenna’s mandate letter from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, it’s clear her ministry is a wide-ranging one.
Among other things, her tasks range from working with the provinces and territories to develop a plan combat climate change and reduce greenhouse emissions, establish emissions-reduction targets, treat fresh water as the precious resource it is and (critical) ‘enhance protection of Canada’s endangered species by responding quickly to the advice of scientists and completing robust species-at-risk recovery plans in a timely way.’
Respond to the advice of scientists? Complete recovery plans? That’s certainly stepping away from former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s head office direction, which was to cut science funding and muzzle those who would say anything that went against the Conservative-approved message.
While the advisability of offering free Parks passes in 2017 may have a downside in a loss of revenue, we look forward to McKenna’s tackling of other Trudeau-mandated items (from his official letter to her) such as ‘develop Canada’s National Parks system, as well as manage and expand National Wildlife Areas and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries; develop Parks Canada programs and services so that more Canadians can experience our National Parks and learn more about our environment and heritage; through an expanded Learn to Camp program, ensure that more low- and middle-income families have an opportunity to experience Canada’s outdoors’ and, in particular, ‘Protect our National Parks by limiting development within them, and where possible, work with nearby communities to help grow local eco-tourism industries and create jobs.’
