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Two new national parks announced
October 14, 1996
Ottawa, Ontario
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced that the government
of Canada has protected lands for two new national parks in Canada's
Arctic. The announcement was made by the Prime Minister at the
opening of the World Conservation Congress in Montreal.
"This action to set aside ecologically sensitive land is
an important step in this government's ongoing effort to complete
Canada's National Parks system," said the Prime Minister.
The two proposed national parks that will be protected by land
withdrawals are both in the Northwest Territories. The first is
at Wager Bay, located on the west coast of Hudson Bay, just south
of the Arctic Circle, and the second is at Northern Bathurst Island
in the High Arctic near the Magnetic North Pole.
"Preserving our natural heritage is a responsibility that
belongs to all Canadians. In cooperation with the Inuit of the
North, the government of Canada, through this important action,
will make one of the world's largest parks systems even larger,"
said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila
Copps.
Indian Affairs and Northern Development Minister Ron Irwin supported
this action by stating: "I am pleased my department was able
to contribute by providing interim protection of these lands under
the Territorial Lands Act. These proposed national parks
will ensure the protection of centuries of Inuit cultural resources
that, to this day, are a part of the traditional lifestyle of
nearby Inuit communities."
The Wager Bay area is home to abundant wildlife, including polar
bears, walrus and peregrine falcon. The area has been used by
Inuit hunters for thousands of years. Northern Bathurst Island
lies near the edge of the permanent polar ice pack and is home
to several species of migratory birds, along with muskoxen and
an endangered population of Peary caribous.
"Good progress is also being made on other proposed national
parks," said Ms. Copps. Priority proposals include North
Baffin in the NWT, Torngat Mountains and Mealy Mountains in Labrador,
and the Interlake region of Manitoba. Ms. Copps noted that in
the last six months, the government has protected through park
establishment agreements and land withdrawals, more than 60,000
square kilometres of land -- an area larger than the province of
Nova Scotia.
PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555
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