Recognizing Ontario’s…

Recognizing Ontario’s Greenbelt as a national park under the Canada National Parks Act or the proposed National Urban Parks Policy

Raena Banton
Environmental Governance, University of Guelph
GEOG 3210: Indigenous-Settler Environmental Governance
November 11, 2022

Abstract
This week, Premier Ford proposed residential development on the provincially recognized Greenbelt and its associated land; the Oak Ridges Moraine. The proposal states intent to remove 7400 acres of land in the Oak Ridges Moraine for residential development and rectify the loss by adding 9400 acres of conservation land in the Paris Galt Moraine (Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, 2022). The argument presented in this brief is not for nor against Premier Ford’s proposal, but rather to encourage candidacy of the Greenbelt and its associated areas for the status of national park.

The Greenbelt
Climate action is imperative in the current state of the world. The land supporting millions of Canadians with clean water, air, food, and livelihood, must be protected to fight climate change. Ontario’s Greenbelt is the largest greenbelt in the world, offsetting 71 million tonnes of carbon, and maintaining the quality of drinking water for over 7 million Canadians each year (Greenbelt Foundation, 2021). The Oak Ridges Moraine is considered one of “Ontario's Most significant landforms”, with areas providing essential features for both ecosystem services as well as biodiversity (Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, 2017).
Development on the Greenbelt and its associated protected areas must be strictly prohibited, and recognizing this area federally as a natural park would protect the park’s preservation.

Could the Greenbelt become a national park?
The designation of “national park” is given to regions that are demonstrated as having substantial cultural and ecological significance. The Canadian government has committed to establishing “10 new parks in the next 5 years” (Canada Parks, 2022), with the Greenbelt meeting the necessary criteria to be recognized as one of these national parks. Furthermore, the Greenbelt and its associated areas would be more than an acceptable candidate for Parks Canada’s proposed National Urban Parks Policy, which has also proposed to protect urban landscapes with federal jurisdiction in the next 5 years.
The proposed National Urban Parks Policy is intended to recognize the rights of Indigenous peoples to sovereignty over their traditional lands, as well as protecting the environment from the degradation of urban sprawl. The three core elements of this policy, as identified in the draft are: conserving nature, connecting people with nature, and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

Reconciliation through the Greenbelt
First Nations and Métis People who live in tandem with the Oak Ridges Moraine have the right to the conservation and protection of their lands and cultures in the current Oak Ridges Moraine and Greenbelt Acts, a right that is being infringed upon with Premier Ford’s proposal. The status of national park would include more jurisdiction given to the Indigenous people whose history and culture are intertwined with the land, further blocking any possible plans of development in this area without thorough consultation.
Federal protection of the Greenbelt is required to ensure the conservation of this highly significant area. Under current provincial legislation, irresponsible Premiers are able to [propose to] develop on this land, and override the current protection measures set in place. Recognizing the Greenbelt, the Oak Ridge Moraine, and the Niagara Escarpment as a national park would further reduce the possibility of degradation and potential irresponsible management of these lands.

National park designation will prohibit the degradation of protected lands by:
Protecting at-risk species via SARA (which applies only on federal lands).
Returning sovereignty to the Indigenous peoples of Canada which in turn ensures sustainable use of the land.
Increasing community appreciation for the Greenbelt through national recognition.

Solutions:
Recognize the Greenbelt and its associated lands including the Oak Ridge Moraine and Niagara Escarpment as a national park.
Require rather than encourage the consultation of First Nations and Mètis peoples whose land on which will be conserved.

References

Greenbelt Foundation. Learn. 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2022 from greenbelt.ca/learn

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Proposed Amendments to the Greenbelt Plan. November 4, 2022.

Ontario. Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan (2017). Retrieved November 8, 2022 from https://www.ontario.ca/page/oak-ridges-moraine-conservation-plan-2017

Parks Canada. About national parks. 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022 from https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np

Parks Canada. Draft national urban parks policy. Retrieved November 8, 2022 from https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pun-nup/politique-policy