Canadian Heritage committee  In 1967 there was quite a large push, in fact, in National Parks and National Historic Sites. In fact, it was a period of looking at the systems plans in both of those areas. From a national historic sites perspective, it really pushed off the idea of system planning, looking at the areas of history in Canada, quantifying them and categorizing them, and then asking, “Where do we want to have commemorations for different elements of Canada's past?”

Canadian Heritage committee  We've really been focusing on a connection with youth. As much as it's in the popular media today to talk about the nature deficit, we believe that we also have an equally disturbing history deficit among our youth in Canada, and perhaps among all Canadians. One thing we have been doing is very much from a youth focus, and that is to look at things like the My Parks Pass program, which we launched for the anniversary of Canada's first national park.

Canadian Heritage committee  I participated in that conference, and I believe that would be a great step forward. When we start to look at commitments in the last Speech from the Throne, for instance, on creating the Rouge national urban park--or near urban--I think that will be a great direction for part of the celebration.

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Moore, and thank you to the group. Good morning, everybody. As the vice-president of external relations and visitor experience at Parks Canada, I really appreciate the opportunity this morning to be able to contribute to the preparations of Canada's 150th anniversary.