Thank you, Madam Minister, for being here.
I want to start with a continuation of Mr. Carrie's question about the land assembly. He spoke of the provincial lands, and I'd like to speak about the federal lands that could be included in the study area for the park.
We know that thousands of Canadians have asked the federal government to significantly expand the park study area, which includes the adjacent Transport Canada lands that are in the greenbelt of north Pickering. These publicly owned lands are within the provincial greenbelt's natural heritage system and they are necessary to provide a true ecological and trail link between Rouge Park and the Oak Ridges Moraine, going all the way from the lake to the moraine. More than 22 square kilometres of additional lands are held by Transport Canada, and these exist beyond the greenbelt lands. For comparison with respect to airport size if that Pickering airport is to continue, the Pearson airport is approximately 16 square kilometres and the Toronto Island airport is about one square kilometre.
My question for you, Madam Minister, is whether you will work with your colleague at Transport Canada to add the federal government's greenbelt lands in north Pickering to the Rouge national urban park study area to thereby provide enough parkland to sustain nature, park visitor use, and farm uses along that corridor in the long term.