Environment committee  Thank you for the opportunity to speak to your committee today. Rouge Park is a beautiful river valley, but back in 2008 when I joined the board the alliance had its problems. We carried out a review of all the aspects of responsibilities managed by the alliance. The issues fac

Environment committee  Thank you. Does it strike the right balance? I think it does in one respect certainly, that it is balanced. It recognizes the importance of the natural heritage in protecting the park. It also recognizes that farming is an integrated and major part of the activities. It also tal

Environment committee  I was very surprised. Based on my experience, when I was the chair working.... I was appointed by the Minister of Natural Resources, who is now the Mayor of Brampton, and there was great support for the park from that ministry and her colleagues in the the GTA caucus. So I was qu

Environment committee  I'm not sure if it's stronger. I certainly think, from what I understand, that it meets the concerns that were expressed by the province in the memorandum of agreement. And certainly the reputation that Parks Canada has in implementing parks throughout Canada has set a standard s

Environment committee  I don't think it's achievable and that is why it's defined as an urban park.

Environment committee  The biggest threat to—

Environment committee  I don't know what the biggest threat is. I guess the threat currently is that there is not adequate protection. But I think that threat will be minimized when proper enforcement is in place. As Mr. Buchanan pointed out, when we brought together all the enforcement agencies we h

Environment committee  It's not having adequate.... Yes.

Environment committee  I think my answer would be similar, but I do want to point out that the agricultural land also functions in the park, and although it can be improved just like the other areas of the park, in my view it's not a negative to—

Environment committee  I'll defer to the scientist on the panel.

Environment committee  I certainly support that idea. I'm encouraged to see that. Certainly in the draft management plan, there's a space for ongoing consultation with the first nations and aboriginal communities.

Environment committee  I was not consulted on that process.

Environment committee  I came in just as the plans were starting to be implemented, but I'm certainly aware of the issue.

Environment committee  There were farmers. I don't know if “evicted” is the right word. They ceased being able to farm that land. Several of them had their leases terminated.

Environment committee  The way the Rouge Park Alliance operates.... Bob Hunter Memorial Park was fully restored. There are various forms of restoration. Some meadows were mainly treed by a number of contracts with NGO groups. There were no private for-profit contractors there. There was some restoratio