Windsor moves to closer to getting a National Urban Park
New Democrat for Windsor West Brian Masse said his private members bill C-248, to establish Ojibway National Urban Park (ONUP), would receive full support from the other parties, including the Liberals.
“After negotiations with the federal Innovation Minister and the Government House Leader, the government has decided to vote for the bill,” he said.
Masse added the Conservatives, the Bloc, the Green Party and his own NDP have already supported the bill, and expects a united parliament when it is scheduled for a vote in the House of Commons on April 26.
Masse felt it was big step as a majority of Liberals wanted the bill to include amendments during second reading and it passed with 169 in favour and 147 against.
At the time, the bill had the support of the Bloc, Green Party Conservative party, the NDP and two liberal MPs.
Later, on Oct. 28, a House of Commons committee heard from Caldwell First Nation, the City of Windsor, Wildland League and Friends of Ojibway testified in favour of the bill.
“In a bizarre twist, the government’s amendments to the bill were ruled out of order by their own Liberal committee chair,” Masse said.
It is hopped full backing could speed up action in the Senate, where there already exists support, according to Masse.
“Parks Canada has begun to speed up the processes that need to be done such as finalizing the transfer agreements with the City of Windsor, Transport Canada, the Province, the co-management of agreement with Caldwell First Nations and the parks management plan,” he said.
The proposed ONUP would include Ojibway Park, Spring Garden Natural Area, Black Oak Heritage Park, the Tallgrass Prairie Park, Ojibway Prairie Provincial Nature Reserve and Ojibway Shores.
“It would include a 33-acre greenspace and the last remaining, undeveloped natural shoreline in Windsor-Detroit,” stated Masse.
The area is home to hundreds of endangered species, which rely on migration through surrounding local parks for survival.
“This is an essential step in making this park a reality. I want to thank my colleagues for their support,” stated Masse. “All those years of work by so many people across the city and country brought this about.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza's southernmost city killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Iraq investigates a blast at a base of Iran-allied militias that killed 1. U.S. denies involvement
Iraqi authorities said Saturday that they were investigating an explosion that struck a base belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of Iran-allied militias, killing one person and injuring eight.
The House is on the brink of approving aid for Ukraine and Israel after months of struggle
The House is preparing in a rare Saturday session to approve US$95 billion in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.