Comment on Rouge National Urban Park Draft Terms of Reference

Comment on Rouge National Urban Park Draft Terms of Reference

I am pleased to support all of what I have read in the Rouge National Urban Park Study Draft terms of Reference

I agree with the 1.0 Study Objectives and Scope as stated as well as items 1.2 The Study will focus on:

a) Future potential development activities in lands adjacent to the Park, notably in the area known as the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve, and the potential effects of these activities. In doing so, it will also consider the effects of other past, ongoing and future physical activities in the Park, the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve, federal lands adjacent to the Park as well as other areas if these have the potential for effects in areas of federal jurisdiction within the Park;

b) The ecological integrity of the Park and the ability of the Park to meet its management objectives, including as described in the Park management plan: the protection of biodiversity, natural resources, and natural process; enhancement of ecological connectivity throughout the Park; maintaining beneficial working relationships with Indigenous communities; and supporting a vibrant park farming community;

c) Any other potential effects, including cumulative effects, on areas of federal jurisdiction (e.g., species at risk, federal lands), that may have implications within the Park; and,

d) Consideration of how provincial laws and regulations, as well as other laws and regulations including Indigenous laws, would apply to such developments in order to predict potential effects.

I think they are very comprehensive with respect to time - “the past, present and future physical activities in the Park”.

Maintaining the “ecological integrity of the Park .. is very important to me and my children and grandchildren.

I also like and approve of d) - “including Indigenous laws”. I think it is extremely important that our Indigenous neighbours are fully consulted on what plans the Province of Ontario has for these lands. I see the province’s plans to develop what are known as “the Green Belt” which includes the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve, as an extension of the colonial theft of land from the original Indigenous inhabitants. These plans are also a violation of treaties that Britain and late Canada signed with the Indigenous inhabitants to preserve the natural state of the lands for hunting and harvesting wild plants, fruits and roots, which represent food and medicines for Indigenous citizens. We are all treaty people in that our forbear Settlers signed treaties with First nations on our behalf that we and our governments, including citizens of Canada living in the Province of Ontario must still adhere to. Some of the important treaties in this regard are 1. the British Royal Proclamation of King George III of 1763. Here is a quote from that treaty as it was applied to “Aboriginal Rights” -

With regards to Aboriginal rights, the proclamation states explicitly that Indigenous people reserved all lands not ceded by or purchased from them: “And whereas it is just and reasonable, and essential to our interest and the Security of our Colonies, that the several Nations or Tribes of Indians, with whom We are connected, and live under our protection, should not be molested or disturbed in the Possession of such Parts of Our Dominions and Territories as, not having been ceded to, or purchased by Us, are reserved to them, or any of them, as their Hunting Grounds.”

Another important treaty that I am aware of that gives certain rights to First Nations whose lands are/were in the present Province of Ontario is the Nanfan Treaty of 1701, signed between

Under the treaty, the Iroquois ceded all of the territory which is now southwestern Ontario to the British in return for a guarantee of free and undisturbed hunting rights over the lands in the territory forever.  https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=Nanfan+treaty+gurantee+of+hunting+grounds&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Therefore Canada which includes the Province of Ontario must take into account these and other treaties that guarantee the use of lands in Southern Ontario for the purpose of Indigenous hunting grounds, which includes I believe, looking after the natural aspects of the land which blocks lands such as the Duffins Creek Agricultural Preserve from being developed and paved over.

I like and approve of item 4.0 - Indigenous Knowledge, Aboriginal and Treaty Rights and potential impacts to Indigenous communities. I have already commented on two of the major treaties of the 18th century between First Nations North America (Turtle Island) and the British Crown. I am pleased to see named: the seven signatories of the Williams Treaties Settlement:

o Alderville First Nation,

o Beausoleil First Nation,

o Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation, o Chippewas of Rama First Nation,

o Curve Lake First Nation,

o Hiawatha First Nation,

o Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation;

? Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, who have submitted an Aboriginal Title claim to lands in the Rouge River Valley Tract;

? Huron-Wendat Nation; and

? Six Nations of the Grand River.

Indigenous communities also include Métis Nation of Ontario.

I approve of items 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4

I approve of items 5.1 - Indigenous and Public Participation, all sub-headings

I approve particularly of 5.1 h) - Identify, consider and characterize the valued components and potential effects, including cumulative effects, of potential development activities on the identified valued components. The cumulative effects assessment must include all physical activities that are certain, reasonably foreseeable, including those on federal lands adjacent to the Park, those described in the Official Plans and the Park Management Plan, and those that are likely to be induced by developments in the Duffins Rouge Agriculture Preserve following relevant Government of Canada guidance. Provincial laws and regulations must be explicitly considered.

Also 5.1 h) i., ii and iii

Also 5.1 h) Analyses of potential effects on valued components must:

i. Use available quantitative and qualitative data, as well as available Indigenous and community knowledge.

ii. Determine spatial and temporal boundaries for the cumulative effects assessment.

iii. Compare existing conditions with conditions predicted for a range of plausible development activity scenarios.

iv. Where appropriate, use a Gender-based Analysis Plus analytical process to assess how diverse population groups may experience the potential effects following relevant Government of Canada guidance.

v. Where appropriate, consider sustainability principles following relevant Government of Canada guidance.

vi. Where appropriate, predict the impact of development activity scenarios on valued components.

vii. Where appropriate, include spatial information in the analyses and predictions.

viii. Where appropriate, describe the magnitude of potential impacts, including any uncertainty.

ix. Where appropriate, identify specific locations or areas that would minimize effects on valued components.

x. Where appropriate, describe any relevant avoidance, mitigation or compensation measures, which may address potential adverse effects.

xi. Where appropriate, describe any relevant monitoring and follow-up program.

Also 5.1 i) Identify, consider and characterize the potential effects of potential development activities on any

Indigenous communities relying on existing information provided to the Committee.

Also 5.1 Conclusions and Recommendations

j) Identify its conclusions on the magnitude of potential effects, including cumulative effects, of development activities on the ecological integrity of the Park and the ability of the Park to meet its management objectives at the park scale and the management area scale, as well as any other identified effects within federal jurisdiction.

k) Recommend whether avoidance, mitigation and compensation measures can address potential impacts of development activities, and whether additional monitoring and follow-up measures would be warranted.

l) Recommend whether actions by the Government of Canada, notably under the Rouge National Urban Park Act, the Impact Assessment Act, the Species at Risk Act, the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 and the Fisheries Act should be applied to future proposed development activities, and under what circumstances.

In general I like all of the items listed in the Rouge National Urban Park Study and hope the study will result in the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve being reinstated by the Ontario government - that the repeal of this Preserve will be reversed.

Thank you to Minister Guilbeault and the Federal Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Canada for initiating this study.