Expanding Mount Orford national park : a good move, but full protection is still needed

Montreal – The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Québec Chapter (CPAWS-Québec) welcomes the Charest government\'s recent acquisition of land totalling nearly 36 km² to be added to the province\'s Mount Orford park. CPAWS trusts that Québec will take heed of public interest in protecting provincial parks (referred to as "national parks" in Quebec) and continue to acquire private lands with the aim of doubling the size of the park, as promised in 2006.

Protecting one of the last deciduous forests in southern Québec

"The land acquired today is now withdrawn from forest cutting operations. This is a significant victory for a region which has too often suffered from irresponsible management of its remaining deciduous forests", says John O\'Driscoll, president of CPAWS-Québec.  

Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether Québec\'s objective of doubling the park\'s size will include the reinstatement of 4.6 km² removed from the heart of the park in 2006 to make way for a major housing project. "Prior to today\'s announcement, Mount Orford national park covered 55 km². Québec has promised to reach 108 km² with its remaining acquisitions. CPAWS-Québec requests that the 4.6 km² be returned to the national park and that housing projects be permanently barred from Mount Orford, as our partners and the public have clearly demanded", concludes John O\'Driscoll.

Quebec\'s Law 23 -- passed to ensure the enlargement of Mount Orford national park, the preservation of the biodiversity of adjacent lands and the maintenance of recreational tourism activities -- effectively barred the sale of the 4.6km² removed from the park in 2006.  However, the law could still allow for hundreds of housing units to be built via long lease agreements.

CPAWS has long held the position that housing projects should be excluded from park lands and that the controversial 4.6km² should be returned to its rightful place inside the park.