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Press Release

A project to create the biggest National Park in Eastern Canada

TWO PUBLIC HEARING REPORTS COME OUT IN FAVOUR OF CREATING THE TURSUJUQ NATIONAL PARK IN NUNAVIK

Québec City, March 1, 2010. – Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks Line Beauchamp today released the reports of two public hearings that are favourable to creating the Tursujuq National Park in Nunavik. Formerly known as the “Lacs-Guillaume-Delisle-et-à-l’Eau-Claire park project,” the proposed territory covers an area of more than 15,500 square kilometres, making this the biggest National Park in Eastern Canada

The public hearings were held under the Parks Act in Umiujaq and in Kuujjuarapik-Whapmagoostui in June 2008 and chaired by Mr. Johnny Adams, who was named by Minister Beauchamp to represent her at the hearings and report to her on any concerns expressed by the local population.

A majority of speakers were in favour of creating this new park in Nunavik, encouraging the government to move forward with the process of creating Tursujuq National Park, the biggest national park not only in Québec, but in all of Eastern Canada,” the minister stated.

Since the public hearings were held, the name of the park project has been changed to reflect Inuit culture. The Commission de toponymie du Québec has given its official stamp to the name “Tursujuq,” which is a colourful way the Inuit refer to the Goulet – the narrow channel connecting Hudson Bay to Lake Guillaume-Delisle.

The Kativik Environmental Quality Commission

It is of note that a second public hearing was held in June 2009, this time by the Kativik Environmental Quality Commission (KEQC), as part of the environmental and social impact assessment and examination process provided for in the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. The Commission’s report was in favour of the creation of the new National Park in Nunavik.

The recommendations made by Mr. Adams and the decision of the Kativik Environmental Quality Commission will be carefully analyzed in order to draw the boundaries of an area that is apt to protect the biodiversity of this exceptional natural environment in the spirit of the region’s sustainable development,” concluded Minister Beauchamp.

Both of these reports are available on the web site of the Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs:

  • The Johnny N. Adams public hearings report

  • The Kativik Environmental Quality Commission report      

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SOURCE:

Dave Leclerc
Press Officer
Cabinet of the Minister of Sustainable Development,
Environment and Parks
Tel.: 418 521-3911 

 

INFORMATION:

Media Relations
Ministère du Développement durable,
de l’Environnement et des Parcs
Tel.: 418 521-3991

 

 

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