RNUP Study Terms of Reference

Rouge Duffins Greenspace Coalition

The Rouge Duffins Greenspace Coalition is a group of many individual citizens, resident & environmental groups advocating sustainable, eco-based urban planning & preservation of farmland and greenspace for present & future generations.

We were extensively involved and worked very hard for many years on preserving the lands in Pickering, Scarborough and Markham. Specifically, the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve (DRAP), Rouge Park lands, Seaton and Airport lands with our “Link the Lake to the Moraine” campaign.

We applaud the federal government for stepping up and taking action by doing this study of the “probable risk of irreversible harm to wildlife, natural ecosystems and agricultural landscapes within Rouge National Urban Park” from the letter Parks Canada and the Rouge National Urban Park sent to the province expressing their concern for the removal of the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve lands and their importance to farming activities, and ecological function in the Park. We also appreciate the inclusion of the federal airport lands in the study – that just makes sense.

Thank you MP Helena Jaczek for hearing our concerns and getting this ball rolling!

There has been a deep well of numerous studies done in the past on these lands, and we would expect the same results – that these lands will remain protected for future generations. We would like to see them included into the Rouge National Urban Park.

There are many submissions by other NGO’s such as Land over Landings, National Farmer’s Union and the Ontario Farmland Trust which have made great suggestions to strengthen the Terms of Reference. Particularly, allowing for confidential comments by farmers leasing developer owned lands in the DRAP. That would provide an avenue for honest dialogue with the farm community without fear of retribution.

We look forward to participating in the study as it progresses.

Bonnie Littley

For the Rouge Duffins Greenspace Coalition