Support for a plan to turn the Ojibway Shores area into a national urban park has been entered before a parliamentary committee.
Testimony was entered Friday in Ottawa before the House Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development (ENVI), which is considering Bill C-248. The bill would create the Ojibway National Urban Park in west Windsor.
Chief Mary Duckworth of Caldwell First Nation reiterated her support of the bill, which if passed, would protect a host of animal and plant species in the area, along with the last undeveloped stretch of shore in the region.
"I look forward to being able to protect the over 200 species at risk, the protection of the last natural shoreline along the Detroit River, and I look forward to working with our partners," said Duckworth in her opening remarks Friday.
Windsor Ward 1 Councillor Fred Francis, reelected this week, appeared before the committee to support Bill C-248. After providing some history of the City's involvement with the area, Francis discussed the importance of having a natural area so close to the City's core for people to enjoy.
"The trails at Ojibway Park are an excellent community getaway," said Francis. "Just as important, the unique microclimate of southwest Ontario mixed with Ojibway Park, a unique butterfly sanctuary with species that can't be found anywhere else in Canada."
Francis added that Windsor City Council has repeatedly and unanimously supported motions to protect the area.
Also participating in Friday's committee meetings was Windsor West MP Brian Masse, plus Bill Roesel and Mike Fisher from the Friends of Obijway Prairie.
Any national park designation requires an amendment to the Canada National Parks Act, which is what Bill C-248 would do if passed. The legislation has already passed first and second reading and will go to a final House vote once it passes committee.
At the provincial level, the Ford government has indicated its willingness to make the Ojibway National Urban Park a reality. Windsor West MPP Lisa Gretzky of the NDP had introduced a motion to transfer ownership of the Ontario-owned Ojibway Prairie Nature Reserve to Parks Canada. That motion was rejected, but Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Andrew Dowie, of the Tories, has reintroduced it with the question of land management and it will be voted on in November.