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ENVI Committee Report

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APPENDIX C: STATUS AND GROWTH OF THE NATIONAL PARKS SYSTEM AND THE NATIONAL MARINE CONSERVATION AREAS SYSTEM*

STATUS AND GROWTH OF THE NATIONAL PARKS SYSTEM AND THE NATIONAL MARINE CONSERVATION AREAS SYSTEM

* Provided by Parks Canada, February 21, 2017.

GROWTH OF THE SYSTEM OF NATIONAL PARKS OF CANADA (February 2017)

National Park or NPR of Canada (by date of addition to system)	Year of Agreement	Year established in Legislation	Park Area (km²)
1. Banff, Alta.	-	1885	6,641.0
2. Glacier, BC	-	1886	1,349.0
3. Yoho, BC	-	1886	1,313.1
4. Waterton Lakes, Alta.	-	1895	505.0
5. Thousand Islands, Ont.1	1904	1914	23.5
6. Jasper, Alta.	-	1907	10,878.0
7. Elk Island, Alta.	-	1913	194.0
8. Mount Revelstoke, BC	-	1914	262.5
9. Point Pelee, Ont.2	-	1918	15.2
10. Kootenay, BC	-	1920	1,406.4
11. Wood Buffalo, Alta./NWT3	-	1922	44,778.3
12. Prince Albert, Sask.	-	1927	3,874.6
13. Riding Mountain, Man.4	-	1929	2,967.7
14. Georgian Bay Islands, Ont.5	-	1930	14.0
15. Cape Breton Highlands, NS	1936	1936	948.0
16. Prince Edward Island, PEI6	1937	1937	27.0
17. Fundy, NB	-	1948	205.9
18. Terra Nova, Nfld.& Lab.	1957	1957	399.9
19. Kejimkujik, NS7	1967	1974	403.6
20. Kouchibouguac, NB	1969	1979	239.2
21. Pacific Rim,BC (NPR)8	1970	2001	510.0
22. Forillon, Que	1970	1974	217.0
23. La Mauricie, Que	1970	1977	536.1
24. Pukaskwa, Ont.9	1971	-	1,877.8
25. Kluane, Yukon (NP & NPR)10	1972/93/2003	1976/1995	22,061.0
26. Nahanni, NWT (NPR)11	1972	1976	30,000.0
27. Auyuittuq, Nunavut12	1972/93/99	1976/2001	19,089.0
28. Gros Morne, Nfld. & Lab.13	1973	2005	1,805.0
29. Grasslands, Sask.14	1981/88	2001	730.0
30. Mingan Archipelago, Que. (NPR)	-	1984	150.7
31. Ivvavik, Yukon15	1984	1984	9,750.0
32. Quttinirpaaq, Nunavut16	1986/93/99	1988/2001	37,775.0
33. Bruce Peninsula, Ont.17	1987	-	125.2
34. Gwaii Haanas (NPR) and Haida Heritage Site, BC18	1988/93/2010	1996	1,474.4
35. Aulavik, NWT	1992	2001	12,200.0
36. Vuntut, Yukon	1993	1995	4,345.0
37. Wapusk, Man.19	1996	2010	11,475.0
38. Tuktut Nogait, NWT20	1996/2005	1998	18,181.0
39. Sirmilik, Nunavut	1999	2001	22,200.0
40. Gulf Islands, BC (NPR)21	2003/04	2010	36.9
41. Ukkusiksalik, Nunavut22	2003	2014	20,880.0
42. Torngat Mountains, Nfld. &Lab.23	2005/2006	2005/2008	9,700.0
43. Sable Island, NS (NPR)	2011	2013	30.0
44. Nááts’ihch’oh, NWT (NPR)24	2012	2014	4,895.0
45. Qausuittuq, Nunavut25	2015	2015	11,008.0
46. Akami–Uapishku - KakKasuak – Mealy Mountains, NL26	2015	-	10,700.0
TOTAL			328,198.0

Park name: refers to the official and commonly used name, as adopted by Parks Canada and listed by the Geographic Names Board of Canada (GNBC). The full name is, for example, Banff National Park of Canada. If the name differs from the legal name in the Canada National Parks Act (CNPA), the legal name is identified in a footnote.

Year of Agreement refers to the year a federal - provincial/territorial agreement and/or Aboriginal agreement(s) were signed to establish a national park or national park reserve. A natural region is considered represented in the NP system once a park agreement and land transfer enable a park to become operational.

Year Established in Legislation refers to the year a national park or national park reserve is formally established and protected under the provisions of the CNPA (or its antecedents.)

Park Area refers to the size of a park, as provided in the legal description or administrative plan approved by the Surveyor General of Canada and included in the CNPA Schedule or park agreement, unless noted otherwise. Some park areas include lands that are not yet scheduled under the CNPA. Changes made to park area are noted in the footnotes.

N.B.: A National Park Reserve is just like a national park except that it is subject to a claim, or claims, by Aboriginal people that the federal government has accepted for negotiation. The Canada National Parks Act applies. When the outstanding claims have been settled and agreements are reached that provide for the park’s establishment, the park reserve can move to national park status (from Schedule 2 to 1) under the CNPA.

Lands identified for future national parks (reserves)	Year of announcement or withdrawal	Area (km²)
Thaidene Nene (NPR), NWT27	1970/1996/2007/2015	14,000
TOTAL		14,000

Updated February 16, 2017

Footnotes:

1 In 1904 nine islands were acquired for national park purposes. In 1914, the islands were formally established under legislation as a Dominion Park. In November 2005, the Government of Ontario, Nature Conservancy of Canada and Parks Canada agreed to transfer 10.96 sq. km of mainland to the park. These lands are not yet under the CNPA. In 2013 the name was changed from St. Lawrence Islands National Park to Thousand Islands National Park. Area under the CNPA is 8.3 sq. km.

2 Park area includes the addition of Middle Island, Lake Erie to description in the Schedule to the CNPA (in 2001).

3 Park area: 10.0 sq. km were excised by OIC in 2004, and 10.8 sq. km in 2013 for the purpose of First Nations reserves.

4 Park area: lands were excised by Act of Parliament in 2004 (1.3 sq. km total).

5 Several islands scheduled in the CNPA as part of Georgian Bay Islands NP are managed as part of Fathom Five National Marine Park. The area of the park managed as GBINP is 14 sq. km. The area legislated is 25.6 sq. km.

6 By 1998 federal-provincial agreement, 3.65 sq. km of Greenwich Peninsula lands were transferred to the park. These lands are not yet under the CNPA.

7 Kejimkujik NP Seaside Adjunct added in 1988.

8 Park area reflects inclusions and exclusions to terrestrial and marine areas up to 2006, including lands excised by Act of Parliament in May 2004 for the purpose of a First Nation reserve.

9 Park area reflects legal description in the Park Agreement; park not yet scheduled under the CNPA.

10 Part of Kluane NPR became a National Park through 1993 Champagne and Aishihik First Nation Final Agreement and its 1995 legislation. Kluane First Nation Final Agreement settled in 2003.

11 In 2009, Nahanni National Park Reserve was enlarged from 4,766 sq. km to 30,000 sq. km, making it six times larger. The expansion area was brought under the CNPA on June 18, 2009.

12 Year established: 1) as a NP Reserve, 2) as a National Park. Park area reflects adjustments made pursuant to the 1993 Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.

13 Gros Morne NP was formally established by OIC on October 1, 2005.

14 Park area: land assembly is incomplete, land acquisition is ongoing on a willing seller – willing buyer basis pursuant to the Park Agreement. Total park area identified in the federal-provincial Agreement is 906.4 sq. km.

15 Established as Northern Yukon National Park through the Inuvialuit Final Agreement, the name was changed to Ivvavik National Park of Canada in the CNPA in 2001

16 Year established: 1) as a NP Reserve, 2) as a National Park. Ward Hunt Island is administered by PCA but not yet included in the park’s legal description in the CNPA.

17 Park area: land assembly is incomplete, land acquisition is ongoing on a willing seller – willing buyer basis pursuant to the Park Agreement. Total park area identified in the federal-provincial Agreement is 154.0 sq. km. Not yet scheduled under the CNPA.

18 Legal name in the CNPA is Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve of Canada. The name in use was officially approved in 2002 by Parks Canada and is listed by the GNBC. (Park name in the Act to be amended.) Park area reflects legal description in the CNPA and the area committed in the Park Agreements (some land with outstanding mining claims not yet added).

19 Land description and park area were included in the Schedule to the CNPA, 2001 with "coming into force" provision - park established by OIC in 2010 when special regulations were brought into force.

20 Agreement signed in 2005 added an expansion of 1,841 sq. km within the Sahtu Settlement Area to the park. These lands are not yet under the CNPA.

21 Gulf Islands NPR land assembly is incomplete, land acquisition is on a willing seller – willing buyer basis pursuant to its 2003 federal-provincial Agreement - as new lands are added, park area will be updated. Park Reserve established through OIC in 2010. 101 hectares were added in 2012, not yet in CNPA.

22 Park area includes the previously Inuit Owned Land parcel RE-32 and excludes the Sila Lodge area. IIBA signed in August 2003, legally established through OIC on 31 July 2014.

23 The Labrador Inuit Park Impacts and Benefits Agreement (PIBA) was signed in 2005 and that same year the CNPA was amended to include Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve. In 2006, the Nunavik Inuit PIBA was signed with Makivik Corp. of Quebec, enabling the park reserve to become Torngat Mountains National Park under the CNPA in 2008.

24 Legally established through amending the CNPA in December 2014, includes boundary adjustment adding 45 sq. km to park (compared with 2012 announcement).

25 Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement (IIBA) signed January 12, 2015 and effective April 1, 2015. Legislation to add Qausuittuq to CNPA received Royal Assent June 23, 2015 and came into force September 1, 2015.

26 Parks Canada signed a Land Transfer Agreement with the province and a PIBA with the Labrador Innu. Both came into effect July 31, 2015.

27 Administration of the Thaidene Nene lands was transferred to the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) through legislation to implement the devolution agreement, effective April 1, 2014. The land withdrawals in effect were mirrored in GNWT legislation. Parks Canada, GNWT and the Łutsel K’e Dene First Nation agreed to a proposed boundary. Canada announced a 14,000 square km boundary for consultation on July 29, 2015.

GROWTH OF THE SYSTEM OF NATIONAL MARINE CONSERVATION AREAS OF CANADA

Official Name	Year of Agreement	Year established in Legislation	NMCA Area (km²)
1. Fathom Five National Marine Park, ON.1	1987	-	113.5
2. Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park, QC.2	1990	1998	1,246.0
3. Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve and Haida Heritage Site, BC 3	1987/88/2010	2010	3,500.0
4. Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area, ON. 4	2007	-	10,880.0
TOTAL			15,739.5

Name refers to the official and commonly used name, as adopted by Parks Canada and listed by the Geographic Names Board of Canada (GNBC). The full name is, for example, “Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area of Canada”. If the legal name differs from this convention, an explanation is provided in the footnote.

Year of Agreement refers to the year a federal - provincial/territorial agreement and/or Aboriginal agreement(s) were signed to establish a national marine conservation area or national marine conservation area reserve. [In NP version – A marine region is considered represented in the NMCA system once an NMCA agreement and land transfer enable the NMCA to become operational.]

Year Established in legislation refers to the year a national marine conservation area or national marine conservation area reserve is formally established and protected under the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act (or, in the case of Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park, under its own legislation).

NMCA Area refers to the size of a NMCA, as provided in the legal description or administrative plan approved by the Surveyor General of Canada and included in the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act Schedule or establishment agreement. Any change made to the size is explained in the footnotes below.

N.B. A National Marine Conservation Area Reserve is just like a national marine conservation area except that it is subject to one or more claims in respect of aboriginal rights that the federal government has accepted for negotiation. The Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act applies within an NMCA reserve. Local Aboriginal people may continue their traditional hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering and spiritual activities and may be involved in the management of the NMCA reserve. When the outstanding claims have been settled and agreements are reached that provide for the NMCA’s establishment, the NMCA reserve will move to NMCA status, passing from Schedule 2 to Schedule 1 under the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act.

Footnotes:

1 Fathom Five National Marine Park is managed under a 1987 federal-provincial agreement that provided for its establishment as a national marine park (as the areas were called prior to the current NMCA policy and legislation). As described in the federal-provincial agreement, the marine park area includes 98.6 sq km of lakebed area plus a land area of 1.7 sq km (Devil and Echo Islands, and some land base). The total area for Fathom Five given in the table above includes the remaining 19 islands in the marine park, and managed as part of the park, (including Flowerpot Island), totalling 13.24 sq km, which are presently scheduled as part of Georgian Bay Islands National Park in Schedule 1 of the Canada National Parks Act. These 13.24 sq km have been removed from the area provided for Georgian Bay Islands National Park in the national park chart, to prevent double counting. The lake bed and lands have not yet been transferred to the federal government pending resolution of outstanding First Nation issues, as per the federal-provincial agreement.

2 Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park was established under separate legislation, the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park Act, and is jointly managed with the province of Quebec. In 2007, the Surveyor General’s office of Quebec reported that the size of the marine park in the legal description is inaccurate (it is listed as 1138 sq km). The accurate area is referenced above. The Act will be amended to reflect this new size.

1, 2 These sites are operated and managed as part of the NMCA program, including its policies and guiding principles.

3 The 1987 Canada-British Columbia memorandum of understanding and 1988 agreement respecting Gwaii Haanas provided for the immediate establishment of a national park reserve and the later establishment of a national marine conservation area reserve once certain conditions were met. The 2010 Gwaii Haanas Marine Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Council of the Haida Nation enabled the subsequent Parliamentary process which established the “Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve and Haida Heritage Site” under the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act, the first in Canada to attain that status.

4 A boundary description was included in the 2015 amendment to the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act which confirmed Ontario retains jurisdiction over water taking within NMCAs in the Great Lakes (Royal Assent June 23, 2015). This was a condition precedent in the 2007 federal/provincial agreement for the transfer of the lake bed and lands from Ontario to Canada. Once Ontario transfers the lands, the formal establishment of the NMCA will occur via Order in Council bringing the boundary description into effect. Additional NMCA lands will be added to the Act under a subsequent OIC when Ontario has completed deregulation of the protected areas it is also transferring to Canada as part of the NMCA.

Last updated September 2015