Federal government inks deal to secure Ojibway Shores for inclusion in national urban park

A new federal government deal will clearthe way for Ojibway Shores a key piece of land along the Windsor-Detroit shorelineto bepart of the proposed OjibwayNational Urban Park project.

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said in the House of Commons Thursday that Transport Canada and Parks Canada are signing amemorandum of understanding to pursue atransfer of the land from theWindsor Port Authority to Parks Canada.

Liberal MP Irek Kusmierczyk, who represents Windsor-Tecumseh, said Ojibway Shores is going to be protected for generations to come.

"Today is a great day and a tremendous step forward towardanOjibwayNational Urban Park right here in Windsor," he said.

The deal will involve a land swap, with Parks Canada providing compensation to the WindsorPort Authorityas it looks to locate propertythat will beexchanged in the deal,Kusmiercyzk said.

Kusmierczykcalled the13-hectarespacean "invaluable piece of the puzzle."

"It is the last piece of natural habitat along the Detroit River," he said.

In August, the federal government and the city of Windsor signed a "statement of collaboration" to explore theidea of a national urban park.

Kusmierczyk said that consultations will occurto determinethe final footprint of the park and how it will be governed. The federal government has provided about $600,000 to the city for those consultations.

The concept of a national urban park dates back many years and has beenchampioned by NDP MP Brian Masse, who represents Windsor West.

At the same time that the government is doing consultationtowardthe project, Masse is looking toestablish the park through a private member's bill, C-248, which will be voted on in the House of Commons on June 8.

His proposal for a 364-hectare parkwouldincludeOjibway Park, Spring Garden Natural Area, Black Oak Heritage Park, the Tallgrass Prairie Park, Ojibway Prairie Provincial Nature Reserve, as well asOjibway Shores.

"Today is a victory for all residents, the City of Windsor, and all the organizations that have called for this land transfer to Parks Canada to happen," Masse said in a statement.

"I have been advocating for this to many ministers of Transport and the Environment for five years. I even sent directions on how to do it to the Windsor Port Authority. The federal government has finally acknowledged what has been known for five years and should have been done long ago."