Thaidene Nëné Proposed National Park Reserve Public Consultation in Yellowknife, NWT June 2016 Protected Areas Establishment Branch Parks Canada 1
Consultations for Thaidene Nëné Purpose Parks Canada is consulting with Aboriginal groups and communities, third parties, stakeholders and the public to understand and address the various interests in the proposed Thaidene Nëné national park reserve. Timeline Met with third party interests and stakeholders (2015 / 2016) Consultations with Aboriginal groups and communities (Ongoing) Public meetings (Dec 2015 September 2016) Review submissions and meeting records, summarize key issues and comments, and address them Follow up with groups and individuals Report on the consultation results and responses to issues 2
Historical Background 1969 Government of Canada approached Chief Pierre Catholique of Łutsël K'e Dene First Nation (ŁKDFN) with a proposal for a national park. 1970 a 7,340 km 2 land withdrawal was put in place, with no expiry date. 2007 interim land withdrawal of 26,350 km 2 added to the 1970 land withdrawal bringing the total study area to 33,690 km 2. 2014, April 1 The Northwest Territories Devolution Act came into effect. 2015, July 29 Government of Canada announced consultations on a proposed boundary 3
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December 9, 2015 Questions We Heard Access Will the potential for roads and aircraft landing sites exist within the national park reserve? Regulatory Framework Will park regulations change over time, causing a negative impact on users (e.g. could entry fees be implemented at a later date)? What types of facilities and services could exist in the proposed national park reserve that could incur a fee? Could users be restricted to using specific routes or area for specific activities (e.g. anchoring boats in designated areas), and will there would be fees involved? Could one-day fishing licences exist for the national park reserve? How do fuel caches work under the parks regs? How will we work with GNWT territorial park regs in order to achieve as little impact as possible to the visitor? 5
December 9, 2015 Questions We Heard Tourism How will the proposed Thaidene Nëné national park reserve support tourism and community investment? Is there an estimate of the number of people who currently or would visit the Thaidene Nëné area? How will the proposed Thaidene Nëné national park reserve be unique? Community Benefits How will Łutsël K e function as the gateway to the proposed national park reserve? How can a conservation economy help affected communities such as Łutsël K e and Yellowknife? What are the types of infrastructure that will be put in place in Łutsël K e to support the proposed national park reserve and where is that investment coming from? 6
December 9, 2015 Questions We Heard Traditional Users Will the creation of a park impact the ability of local residents to harvest game such as muskoxen and caribou? Will non-aboriginal local residents who occasionally harvest game for food be classified as subsistence or recreational hunters? Firearms Will park users be permitted to carry firearms for bear protection? If so, will it be all park users? Will such allowances be sunset? What kinds of conditions may be in place? 7
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Access December: General concern regulations/fees vs the current open access Parks Canada s mandate: to protect ecosystems of our national parks provide visitors with opportunities for enjoyment and education Regulations are tools to assist meeting those goals 9
Access continued Public input is enshrined in the Canada National Parks Act s. 12(1) The Minister shall, where applicable, provide opportunities for public participation at the national, regional and local levels, including participation by aboriginal organizations, bodies established under land claims agreements and representatives of park communities, in the development of parks policy and regulations, the establishment of parks, the formulation of management plans, land use planning and development in relation to park communities and any other matters that the Minister considers relevant. 10
Entry fees December: Commitment not to charge entry fees 1. What are the assurances this won t change over time? National Parks Agency Act s. 25(1) Before fixing a fee under section 23 and 24, the Minister must consult with any persons and organizations that the Minister considers to be interested in the matter. User Fees Act. 4(1) Before a regulating authority fixes, increases, expands the application of or increases the duration of a user fee it must: Give due notice, conduct an impact assessment, set up an advisory board to address complaints, transparency of fee setting decisions, etc. 11
Entry fees continued 2. What fees will be charged? National Parks Agency Act 23 (1) The Minister may, subject to any regulations that the Treasury Board may make for the purposes of this section, fix the fees or the manner of calculating the fees to be paid for a service or the use of a facility provided by the Agency. (2) Fees for a service or the use of a facility that are fixed under subsection (1) may not exceed the cost to Her Majesty in right of Canada of providing the service or the use of the facility. 12
Entry fees continued Standard facilities and services provided by Parks Canada with a fee: Backcountry camping based on facility/service Firewood if provided for sale per bundle $6.80 Business fees currently $196.00 annual Realty fees (eg assignment or renewal of lease/licence of occupation, each - $98.10) Commercial photography or filming Fishing licence Interpretive program/presentation per group/per hour $73.60 Guided tours (WBNP) for groups $11.70 per person 13
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Parks Canada and Tourism Parks Canada is the largest, oldest tourism operator in Canada. A National Park comes with investment in: Infrastructure to support the management and operations of a National Park; National and International Advertisement and Outreach to promote our National Parks; and An internationally recognised Brand. 15
Supporting Tourism in Thaidene Nëné Jobs with PC Direct Parks Canada employment Indirect contracted employment for goods and services Jobs with ŁKDFN Jobs related to tourism Accommodations Food and beverage services Guiding and transportation Arts and Crafts 16
Thaidene Nëné as a Tourism Draw How the proposed Thaidene Nëné national park reserve will be unique. Accessible Northern experience. Flights between major Canadian centres and Yellowknife as well as Yellowknife to Łutsël K e are remarkably affordable relative to most remote national parks. Both from a planning and financial perspective, accessing Thaidene Nëné will be a Northern Experience that more Canadians will be able to achieve. We know Thaidene Nëné is already a tourism draw: Approximately 500 visitors in the summer months (#s from 2011 exit surveys and lodges) Nahanni National Park Reserve ranges between 800 and 1,000 visitors a year. 17
Parks Canada and Conservation Economy Parks Canada is one of the largest employers in the North. Parks Canada employs over 370 employees in 20 communities in the 3 territories. Well over half of these employees are Aboriginal. These employees contribute directly to the social and economic fabric of their communities, and have access to a host of training and leadership development opportunities. TDN operational requirements will likely require about a dozen permanent FT and PT employees. Indirect employment ŁKDFN envisions a number of FT and PT positions related to supporting the management and operation of TDN. Łutsël K e will require more accommodation for visitors, which will also require goods and services. Yellowknife will see through traffic and visitors adding nights prior to and after visiting TDN, requiring accommodation, flights, meals, entertainment etc. 18
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Łutsël K e as a Gateway Park offices will be located in the community, providing access to the National Park Reserve for the purposes of management and operations. Docks, accessible waterfront and maintained airport are already part of the community. ŁKDFN has invested in a Tourism Plan which outlines the strength and gaps in the community to act as a tourism destination. Parks Canada will require housing, office space and moorage as minimum. The operational requirements for TDN have not been fully explored. Investment in Parks Canada s infrastructure would come from Parks Canada Agency funding. ŁKDFN is working towards a larger infrastructure investment by the community and other funders. 20
Boating December: Continued motor-boating, sailing and canoeing/kayaking 1. Will boating be restricted to certain routes? Management planning will determine how boating to be managed Low impact, non-motorized boating: expect that all routes in park could be accessed Regulations allow the superintendent to open waterways to the use of motorized boats Expect that the East Arm of Great Slave Lake will be open to motor boats. 21
Boating continued 2. Can we anchor anywhere? Fees? A Parks Canada facility such as a wharf or mooring buoy, could require a permit, a limited time for moorage and a fee No fee would be charged to anchor anywhere outside such a facility Factors which might be considered in routes or anchorage management are: Visitor input regarding use Ecological impact 22
Recreational Fishing 1. Can we provide one day fishing licences? YES 2. Fishing licences Current fee daily is $9.80 and annual $34.30 Availability of licences Ease of access important at Parks Canada Office in Łutsël K e and Yellowknife Catches Species and bag limits, catch and release provisions to be consistent with DFO s regulations in East Arm 23
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Aircraft December: Aircraft access is necessary and any water based site may be designated as a landing site 1. Landing and Take-off Sites Landing and take-off sites must be designated. Many northern parks designate any location either on water or throughout the Park. Input from pilots to date is that all landings and take-offs are on water in the proposed Thaidene Nëné 25
2. Aircraft Access Permits Aircraft continued Commercial aircraft require a National Park business licence and a permit Recreational aircraft need permits only Permits may be issued annually Permits are issued expeditiously 26
Aircraft continued 3. Access plans for landings and take-offs in the park During the season, parks staff on call to receive aircraft access plans for landings and take-offs. Two way communication: - Staff can provide up-dates from site - Access plan is known for any emergency response 27
Fuel Caches December: Aircraft and boaters require fuel caches. Reliance fuel cache will remain. Parks Canada Fuel Cache Policy Secondary containment so that any spills are contained and at a safe distance from water Clean up of contaminated sites Provide secured containment against animal interactions those with fuel in cache have access Other fuel cache sites may be designated and special fuel caches can be requested Fuel storage request is authorized by the superintendent 28
National Park Business Licences Needed to operate a business in a national park Parks Canada works with any business interested in applying for a National Park business licence Application submitted and reviewed by the management committee Similar process to GNWT business licencing 29
National Park Business Licences continued Parks Canada Business Licences are subject to the environmental impact assessment process of the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act (MVRMA). MVRMA requires a preliminary screening Prior to the preliminary screening, Parks Canada meets interested parties to identify any concerns and will work with the applicant to mitigate any issues If potential for a significant adverse impact on the environment or significant public concern, the proposal would be referred for environmental assessment (EA). In the history of Nahanni, no business licence application has been sent for EA Licence is issued annually. When it is re-issued no requirement to go through preliminary screening again 30
Fee simple and lease holders in Reliance Area No expropriation 15 (6) Notwithstanding the Expropriation Act, Her Majesty in right of Canada may not acquire any interest in land by expropriation for the purpose of enlarging a park or establishing a new park. Parks Canada will continue discussions with the fee simple and lease holders in the area. 31
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Canada National Parks Act: Agreement with GNWT 10 (1) The Minister may enter into agreements with federal and provincial ministers and agencies, local and aboriginal governments, bodies established under land claims agreements and other persons and organizations for carrying out the purposes of this Act. 33
Agreement with GNWT Parks Canada expects to develop a park establishment and land transfer agreement with GNWT with respect to Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve. The agreement would address such topics as: 1. Management of ecological integrity, visitor experience, public safety 2. Activities such as renewable resource harvesting, acceptable practices 3. Coordinating management of the national park and the territorial parks 4. National park reserve boundary 5. Transfer of lands to federal government for the creation of the national park reserve 34
Agreement with GNWT continued s. 17(1): The Government in Council may make regulations respecting the exercise of traditional renewable resource harvesting activities in (f) any national park of Canada established in an area where the continuation of such activities is provided for by an agreement between the Government of Canada and the government of a province respecting the establishment of the park. 35
Traditional Harvesting Activities Indigenous harvesting rights will be respected and such harvesting is expected to continue within Thaidene Nëné. Recognizing the priorities of conservation and visitor experience, traditional renewable resource harvesting activities by some nonaboriginal people could be permitted to continue. Harvesting activity by non-aboriginal people could be administered through special provisions. Details to be determined in the agreement with GNWT 36
Other Traditional Activities People can continue to access the Thaidene Nëné area and undertake activities such as shore-lunches, camping, berry picking and building campfires. Access by snowmobiles would be permitted as is done in a number of specific national parks, for travelling between communities and undertaking traditional activities. Residents would be able to transport firearms across national park lands. The Firearms Act applies. Parks Canada is prepared to make provisions for people to protect themselves from bears as done elsewhere in the national park system. Recreational hunting and guided outfitted hunting would not be permitted. 37
Questions and Comments? 38