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| Contact Us Janet Weatherston External Relations Branch Parks Canada National Office 25 Eddy Street Gatineau, Quebec Canada K1A 0M5 Tel.: (819) 997-7786 Fax: (819) 997-5974 Email: mrt@pc.gc.ca
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Response of the Minister of the Environment to Recommendations Made
at the Third Minister’s Round Table on Parks Canada (2005)
Foreword by the Chief Executive Officer
At least once every two years, Parks Canada enjoys a unique opportunity
to hear directly from Canadians on how we can improve the management
of national historic sites, national parks and national marine conservation
areas of Canada. The Minister’s Round Table on Parks Canada brings
together Aboriginal partners, stakeholders, organizations and people
who are passionate about Canada’s protected heritage areas to
review key issues affecting the Agency and Canada’s systems of
historic sites, parks and marine conservation areas.
The insights, views and recommendations provide us with a yardstick
by which we can measure progress in meeting our objectives, including
the ecological health of our national parks and marine conservation
areas, the commemorative health of our national historic sites, as well
as visitor experience and public awareness and understanding. Seeing
the state of these special places through the eyes of people who are
committed to protecting and presenting Canada’s natural and cultural
heritage helps to shape our vision of how we can best fulfill our mandate.
The 2005 Minister’s Round Table on Parks Canada was a resounding
success in this regard. Participants brought considerable personal expertise
to the meeting and clearly focused on how to achieve larger goals.The
recommendations were crafted through group discussions and reflect the
views of many participants. Overall, there was a remarkable exchange
between the cultural and natural communities, which no doubt led to
the very strong recommendations.
This Round Table, even more than previous ones, has demonstrated the
benefit of close cooperation with Canada’s Aboriginal peoples.The
group heard from several leaders, among them Peter Irniq, Commissioner
of Nunavut, who delivered a remarkable address on his experiences as
a child and the considerable challenges he and his people have faced
to retain their culture, their language and their way of life.Their
messages and advice to the Minister and Parks Canada will not go unheard,
and help to underscore the importance of the work being done to tell
the story of Aboriginal peoples in connection to Canada’s special
natural and cultural places.
What I heard from participants is a desire for ongoing dialogue. Parks
Canada will look for opportunities to continue consulting and working
closely with stakeholders. My goal is that more Canadians will value,
learn from, and experience our natural and cultural treasures. This
goal will only be met by working with our partners. This goal will only
be achievable if we work closely with Canada’s Aboriginal peoples.
It is by engaging with stakeholders at all levels and ultimately with
visitors that Parks Canada will fulfill its mandate as expressed through
the Parks Canada Charter. The work done at the 2005 Minister’s
Round Table and the advice provided will greatly assist the Parks Canada
team to achieve these goals.
Alan Latourelle
Chief Executive Officer
Parks Canada Agency
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