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Cheryl Gallant wants to ensure there are no unforeseen consequences resulting from the declaration of the Ottawa River as a national historic site.
The MP for Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke said Tuesday she wants future economic development safeguarded and assurances that special interest groups will not use the designation to adversely affect those who use, or live beside, the river.
“Long term, there could implications,” MP Gallant told the Daily Observer from Wainwright, Alberta. “It will all come down to what will be contained in the management plan.”
That management plan will be administered by the Ministry of Natural Resources. In her discussions with Ontario Environment Minister John Gerretsen, the MP learned he wants natural, cultural and recreational values preserved and that future planning and development is considered.
Although federal Environment Minister John Baird told the House of Commons last Friday that he would sign the nomination sending the proposal to the Canadian Heritage Rivers Board of Governors, MP Gallant noted that no formal announcement has been made.
Former MP Len Hopkins chaired the Ottawa River Heritage Designation Committee before he died last year.
MP Gallant acknowledged her predecessor’s efforts to add the Ottawa River to the 40 other bodies of water in the Canadian Heritage River System.
“I’m sure Mr. Hopkins had nothing but the purest of intentions. Designation on its own seems harmless enough. But we want to make sure we are not cutting anyone’s economic livelihood out from under them,” she said.
This week, the MP has been travelling with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on National Defence. In her first remarks since announcing she supported designation in principle on May 1, MP Gallant said she fears special interest groups could pressure the government to close businesses or facilities like the nuclear laboratories at Chalk River.
“We have to ensure there are not radical groups attaching conditions to the meaning of the designation,” she added. “It will all come down to what will be contained in the management plan.”
The volunteer designation committee had been concerned that the nomination documents would not be in the hands of the board of governors in time for their June 9 annual general meeting in the Yukon Territory. However, MP Gallant insisted the project will not die if it’s not approved this year.
“I’m sure at some point the nomination will rise again,” she said. “It’s more important that due diligence is done and done correctly and not in a hurry.”
While she has received presentations from other concerned groups, she said she has not had direct contact with the Ottawa River Heritage Designation Committee. MP Gallant added her office will continue to obtain information from neutral sources and seek input from the people who will be affected by designation.
“We know the position of the committee,” she said.
The effort to have the 1,271 km stretch recognized as a historical body of water has been ongoing. Rivers which feed into the Ottawa, the French, Rideau and Mattawa rivers, have already been declared heritage sites.
Reacting to Mr. Baird’s announcement Monday, Larry Graham, chair of the Ottawa River Heritage Designation Committee, said he too is awaiting official word that the minister will give his blessing.
“It is wonderful news that the environment minister has declared his support,” added Mr. Graham. “Time is now extremely short.”
schase@thedailyobserver.ca
Article ID# 1027160