Parks Canada Agency's Forward Regulatory Plan: 2025 to 2027

Enabling Act: Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act, 2002

Parks Canada is developing general regulations under the Act to help protect and manage national Marine Conservation Areas (NMCAs). There are no regulations currently in place. The new regulations would cover the following topics:

• Protection of natural and cultural heritage
• Commercial activities, land use and special events
• Research activities
• Visitor activities and public use
• Zoning, temporary closure and other area-based management measures.

There may be business impacts. The "One-for-One" Rule and/or the Small Business Lens may apply.

Parks Canada is responsible for the management and control of national marine conservation areas in relation to matters not assigned by law to another Minister of the Crown. Parks Canada has engaged with federal, Indigenous, provincial, territorial and municipal governments to share information and experiences, and to explore opportunities to reduce duplicative requirements and streamline processes, as well as to incorporate best practice from other jurisdiction in the development of these regulations.

Formal domestic and international cooperation efforts, such as the Canadian Free Trade Agreement Regulatory Reconciliation and Cooperation Table, the Canadian-European Union Regulatory Cooperation Forum, and the Canada-United States Regulatory Cooperation Council, do not apply to these proposed regulations.

A first phase of engagement with the public and stakeholders ended in Fall 2023. Parks Canada is continuing to engage with key partners. The target date for pre-publication of the draft regulations in Canada Gazette, Part I, is December 2024.

Alison Lobsinger
Director, Policy, Legislative and Cabinet Affairs
Strategic Policy, Business and Digital Services
Telephone: (819) 775-5331
Alison.Lobsinger@pc.gc.ca

April 1, 2017

Enabling Act: Species at Risk Act, 2002 (SARA)

Critical habitat is the habitat necessary for the survival or recovery of a listed endangered, threatened or extirpated species on Schedule 1 of SARA. SARA requires that the critical habitat of all listed species, when found on federal areas, be legally protected against destruction within 180 days after it is identified in a finalized SARA recovery strategy or action plan. From time to time, Parks Canada will make Ministerial Orders to protect critical habitat on areas that are under Parks Canada’s management , but that are not described under the Canada National Parks Act, Rouge National Urban Park Act, or the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act.

There may be business impacts. The "One-for-One" and/or the Small Business Lens may apply.

Parks Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans are responsible for the protection of critical habitat of threatened or endangered species under the Species at Risk Act. Regulatory cooperation with domestic (municipal, provincial/ territorial, federal) partners are sought on a case-by-case basis in accordance with obligations under the Act.

These regulations do not fall under any specific formal regulatory work plan including, but not limited to: the Canadian Free Trade Agreement Regulatory Reconciliation and Cooperation Table, the Canadian-European Union Regulatory Cooperation Forum, and the Canada-United States Regulatory Cooperation Council.

The recovery documents that identify critical habitat are prepared in cooperation with affected decision makers (e.g., other departments, provincial, territorial and First Nation governments) and in consultation with landowners and other directly affected persons (e.g., municipal governments, lease holders).

Parks Canada will consult with Indigenous groups and key stakeholders in the development of Ministerial Orders before publication in the Canada Gazette. These consultations are anticipated to occur during the 2024-2026 period.

The requirements for putting forward a Ministerial Order for protecting critical habitat are set out in the enabling legislation.

As the files are ongoing, target dates for publication follow legislative requirements following the identification of critical habitat.

Species at risk public registry

Alison Lobsinger
Director, Policy, Legislative and Cabinet Affairs
Strategic Policy, Business and Digital Services
Telephone: (819) 775-5331
Alison.Lobsinger@pc.gc.ca

April 1, 2014

Enabling Act: Various

On an ongoing basis, the Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations reviews Parks Canada regulations for errors, omissions, discrepancies, and Official Language concordance. Issues identified by the Committee are brought to the attention of Parks Canada and amendments to the regulations will be made, as deemed necessary, to address the recommendations of the Committee.

The purpose of the Miscellaneous Amendment Regulations to Address Concerns of the Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations is to make clarifications and corrections to provisions within existing regulations and to make the links between sections of various regulations more apparent. They are also intended to clarify and facilitate the interpretation of Parks Canada regulations in order to ensure sound management of protected heritage places.

There are no expected business impacts.

Parks Canada is responsible for the management of lands and waters under its administration. Regulatory cooperation with domestic (municipal, provincial/ territorial, federal) partners are sought on a case-by-case basis with respect to recommendations on Parks Canada regulations from the Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations.

These regulations do not fall under any specific formal regulatory work plan including, but not limited to: the Canadian Free Trade Agreement Regulatory Reconciliation and Cooperation Table, the Canadian-European Union Regulatory Cooperation Forum, and the Canada-United States Regulatory Cooperation Council.

These amendments to the regulations would not be controversial and are generally “housekeeping” in nature, addressing items identified by the Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations. No public consultation on the proposals under the Miscellaneous Amendment Regulations to Address Concerns of the Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations are required.

The proposed amendments will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II. As the Committee’s work is ongoing, target dates for publication are to be determined.

Information on the Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations

Alison Lobsinger
Director, Policy, Legislative and Cabinet Affairs
Strategic Policy, Business and Digital Services
Telephone: (819) 775-5331
Alison.Lobsinger@pc.gc.ca

April 1, 2012

Enabling Act: Rouge National Urban Park Act, 2017

Under the Act, the Governor in Council may make regulations concerning a range of topics related to the preservation, control and management of the Park. New Regulations for Rouge National Urban Park will provide clear requirements and expectations related to permitting and managing the use and occupancy of land; managing agriculture, businesses and special events; to allowing for temporary area closures for public safety and conservation reasons; and to managing scientific research.

There may be impacts to agricultural businesses in the park. The “One-for-One” and/or the Small Business Lens may apply.

Parks Canada will work with the Government of Ontario to evaluate regulatory cooperation opportunities in managing agriculture.

Parks Canada has undertaken several public, stakeholder and First Nation engagement during the Park establishment, the 2017 amendment to the Rouge National Urban Park Act (S.C. 2015, c. 10) and on the development of the Rouge National Urban Park Management Plan (2019). Numerous policy considerations were raised throughout this time and will be used to inform the development of regulations. Parks Canada will continue to engage key stakeholders and First Nations throughout the regulatory process.

There will be further opportunities for consultation on the proposed regulations after publication in the Canada Gazette, Part I. The target date for pre-publication of the proposed regulations in the Canada Gazette for a 60-day period is 2024.

Rouge National Urban Park Management Plan (2019)

Alison Lobsinger
Director, Policy, Legislative and Cabinet Affairs
Strategic Policy, Business and Digital Services
Telephone: (819) 775-5331
Alison.Lobsinger@pc.gc.ca

April 1, 2023