Liberal plan for National Urban Park leaves key sites unprotected: Masse and Dilkens

Windsor’s proposed national urban park is back in the spotlight as frustration swirls over a perceived lack of progress. CTV’s Sanjay Maru reports.

The federal government’s latest announcement on the Ojibway National Urban Park is misleading residents and leaves key parts of the park unprotected, according to the NDP MP for Windsor West

On Saturday, Canada’s Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault visited Windsor to announce $36.1 million in funding for the park, along with $4.6 million in annual operating funds.

The government said the funding will help establish the park by the end of 2025, but political critics argue the announcement fails to guarantee protections for several key parcels of land that had been part of the original park proposal.

Masse said the Liberal government’s plan only confirms Ojibway Shores — a 33-acre federally owned parcel — as part of the park.

The remaining five sites that Masse’s private member’s bill sought to include, Ojibway Park, Tallgrass Prairie Heritage Park, Black Oak Heritage Park, Spring Garden Natural Area, Ojibway Prairie Provincial Nature Reserve, remain unprotected, he said.

“The only federal land is key and critical in that land is Ojibway Shores, but it consists of just 3.33 per cent of the proposed park,” Masse said.

Masse warned that Ottawa’s scaled-back plan is creating confusion among residents who mistakenly believe the park is complete.

“I get two kinds of questions now: ‘Congratulations,’ thinking the project is actually done, or ‘How hard is it to build a park?’” he said. “Those things need to be brought to greater attention because the announcement... creates more questions.”

He also said the government’s decision to focus only on Ojibway Shores contradicts progress that had been made on his private member’s bill, which passed the House of Commons before being stalled in the Senate when Parliament was prorogued.

Masse accused the federal government of reversing course without warning, saying he was surprised to learn about the change during last week’s funding announcement.

“Maybe they could let me know... at least come forward with some humility on that, because they basically destroyed not just my work — it’s not my work — Bill C-248 is a community’s work,” Masse said.

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens shared Masse’s frustration, saying city council has long supported Masse’s bill and has been waiting for Ottawa to advance discussions on the remaining parcels of land.

“We haven’t materially moved the needle since April of 2022,” Dilkens said. “We need to see work happen ... and they can’t be hollow pre-election promises.”

Dilkens also said the city, which owns much of the land identified for the park, has been left in the dark about how the government plans to move forward.

“We’re willing to sit down with Parks Canada and figure this out. But it’s been three years... and still no material progress,” said Dilkens.

“We’re tired of playing games on this. Let’s get it done and let’s get it over the finish line.”

Masse said the delay is already taking a toll on Ojibway Shores, with shoreline erosion continuing to damage parts of the property.

“We’ve lost part of that property that is so delicate and so fragile because there’s inaction,” Masse said. “There’s a lock on the gate now that never used to be there ... and there’s also the physical losses taking place by the loss of erosion over time.”

In an effort to move the project forward, Masse said he has sent a letter to Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault asking for clarity on the park’s boundaries and how the newly-announced funding will be used.

He also proposed that Ottawa use an order in council — a cabinet-level decision that bypasses Parliament — to adopt the framework of his stalled legislation.

Masse said that approach could protect all six sites while Parliament remains prorogued.