Rouge National Urban Park Expanded by 12.358 km2

Summary#

This Order (SOR/2024-96) adds detailed land descriptions to the Rouge National Urban Park Act, formally making those lands part of Rouge National Urban Park. It brings 1 235.8 hectares (12.358 km2) of land — lands transferred from the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) to Parks Canada on May 31, 2019 — onto the Act’s Schedule; the Order was registered on May 27, 2024.

What it does#

• Adds legal descriptions of multiple parcels in the Greater Toronto Area to the Schedule to the Rouge National Urban Park Act.
• Specifically brings in 1 235.8 hectares (12.358 km2) of land that Parks Canada has been managing since May 31, 2019.
• Includes lands located in the City of Toronto, the City of Markham and the City of Pickering.
• Makes those lands officially subject to the protections and rules set out in the Rouge National Urban Park Act.
• Comes into force on the day the Order was registered (registered May 27, 2024).

Who's affected#

• Parks Canada — gains formal authority under the Act to manage and protect these parcels.
• Agricultural tenants and farmers who lease land in the park — their lands are now explicitly covered by the Act.
• Local governments and conservation partners, including the TRCA, because the listed parcels affect land they helped assemble for the park.
• 10 First Nations engaged through the First Nation Advisory Circle, who have long-standing interests and engagement with the park.
• Visitors and nearby residents — any local users of the newly scheduled lands may see park rules and protections applied more clearly.

If it’s not obvious who will notice day to day: the changes mainly formalize protections for lands already managed as part of the park since 2019, so most public impacts are limited.

Why it matters#

• Legal clarity: listing the lands in the Act is the final administrative step to make them officially part of the national urban park.
• Stronger protection: the lands will be covered by the Act’s specific conservation and heritage rules, giving park staff clearer tools for enforcement and stewardship.
• Predictability for farmers: the decision supports long-term agricultural leases (up to 30 years noted in the park’s planning), which helps tenants plan and invest.
• Conservation goal: adding these 12.358 km2 helps complete Rouge National Urban Park and strengthens protection of biodiversity and cultural landscapes in a dense urban region.
• Costs and disruption are expected to be minimal because Parks Canada already manages these lands and no immediate operational changes are required.