April 14, 2026 Rouge National Urban Park, Ontario Parks Canada
Today, Minister Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety Canada, on behalf of the Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, highlighted the Government of Canada's recent launch of A Force of Nature: Canada's Strategy to Protect Nature during an event at Rouge National Urban Park.
Nature is foundational to Canadian identity. Canada's forests, lakes, rivers, prairies, mountains, tundra, and oceans are part of who we are, strengthening sovereignty, supporting the economy and sustaining life. Nature underpins food systems, clean air and water, energy, climate and disaster resilience, and Canada's identity-yet it faces mounting threats from climate change, urbanization, and biodiversity loss. Nature is a key driver as we work to build our economy while integrating biodiversity considerations into infrastructure and resource development.
To protect Canada's lands and waters, the Government of Canada recently announced A Force of Nature: Canada's Strategy to Protect Nature. With an investment of $3.8 billion, Canada's new nature strategy will protect and restore critical habitats, including the creation of new national parks, national marine conservation areas, and national urban parks.
The Government of Canada recently provided $936,485 to the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) to support ecological restoration work completed in Rouge National Urban Park. This investment has supported the restoration of more than 23 hectares of aquatic, riparian and terrestrial habitat across 13 sites, improving ecosystem health in the Rouge River, West Duffins Creek and Petticoat Creek watersheds.
Investments like these contribute to the nature strategy by helping to restore critical habitats and mobilize new investments in nature while ensuring that conservation and economic development go hand in hand.
