December 3, 2018 Tobermory, Ontario Parks Canada Agency

Canada's natural landscapes inspire pride from coast to coast to coast. Nature is important not only to our cultural identity, but also to our health and prosperity. That's why the Government of Canada is doubling the amount of nature protected in Canada's lands and oceans by 2020.

On November 30th, 2018, the Government of Canada officially took ownership of the Driftwood Cove property near Tobermory, Ontario. The land acquisition grows the size of Bruce Peninsula National Park by 3,272 acres, bringing the park to 90 per cent complete and adding 6.5 kilometres of uninterrupted Georgian Bay shoreline as well as 8 kilometres of the popular Bruce Trail.

Canada's Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine McKenna, announced the agreement to purchase the land in July 2018 alongside the Bruce Trail Conservancy, which made a financial commitment towards the purchase of the property.

With the land purchase now finalized, Driftwood Cove will be protected for future generations while preserving the ecological integrity of Bruce Peninsula National Park, contributing to the recovery of species at risk, and protecting areas of cultural significance to Indigenous peoples.

The government put $22.5 million towards the purchase of the property, while the Bruce Trail Conservancy committed $1.9 million.

Since the establishment of Bruce Peninsula National Park in 1987, Parks Canada has added over 140 parcels of land to the park on a willing seller–willing buyer basis.

Future plans for the property will be guided by Bruce Peninsula National Park's Management Plan. Parks Canada is currently undertaking a process to renew the park's Management Plan, and public and Indigenous consultations will be an important part of this process that will help shape the future of the park, including the Driftwood Cove property.