Current Issues
What’s happening? Keep up to date on current issues impacting our green spaces in the Ottawa Valley.
New Eastern Bridge over Kettle Island:
Background: To help alleviate traffic, especially large, commercial trucks, coming through the downtown core, the federal government has plans to build a bridge connecting Gatineau’s Montée Paiement to the Aviation Parkway in Ottawa by the year 2034. The plans would take the bridge over Kettle Island which is currently being maintained by the Nature Conservancy Canada as a private nature reserve – a protected area recognized by the province of Quebec. The island is home to an exceptional forest ecosystem as well as threatened species which would be put at risk from such a large infrastructure project. The river itself, being at the heart of the National Capital Region, is already under considerable pressure and would also suffer from the construction of a new bridge.
Position Statement: CPAWS-OV stands with environmental organisations and local communities in opposing plans to build a bridge over Kettle Island. We understand the need for solutions to the traffic pressures in the area, but new infrastructure should not come at the cost of our ecosystem. We would much rather see investments in public transportation, including an inter-provincial light rail connection.
If plans are to go ahead, these should be made with environmental sustainability in mind and in order to ensure the appropriate consideration is given to this delicate ecosystem, CPAWS-OV commits to being a knowledge-based voice for nature in ongoing discussions.
Mont Lorne:
Background: The Mont Lorne lies along the east side of the Gatineau River in Cantley and includes a forest untouched in over a century with trees over 200 years old. It is the last stretch of undeveloped shoreline south of Farrelton and is a haven for wildlife and an important nature refuge for the surrounding community. Unfortunately, it is unprotected and at risk of impending development, specifically from the project Nature 360.
The Friends of Lorne Mountain have put together a petition to be sent to the Mayor of Cantley, the municipal counselors and the MRC des Collines to stop any development plans and to ask that a municipal or regional nature park be established.
Position Statement: Mont-Lorne is comprised of important ecosystems for both people and nature, providing much needed habitat to local wildlife as well as a peaceful refuge for people to enjoy. CPAWS-OV stands with the Friends of Lorne Mountain in their request to have it made into a nature reserve to be protected for generations to come.
Chalk River nuclear waste:
Background: In January 2024, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission approved the construction of a controversial near-surface disposal facility – essentially a nuclear waste dump, at the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Chalk River site near the Ottawa River, upstream from the populations of both Ottawa and Montreal.
The site is located on unceded Algonquin territory and 10 of the 11 local communities have been opposed to the proposal for years, having concerns over contamination and the protection of sacred sites.
Any leaks at this particular site would have the potential to contaminate the fresh water from a large part of the Ottawa River watershed, putting the health of the entire ecosystem at risk, including that of the millions of people living in Ottawa, Montreal and the surrounding towns.
The Kebaowek nation has been actively fighting the decision to go ahead with the project and is making headway.
For more information and opportunities to show your support, follow Kebaoweks efforts here: https://www.stopnuclearwaste.com/
Latest news: After a second request for judicial review by Kebaowek, the court ruled Canadian Nuclear Laboratories failed to enter into proper consultations with First Nations as well as to take proper steps to reduce risks to rare local wildlife in its proposal of a new “near surface disposal facility”. For the time being, the proposed plan has been put on hold.
Position Statement: CPAWS-OV stands with Kebaowek. Kitigan Zibi and other First Nations in their opposition to the proposed plan for a nuclear waste disposal facility at the Chalk River site. The rights of indigenous peoples as well as the health of both wildlife and people should be protected.
Beaver culling:
Background: Despite the beaver being a well-loved national emblem, few people are aware that the city of Ottawa traps and kills around 150 beavers a year in order to control their population and the effects of their dam building habits. CPAWS-OV and the Ottawa-Carleton Wildlife Centre have been fighting to get the City of Ottawa to adopt a progressive and humane response to living with beavers.
Latest news: On September 9th, a last-minute beaver forum was put together to hear from experts on the use of flow devices as an alternative to the trapping and killing of beavers in Ottawa.
Position Statement: CPAWS-OV will continue to act as a voice for beavers and all wildlife in the Ottawa Valley so that we can learn to live in harmony with nature and ensure their ability to survive and thrive into the future. We call on the City of Ottawa to adopt a progressive and humane wildlife strategy that addresses the root causes of these issues, including the encroachment into habitat by new communities and the need to educate residents on how to effectively deal with urban wildlife without resorting to trapping and killing animals.
Hospital plans for the Asticou Centre:
Background:
During the provincial election campaign of 2018, the Coalition Avenir Québec party promised, if elected, to construct a new 600-bed hospital in the Outaouais region. Various sites outside of Gatineau, including within natural areas, were initially proposed and rejected due to their incompatibility. In 2022, it was announced a site would be assembled from the expropriations of private properties on Edmonton Street in Gatineau’s Hull sector. CPAWS-OV and other groups welcomed this location as it is central, accessible, sustainable and makes use of brownfields, parking lots and under-utilized lands which could help re-invigorate the core. Following further analysis, the province backtracked citing the high cost of decontaminating these lands.
In June of 2024, the federal government announced it would be transferring the land comprising the Asticou Centre, a former government vocational training centre in Gatineau to the provincial government to make way for a new hospital by 2034. The Asticou Centre sits on 26 hectares of land entirely within the boundary of Gatineau Park. The Gatineau Park Master Plan (2021) called for the lands to be re-integrated into the park once the training and vocational functions ended. The plan to transfer 17.2 hectares to the province by December 2025 for the building of the hospital goes against the long-standing spirit of the Gatineau Park Master Plan. While we applaud the fact that the remaining 8.9 hectares will go to the NCC to be re-naturalized and integrated into the park. This proposed location has received criticism for not being easily accessible as it is not central and suffers from a lack of public transport. It will have catastrophic impacts on the ecology of the southern part of Gatineau Park, already heavily fragmented and degraded.
Position Statement: CPAWS-OV understands the need for a new hospital in the Gatineau area but such added infrastructure should not come at the cost of our green spaces and wildlife. We oppose the decision to build a hospital at the Asticou Centre as it will further diminish the usable habitat for Gatineau Park wildlife. More centrally located sites with better access should be considered so as not to impact precious wildlife habitat and make use of public transit to reduce carbon emissions.
Student housing at Moore Farm:
Background: Moore farm is a much loved green space set in an urban area of Gatineau. It was bequeathed to the NCC in 1973 by Virginia Rosalie Parker Moore with the intention of keeping it as an urban green space open to the public. Over the years it has been leased out to different groups and organizations. In 2024, CPAWS-OV and l’ABV des Sept presented a proposal to the NCC to lease the Moore Farm to establish a Nature Hub – a location where residents and visitors, young and old, could come to learn about nature, climate-change and the steps they can take to protect nature. While our proposal was not retained and we respect the NCC’s process, we are nonetheless concerned about the future of the site as a buffer between the urban area and Gatineau Park. The main buildings have been leased out to the Maniwaki Native Friendship Center to create a community hub for Indigenous peoples. The Société immobilière du Regroupement des centres d’amitié autochto7nes du Québec or RCAAQ have also proposed to develop the site and create student housing for indigenous youth coming to the area to attend college or university. So far, plans include an initial 60 lodgings with the intention of expanding to accommodate a greater need.
Position Statement: Although we sympathize with the need for student housing, CPAWS-OV believes the proposal to build at Moore Farm goes against the intentions and wishes of Virginia Rosalie Parker Moore and will infringe on a rare and valuable urban green space for the local community and wildlife. We strongly advise that Moore Farm, and its many benefits to locals, be preserved and an alternative site for student housing, with better access to colleges and universities, be found. In the long-term, we would like to see the lands of the Moore Farm integrated into Gatineau Park.
Camp Fortune to illuminate Meech Lake side trail for night skiing:
Background:
Camp Fortune is a much-loved fixture in the Ottawa recreational community. It is located within the boundaries of Gatineau Park. The lands it occupy are considered part of Gatineau Park and are leased from the NCC. In recent years, Camp Fortune ski resort has been expanding, adding new features such as zip lines and mountain coasters which are all having an impact on the natural habitat in the surrounding parkland. On August 11th, they received approval to illuminate the ski runs on the Meech side of the resort to allow for night skiing. This will mean the installation of LED lights all along their longest ski runs.
Position Statement: As part of our campaign to protect Gatineau Park, CPAWS-OV is actively working to help ensure this well-loved green space is protected in legislation for the benefit of nature and people. Light pollution, which negatively affects wildlife living in the park, is an issue we are hoping to tackle with this added protection as well as the continued expansion of infrastructure into the park. We are therefore against the further use of bright lighting at Camp Fortune Ski resort and would like to ensure that at the very least, the lights are dutifully turned off each day at closure.