Ottawa and Quebec Mark the Official Creation of the Saguenay—St.Lawrence Marine Park

Tadoussac, June 12, 1998 – The Quebec Minister of Environment and Wildlife Paul Bégin and the Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps presided today over the ceremony marking the official creation of the Saguenay—St. Lawrence Marine Park.

"Through the laws which are proclaimed today, Quebec extends to the marine environment the protection it has ensured to the shore environment on the border of the Saguenay Fjord and to a large part of the St. Lawrence Estuary for the past 15 years," stated minister Bégin. "Beyond this legislation," he added, "the creation of the Saguenay—St. Lawrence Marine Park pays tribute to an exceptional environment, to the river and to all it represents for Quebecers."

"This inauguration is the result of many years of coordinated effort by the Canadian and Quebec governments, local and regional communities, environmental groups, First Nations groups and the scientific community to ensure the protection of the park's natural resources," announced Minister Copps. "We are proud of this partnership, which shows what can be accomplished when we work together toward a common goal."

This park is the first whose role is to protect a maritime region in Quebec. This marine park law will, among other things, enable the adoption of legislation for the protection of whale habitats and of ecosystems. The park will also serve to educate the public about our rich natural heritage while promoting a solid and durable tourist industry, a must for the local economy.

"The Saguenay—St. Lawrence Marine Park is an important asset to the family of Marine Conservation Areas, National Parks and National Historic Sites," said Andy Mitchell, Secretary of State (Parks). "The Park's creation will enable us to preserve and develop precious examples of the country's wonders of the sea for the benefit of present and future generations."

This agreement aimed at creating the marine park is a first in Canada. The National Assembly in Quebec City and the House of Commons in Ottawa, through the Saguenay—St. Lawrence Marine Park Acts 86 and C-7, both announced the creation of the marine park, located at the confluence of the Saguenay River and the St. Lawrence estuary.

Information:

Jacques Lefebvre
Senior Communications Advisor
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788

Caroline Drouin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Environment and Wildlife
(418) 521-3911

BACKGROUNDER

SAGUENAY—ST. LAWRENCE MARINE PARK

TWO LEGISLATIONS CREATING THE PARK

The establishment of the Saguenay—St. Lawrence Marine Park results from many years of planned effort between the Canadian and Quebec governments, as well as local and regional communities, native groups, environmental groups and the scientific community.

On April 6, 1990, the Canadian and Quebec governments signed an agreement to create a marine park at the confluence of the Saguenay Fjord and the St. Lawrence Estuary. Under the terms of this agreement, the park will be created by a bill from each government, without any transfer of public lands from Quebec to Canada, both acting under their respective legislative jurisdiction.

In December 1996, both governments tabled their proposed legislation. The Quebec Saguenay—St. Lawrence Marine Park Act was approved on June 5, 1997 while the Canadian Act was approved on December 10, 1997. Both Acts were put into effect simultaneously on June 8, 1998.

Main elements of the legislation

The Saguenay—St. Lawrence Marine Park is the first Marine Park in Quebec. It is created by "mirror" laws, one from Quebec and the other from Canada, whose objectives concerning the protection of the natural environment and public accessibility are the same. Both governments retain their respective jurisdiction in the park.

The park consists solely of a maritime environment and covers a 1,138 km2 territory. The boundaries can be modified only if both governments agree and if the public has been consulted.

A Coordinating Committee was created and its composition is jointly determined by the Canadian and Quebec Ministers responsible for the park. The Committee recommends to the Ministers strategies and methods needed to reach the plan's goals.

Any type of exploration, utilization and exploitation of resources for mining or energy production, as well as oil lines, gas lines or energy transport lines are prohibited inside the limits of the marine park.

BACKGROUNDER

SAGUENAY—ST. LAWRENCE MARINE PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN

On February 14, 1996, the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Ministère de l'Environnement et de la Faune du Québec unveiled the management plan for the Saguenay—St. Lawrence Marine Park.

Following numerous public hearings jointly held by both departments concerning the future park's boundaries, a consulting committee was created. This committee, regrouping representatives of the region, relates to the planners, the regional perception of the project and the elements it would like to see in the development proposal.

In 1993, during the announcement of the park boundaries, now covering 1,138 km2, the departments launched a new public hearing on the development proposal.

The management plan of the Saguenay—St. Lawrence Marine Park is the fruit of this hearing conducted with regional participants, who were involved in the preparation and follow-up of the project. It is the Coordinating Committee that has the mandate of recommending to the Ministers the strategies and methods needed to reach the objectives of the management plan.

A document of principles and orientations

The management plan presents the approach of the federal and provincial governments in order to meet the protection and development objectives of this Canadian marine heritage showcase.

This document defines the objectives that will serve as guidelines in the protection of the marine environment, in education, research, territory usage and integration of the park in the region.

The management plan also proposes zoning in order to favour the park's protection. This zoning, original because of the marine environment context, introduces extra dimensions to take into account the water column and the time of year when protection measures must be enforced.

Finally, the management plan presents a development concept aimed at consolidating and coordinating all actions on the territory.

BACKGROUNDER

SAGUENAY—ST. LAWRENCE MARINE PARK COORDINATING COMMITTEE

The management plan and the acts creating the Saguenay—St. Lawrence Marine Park made provisions for the creation of the Coordinating Committee in order to support the development and management of the park. This committee has been created and active since the launch of the management plan in February 1996.

The Committee's role is to ensure the follow-up of the management plan and to recommend to the ministers responsible for the Marine Park the strategies and interventions needed to reach the plan's goals.

The Committee will deal with the following areas: protection of resources and marine ecosystems, education and interpretation, reception and orientation of visitors, development of the park and its resources, the merchandizing and publicity of the park, integration of the park into the region, scientific studies and research, management strategies and orientations of the park, the protection of the site and cultural components.

The Coordinating Committee consists of the following nine members:

- One representative of each Regional County Municipality (RCM) on the north shore in contact with the Marine Park, i.e., Charlevoix-Est, Fjord-du-Saguenay and Haute-Côte-Nord;

- One representative for the three RCMs of the south shore, i.e., Rivière-du-Loup, Les Basques and Kamouraska;

- One representative of the Conseil Montagnais Essipit;

- One representative of the scientific community;

- One representative of groups involved in the conservation community and education in natural surroundings;

- One representative of the Department of Canadian Heritage;

- One representative of the Ministère de l'Environnement et de la Faune du Québec.

The Coordinating Committee establishes its own working procedures. The members work in close collaboration on all questions pertaining to its mandate. The Committee endowed itself with an action plan in 1997-1998 and is already working on a second.

BACKGROUNDER

SAGUENAY—ST. LAWRENCE MARINE PARK

WORKSHOP CONCERNING WHALE-WATCHING ACTIVITIES

Approximately 100 people participated in work groups to discuss possible actions aimed at favouring the protection of marine mammals and long term maintenance of whale-watching activities in Tadoussac on May 25 and 26. Representatives from the tourist industry, interest groups and concerned departments attended this regional workshop.

The proposed actions discussed during the workshop focused on the following four major issues related to the management of whale-watching activities:

• Resource protection;
• Safety of sea-goers;
• Interpretation;
• Product image.

Many general agreements were reached during the discussions, notably on the establishment of a permit system for commercial cruises and on safety, interpretation and educational training programmes. Moreover, the participants consented on the necessity of creating a zoning plan, establishing a certification policy concerning interpretation and determining the rules of certain areas prone to activity. They also agreed on the importance of improving the product's global quality and image, developing a conduct code and establishing measures regulating the concentration of boats.

Furthermore, a consensus was reached concerning the necessity of organizing work groups to define the administering methods of these actions and creating an association to act as spokesperson for the governments and co-managers.

In the following months, the marine park will continue its discussion process. The workshop evaluation is expected for the end of June 1998 while a co-management plan will be given to the Coordinating Committee during the fall.

This workshop proved to be a success. It offers another example of the active participation of the participants towards the marine park's management orientation.