B4 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, October 10, 2001 “LES PARCSNATIONAUXETLES LIEUX HISTORIQUES NATIONAUX DU CANADA _ ‘THE NATIONAL PARKS AND NATIONAL HISTORIC SITES OF CANADA Canad National Marine Conservation Areas - Setting the Record Straight Questions have been raised in the media and by the public about Bill C-10, the proposed Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act now before Parliament. Here are some of the most common, and here are the facts from Parks Canada. Q: Will National Marine Conservation Areas automatically be created if Bill C-10 passes? No. Bill C-10 will not create any National Marine Conservation Areas. No areas are named in the Bill. The Bill provides a process for how National Marine Conservation Areas will be created and managed. Dae nee ry EE Es 3 Q: Is there a guarantee that stakeholders, First Nations and the public will have input? Yes. The Bill requires that the Minister of Canadian Heritage provide opportunities for consultation with communities, First Nations, stakeholders and the public about proposed National Marine Conservation Areas. The Bill also requires that the Minister consult broadly on the preparation of man- agement plans for National Marine Conservation Areas, and that management advisory committees be established to make recommendations on the development, review and implementation of those plans, en a ci ed Q: Will most of the north coast region become a National Marine Conservation Area? No. A small portion of this region has been proposed as a National Marine Conservation Area - in the waters of Hecate Strait'and the Queen - Charlotte Shelf adjacent to Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve/Haida Heritage Site in the southern third of Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands... - The proposed boundary for the Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve lies approximately 10 kilometres off the coast, coveringa — total of 3500 square kilometres, . SO ee : ae * Q: Will oil and gas exploration in Hecate Strait be i pacted by a National Marine Conservation Area around Gwail Haanas National Park. Reserve/Haida Heritage Site ? — . . : | . No. A mineral and energy assessment demonstrated very low hydrocarbon potential within the proposed boundaries. The oil and gas industry has publicly supported and has contributed to the potential establishment of a Gwali Haanas National Marine Conservation Area. In 1997, four oil and gas companies-Chevron, Petro-Canada, Shell and Mobil-voluntarily relinquished their leases within the proposed marine area, These companies donated about 320, 000 acres of exploration rights to the Nature Conservancy of Canada, which in turn surrendered those rights to the Government of Canada. There are no additional oil and gas leases held within the proposed marine boundary of Gwaii Haanas. _ Q: Is most of Hecate Strait included in the proposed Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area? No. Less than 5 per cent’of Hécate Strait is.included in the proposed Gwaii Haanas. Natioi Q: Will oil and gas exploration be allowed within National Marine Conservation Areas? — No. Offshore oil and gas exploration is prohibited in marine protected areas around the world. This has been in response to the overwhelming con- oo cems of environmental scientists and the general public regarding the risk of accidental spills due to offshore production and transportation. aes Q: Will Bill C-10 prevent oil and gas exploration off the north coast? No. In fact, in considering whether an area is appropriate for a National Marine Conservation Area, existing and. potential uses of the area, including oo ; the development of non-renewable resources, are examined in detail, and taken into account when boundary options are assessed, Bon: eae Q: Will commercial tishing be allowed in National Marine Conservation Areas? Yes. Activities such as sustainable commercial fishing will continue. Q: Has the Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area already been established? No. The establishment of a National Marine Conservation Area in Gwaii Haanas will only proceed if there is public support. However, the intent to. establish the Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area has been clearly expressed through agreements between the Government of © Canada and the province of British Columbia (South Moresby Agreement, 1988), and the Government of Canada and the Council ofthe Haida Nation (Gwaii Haanas Agreement, 1993). . ei . _ Ee SRDS a Q: What is the objective of Parks Canada’s National Marine ‘Conservation Area Program? The overall objective of Parks Canada’s National Marine Conservation Areas Program is to protect and conserve ‘fo -all tim mi representative of Canada’s ocean environments and the Great Lakes. The program is also intended to encourage public: un and enjoyment of our marine heritage. Tl a ee ee panar : fe For further information about the proposed.Gw Haanas National Marine Conservation Area, Contact: ~ Gren Aa ee ee eee cy Marcia Morash Communications Officer ae pe E poe Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve/Haida Heritage Site Telephone: (250) 559 - 6844 Fax: (250) 559-8366 E-mail: marcia_morash@pch.ge.ca Aussi disponible en frangais. : we = Ben Gs, Be