WWF-Canada statement on the federal government bill to establish Qausuittuq National Park

Toronto, June 18, 2015 – The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, has announced the introduction of a bill to establish Qausuittuq National Park under the Canada National Parks Act. Qausuittuq, Inuktitut for “place where the sun doesn’t rise,” is on Bathurst Island in Canada’s High Arctic, part of what is known as the Last Ice Area. The creation of this park would protect the natural and cultural importance of the area, including the habitat of the endangered Peary caribou. The park was first proposed over 20 years ago. Before being made official it must meet the requirements of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, including the creation of an Inuit Impact Benefit Agreement (IIBA) to be signed between Parks Canada and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA). An IIBA for the co-management of Qausuittuq National Park was posted on QIA’s website on June 16, but it is unknown if the agreement has been finalized.

The following is a statement from Paul Crowley, Vice-President Arctic for WWF-Canada on the introduction of a bill to create Qausuittuq National Park:

“WWF-Canada echoes the excitement of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association for the proposed creation of Qausuittuq National Park. We hope the federal government will continue to make the protection of Canada’s Arctic a priority and fast-track the processes necessary to making this park a reality before Parliament is dissolved this fall. As part of the Last Ice Area, this National Park—Nunavut’s fifth—would safeguard an area that will become increasingly important to northern wildlife and peoples as our climate continues to warm. We hope this is the first of many steps the federal government will take to protect this unique and ecologically sensitive area.”

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For further information contact

Megan Nesseth, Communications Specialist – Arctic, WWF-Canada
[email protected]
(416) 904-2482