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“There were previously few opportunities for Islanders to enjoy this land. Now government will open it up to the public, working in partnership with local organizations and community groups,” said the minister. “At the same time, the land will be maintained in an environmentally sustainable way.”

A committee of government officials and representatives from a variety of organizations with expertise in the areas of land use, conservation, recreation and environmental stewardship will make recommendations to government on the management and best future use of this land.

The committee will look at the five parcels of land totaling roughly 400 acres identified in the Environmental Assessment approval for the Trans-Canada highway realignment in Churchill, as well as other parcels acquired for the project and existing parcels of Crown land.

Committee members include:

• Todd Dupuis, Atlantic Salmon Federation, committee co-chair

• Brian Thompson, committee co-chair, Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, Land and Environment Division

• Jackie Waddell, Island Nature Trust

• Fiep de Bie, Island Nature Trust

• Megan Harris, West River Watershed Group

• Art Ortenburger, Bonshaw Community Council

• Mark McKenzie, New Haven Community Council

• Daryl Guignon, UPEI

• Diane Griffin, Nature Conservancy of Canada

• Tim Banks, Nature Conservancy of Canada

• Mike Connolly, Cycling PEI

• Kate MacQuarrie, Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Forests, Fish and Wildlife Division

• John Jamieson, Bonshaw resident

• Kim Horrelt, Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, Capital Projects

• Shelley Cole-Arbing, Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, Environmental Management

“I want to thank the committee members for their time and for lending their expertise to this important endeavour. I look forward to receiving their recommendations over the coming months,” said the minister. “I’m also pleased that all Islanders will have an opportunity to give feedback to the recommendations.”

BACKGROUNDER

Parcels identified in the Environmental Assessment:

Parcel 860031 (“A” on attached map): This property is home to the old growth forest with hemlocks.

Parcel 219253 (“B” on attached map): This property is currently leased to UPEI and Holland College for environmental research purposes and contains some old growth forest, including some hemlock.

Parcel 219154 (“C” on attached map): The lower portion of this property runs along the West River.

Parcel 218636 (“D” on attached map): This parcel includes forested land with some frontage on the upper reaches of the West River.

Parcel 218669 (“E” on attached map): This property includes approximately 2,400 feet of frontage on the West River and adjoins Bonshaw Provincial Park.