Green Spaces at Risk
The Greenbelt was originally a circle of green space around the Ottawa
urban area. The NCC (National Capital Commission), a Crown corporation,
was given responsibility for the administration of these properties.
The land was expropriated from rural landowners in the 1950s and 1960s.
The stated objectives of the NCC are:
- to prepare plans for, and assist in the development, conservation and
improvement of the National Capital Region, in order that the nature and
character of the seat of the Government of Canada may be in accordance
with its national significance.
- to make the Capital a meeting place for all Canadians, to use the
Capital to communicate Canada to all Canadians, and to safeguard and
preserve its assets.
Today, the Greenbelt is a 200 square kilometre band which incorporates:
- recreational facilities (wildlife observation, nature trails,
berry-picking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, golf, ball fields)
- research facilities
- agriculture
- rental properties
- infrastructure (roads, airport, hydro lines, sewage treatment, natural gas)
- conifer plantations
- Canadian military facilities
- commercial and industrial operations
The Ottawa urban area has overflowed to the other side of the Greenbelt.
In some sectors, the Greenbelt has suffered from fragmentation.
It also includes some surprising shared uses - probably the best waterfowl
habitat in the area at Shirley's Bay coexists with a National Defence firing
range. Decreasing financial resources have at times meant less emphasis on
conservation than development.
Ottawa's Experimental Farm
As of March 31 1998, the Greenbelt Research Farm, which covers 1,200 hectares
of land bordered by Hunt Club Road, Woodroffe Avenue, Fallowfield Road, and
Greenbank Road, ceased to function as an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
(AAFC) research centre. This was announced in the 1995 Federal Budget.
The NCC has assumed responsibility for leasing and property management
for a portion of the Greenbelt Research Farm. Some Greenbelt land will
continue to be used for research conducted by AAFC. Other land may be
leased by local producers through the NCC's land leasing agent,
Minto Properties Limited.
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