Canada's Transport Minister engages with Toronto area community, business, municipal leaders on future development of the Pickering Lands

New opportunities for economic development and job creation                     

PICKERING, ON, Aug. 21, 2014 /CNW/ - The Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport, along with the Honourable Chris Alexander, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and Member of Parliament for Ajax—Pickering, met today with community groups, regional and municipal leaders and business stakeholders to demonstrate her commitment to an open dialogue on the future uses of the Pickering Lands.

Last year, the government announced a balanced approach for the development of the federally-owned Pickering Lands, which involved setting aside a portion of land for a future airport and some for economic development, and transferring nearly 5,000 acres to Parks Canada for the creation of Rouge National Urban Park.

Today, Ministers Raitt and Alexander toured the Pickering Lands and met with area community groups, regional chairs and local mayors in the Pickering area and business stakeholders as part of this government's commitment to consult and take into consideration all options for the future of the Pickering Lands. Her discussions round out input already received over the past year from other levels of government and the general public, through two public information sessions and an online feedback form.

Future decisions and plans regarding the use and management of the Pickering Lands will be informed by the interests and needs of these regional stakeholders – public and private, as these lands represent an excellent opportunity for job creation and economic development in the region.

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"The Pickering Lands represent an excellent opportunity to help transform a key area of the Greater Golden Horseshoe through job creation. Our government has been engaging with the community and the private and public sectors to ensure we maximize this opportunity, while striking a balance in managing how the land will be used."

The Honourable Lisa Raitt
Minister of Transport

Associated Links

• For latest information, please visit the Pickering Lands webpage at: http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/ontario/pickering-menu-1362.htm
  
  
• For more information on the Rouge National Urban Park: www.parkscanada.gc.ca/rouge

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SOURCE: Transport Canada

Jana Régimbal, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport, Ottawa, 613-991-0700; Media Relations, Transport Canada, Ottawa, 613-993-0055