The province of Quebec is expanding its parks network with the addition of several new national parks, adding tens thousands of square kilometers to Quebec’s outdoor playgrounds.
In cooperation with the native Cree village of Oujé-Bougoumou, the government will create Assinica National Park Reserve, which will promote Cree interests as well as provide protection for the various plant and wildlife species in the area.
"In addition to safeguarding sites of natural and cultural interest for the Crees, it will contribute to social, economic and tourism development, while offering new prospects for the future to this community’s youth," explained the Minister of Native Affairs, Geoffrey Kelley.
Tursujuq National Park, meanwhile, will span 15,549 square kilometers on the shores of Hudson Bay and incorporate two unique lakes, Lake Guillaume-Delisle and Lake à l’Eau-Claire.
The province is also adding Opemican National Park in the Témiscamingue region, which they hope may attract up to 40,000 visitors a year. In addition, there are also plans to create Albanel-Témiscamie-Otish National Park, and Monts-Pyramids National Park.