A National Urban Park for Montreal

Clifford Lincoln calls for the designation process of the Technoparc Lands as a National Urban Park to begin

August 20, 2026

On August 17, Clifford Lincoln, on behalf of the Green Coalition Technoparc Team, sent a letter to Paula Garrow, Executive Director of Parks Canada, with an appeal to begin the designation process of the Technoparc Lands as a National Urban Park, as follows:

Monday, August 17, 2026

Subject: A National Urban Park for Montreal

To: Paula Garrow, Executive Director, Parks Canada
Cc: Dominique Poirier, Manager, National Urban Parks, Parks Canada

Dear Paula,

My name is Clifford Lincoln, and since my retirement, I have worked closely with my environmental colleagues from the Green Coalition, taking a particular interest in conserving the Technoparc Lands for posterity. Thus, I have followed closely the contacts and correspondence you have kindly exchanged with Sylvia Oljemark about this subject, so dear and important to Sylvia and all members and associates of the Green Coalition. Let me thank you on behalf of all of us for your interest and attention, which are sincerely appreciated.

We found your email of July 24, 2026, of particular importance, as in it you set out the central criteria for the designation process of a National Urban Park – namely, that it should stem from a deeply collaborative process and strong leadership involving Indigenous, municipal and provincial governments, and other partners, including land administrators. You also stress that further discussion is needed with the province of Quebec to ensure its collaboration. You also refer to key factors “should Parks Canada be in a position to consider candidate sites in Quebec”.

To the very large coalition of partners who have been active for several years now to formally protect the last critical ecosystem on the Island of Montreal, and to take advantage for this purpose of the NUP program and Canada’s commitments to this effect, it seems to us all our immense collaborative efforts are not resulting in the concrete and effective progress which we should expect towards a NUP for Montreal. May I stress the following points with reference to the criteria you set in your letter:

There is a deeply collaborative process already in place, arising from an impressive consensus of Indigenous, municipal, and community interests. We are all very conscious that the assent of the province of Quebec will be required, and we are confident from our preliminary contacts with Quebec that the latter’s cooperation will be given. I should mention that we have spoken regarding this project with two of Quebec’s Environment ministers, more recently in a personal meeting I had with Minister Drainville during his environmental mandate. Of course, we understand that further discussions will have to await the result of the forthcoming October provincial election.
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We find it most unfortunate that Montreal, host city to the UN Secretariat for the Convention on Biological Diversity, and one of Canada’s prime historic cities, should not yet be on the active working list for designation as a NUP.
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What we kindly ask is for the process to START. A considerable amount of collaborative work has already been achieved, and we strongly feel there is sufficient basis for the process to be begun, and that Montreal is as deserving as other locations now under consideration and in process.
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You have been very attentive to our contacts and requests, and we hope we can meet soon to discuss how best to get effectively started. We are very keen to work closely with you, and to support you actively, towards this common goal.

With all my thanks and regards,

Clifford Lincoln

Green Coalition Technoparc Team:
Clifford Lincoln, former Quebec Environment Minister
Sylvia Oljemark, founding President, Green Coalition
David Fletcher, cofounder, Vice-President, Green Coalition
Patrick Barnard, journalist, Green Coalition

Feature image: Green Heron – courtesy of Westmount Parc United Church

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