Some local officials are voicing their frustration over the lack of progress surrounding the creation of the Ojibway National Urban Park.
Over the weekend, the federal government reaffirmed their commitment to the creation of the park. Minister Steven Guilbeault announced $4.6 million in annual operating costs, along with the $36 million already included in the last federal budget.
But Windsor-West MP Brian Masse is still hoping to see his bill to create the park pass before an official change of government.
Bill C-248 was ready for final approval before Parliament was prorogued earlier this year.
Masse believes there's still a way the bill could pass in short order. He says they could seek unanimous consent when Parliament is called back or the Minister of the Environment could introduce it through the Order-in-Council process in cabinet.
Without the legislation, Masse fears the park would not be protected in perpetuity as the Liberal Urban Park Policy could easily be changed by future governments.
"What I had was a prescribed House of Commons process that was based on the rule of law that actually gets the park done. They have now pivoted again back to a policy that is a discussion paper on a website that we still don't even know what the rules are," said Masse.
While visiting the region over the weekend Guilbeault also stated the park could open by the fall.
However, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens indicated the City has not had any formal discussions with Parks Canada to turn over city-owned Ojibway Park.
"I will make sure that from our side, we dedicate all the resources to try and get everything done that we need to get done but if past practice is any predictor of future behaviour it's taken three years for even discussions with Parks Canada that are meaningful in any way to try and move this forward," said Dilkens.
To date, Ojibway Shores, land once owned by the Windsor Port Authority, have been transferred to Parks Canada for the creation of the park. Municipal and provincial lands have not been officially included in the scope.