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OTTAWA — Environment Minister Catherine McKenna says she’s concerned about the tens of millions of dollars in cuts to Parks Canada under the former Conservative government and wants to ensure the agency is “true to the mandate” of ensuring the ecological integrity of the parks.

McKenna said she wants more Canadians to enjoy the parks and historic sites, including getting more immigrants and refugees to visit them.

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Parks Canada has faced nearly $30 million in budget cuts announced by the Conservatives as part of their 2012 strategic and operating review.

“There were significant cuts, including to scientists. We have a lot of good people that do a lot of good research in our parks, so that’s something that’s important to us,” McKenna, the minister responsible for Parks Canada, told the Ottawa Citizen.

The minister said she also would like to ensure the agency sticks to its core mandate of protecting the environment and parklands, while at the same time ensuring Canadians can enjoy the parks.