One of Ottawa-Gatineau's most well-known tourist destinations, Gatineau Park, could soon be given national status.

Lawrence Cannon, the minister of foreign affairs, said Thursday that the House of Commons could soon be in a position to legislate the protection of Gatineau Park.

Cannon lives in Gatineau, but he also works with the transport minister and National Capital Commission to oversee the park.

On Wednesday, the Senate debated a bill that could give the park the equivalent of national status — a status that could protect it from future development.

That debate, however, was cut short when Pierre Claude Nolin, a Conservative senator, said the government would soon introduce its own bill.

Paul Dewar, the NDP member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre, has already introduced a private member's bill in the House of Commons that would protect the park.

But Cannon said the Conservative government had its own bill in mind to protect the park.

"It is a complex file, obviously, because there are a lot of ramifications, but above and beyond all of that, we do intend to come forward and table legislation," said Cannon.