From the Let's Talk Mountain Parks web site:
Join the conversation! From April 14 until July 7, you're invited to provide feedback on the draft park management plans for Banff, Jasper, Waterton Lakes, Yoho, Kootenay, Mount Revelstoke and Glacier national parks. Read More
Edmonton – Jasper National Park has found strong scientific support for using a conservation breeding program to boost woodland caribou numbers inside the park. A new report has been released that summarizes an independent review of the proposed breeding program, with agreement from a panel of experts that urgent help is needed to return caribou herds to self-sustaining sizes. Read More
The Globe and Mail’s Emma Graney reported earlier today that Alberta will impose a $90 annual fee for vehicles entering Kananaskis Country. Since last year AWA has warned Albertans of Minister Nixon’s intent to shift the financing of parks and protected areas onto user fees and away from general tax revenues. This announcement, coupled with the new public lands camping pass, is just further evidence of the UCP government’s commitment to the user fee model for funding parks. Read More
Today the Government of Alberta announced they will be implementing a “Conservation Pass” user fee for the Kananaskis region. The revenue generated from the $90/year vehicle fee will be allocated towards increased staffing and capital infrastructure spending.
We recognize the need for sustained funding for recreation, conservation, and related infrastructure to support healthy communities and healthy economies. However, funding mechanisms should not rely on a user-pay model.
User fees must be thoughtfully implemented. Read More
CPAWS Southern and Northern Alberta Chapters are happy to hear that more than 25,000 Albertans participated in the initial Coal Policy Engagement consultation and that it will help shape the next stage of consultation. Alberta’s foothills and Rocky Mountains are special places beloved by Albertans and are a large part of what draws people to live, work, and play in our province. It is clear that Albertans are incredibly invested in the protection of this landscape and the development of a new policy for this region. We encourage people to continue to stay engaged on this issue. Read More
The Government of Alberta has introduced Bill 64, the Public Lands Amendment Act. This Act proposes a new Public Lands Camping Pass. AWA believes this initiative unjustifiably targets low impact users of Alberta’s backcountry and will reduce accessibility to public lands for lower income Albertans.
The UCP election platform promised to: “Apply a mandatory $30 trail permit fee to Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV) and camping trailers to pay for restoring and creating OHV trails and preventing damage in Alberta’s great outdoors, and to hire additional enforcement officers.” Read More
Yesterday’s announcement from the Government of Alberta launching the consultation process for a new Coal Policy does not address CPAWS Southern and Northern Alberta Chapters’ concerns around coal development in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains. While CPAWS is happy to see that the process will be run by an independent committee, the survey released as part of the consultation is narrowly focused on regulation of coal developments. Read More
Calgary, AB – As the Government of Alberta prepares to launch consultations on the development of a new coal policy, a new poll found that the majority of Albertans want more protection for the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Of those who were aware of the coal issue, more than half do not trust that the government’s public consultation will provide a fair representation of what the public wants regarding coal development. Read More
The Alpine Club of Canada (ACC), Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA), Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) Northern Alberta Chapter, and David Suzuki Foundation are issuing the following statement:
We are very concerned that today, February 16, Parks Canada is lifting its winter-time backcountry access restrictions in Jasper National Park’s Tonquin caribou range.
There are so few caribou left in the herds in Jasper, that every single individual counts. The precautionary principle is required in this situation. Read More
