Backcountry enthusiasts share concerns
About 150 demonstrators came out Sunday to Galt Gardens to make their voices heard over what they called the provincial government’s attempts to exclude everyday Albertans from the backcountry recreational opportunities in favour of out-ofprovince commercial interests.
Those present represented offroad vehicle users, hunters and backcountry camping enthusiasts who all felt the government’s recent efforts to create parks in the Castle, Bighorn and Living stone Porcupine areas was a disenfranchisement of their way of life and a direct challenge to their freedom to recreate on publically owned common lands.
“We need to work together to find an agreeable, mutually beneficial management plan for all Albertans,” said Kurtis Bachman of the Southern Alberta Bowhunters Association, one of the featured speakers at the rally. “This is our land to use, and our land to protect, and our land to enjoy. We are not against wellfounded recreational management plans; what we are against is a lack of public involvement and a complete removal of the ability to utilize these lands in a respectful manner of our choosing.”
It was a sentiment echoed by many present on Sunday, including rally organizer Bryan Litchfield. Litchfield went one step further, however, and took direct aim at Environment Minister Shannon Phillips in his comments.
“The people out here today are those who have been out at all the (protest) events we have had for the past year,” said Litchfield. “They want to be heard. All we need is one meeting with Shannon Phillips, not just her deputy minister. She is the one making the decisions and she needs to hear from us directly. Not second hand. If we could talk to her, we don’t know if we could get through or not, but she would have actually heard us.”
Litchfield said this lack of response to their concerns from Phillips, and the government she represents, has driven many of those at the rally firmly into the arms of the province’s opposition parties.
“We are trying to build up some momentum heading into the next election,” Litchfield confirmed. “We have had meetings with the UCP and Liberals parties just to let them know what is happening.
“So whoever gets in is already educated on the programs that have been happening, and the way they have been going, because the main thing we are so disappointed with, have been unhappy with, is the process through which Shannon Phillips has been doing stuff. She will make stuff law before public consultation periods are even over.”