Ecological integrity to be top priority for Parks Canada
OTTAWA — Protecting and conserving the natural environment is Parks Canada’s main job, the federal environment minister concludes in her response to a massive public consultation on the future of Canada’s national parks.
“I unequivocally reaffirm that the maintenance or restoration of ecological integrity, through the protection of natural resources and natural processes, will be the first priority when considering all aspects of the management of national parks,” said Catherine McKenna in her response to the Let’s Talk Parks consultation, held January 2017.
That response, released Monday in Ottawa, acknowledges that commercial developments — especially in the heavily pressured Rocky Mountain parks of Banff and Jasper — may have to be reviewed.
“Maintaining and restoring ecological integrity requires limits on development in national parks, particularly those where development can impact ecosystem health,” McKenna said in the report.
She said an independent working group will be struck to examine Parks Canada’s practices, policies and approval policies on development. That group is to report back by the end of August.
The report also acknowledges how important the parks are for tourism, noting that they support the equivalent of 40,000 full-time jobs across the country.
Let’s Talk Parks Canada was the largest public consultation the agency has ever held. More than 13,000 people and organizations participated either in person at public meetings, through online surveys or via email submissions or social media.
The response makes a series of further promises.
It says the Liberals will rebuild Parks Canada’s science capacity, severely curtailed after budget cuts in 2012. It promises greater transparency, with assessments of individual parks conducted every five years and released publicly.
The document also promises to “finalize the creation of currently proposed national parks and national marine conservation areas,” although it doesn’t provide a timeline. It also commits to greater involvement of Indigenous people, as well as a complete revision of the national parks system plan by 2020.
Eric Hebert-Daly, director of parks advocacy group the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, said his group was pleased with McKenna’s response.
“It really appears to be the first step on the journey toward making the right decisions,” he said.
Hebert-Daly said it will be important to nail down specifics. Those include just how Parks Canada will restore its science capacity as well as the fate of development proposals such as a suggested cycling trail on the Icefield Parkway between Banff and Jasper.
“The question is, how does this play out in the decision-making of the minister?” he said.
Janet Nystedt of the Bow Valley Chamber of Commerce, which includes Banff, also welcomed the report.
“The Minister has demonstrated both a commitment to the continued economic contribution of Canada’s parks to Canada, and to ensuring that Canada’s parks are protected and sustained for future generations,” she said in a statement. “We strongly believe that our local business members are an important part of the exceptional experience offered to visitors of Banff. The Minister specifically identifies Banff National Park’s important role in Canada’s tourism sector, we couldn’t agree more.”