Parks Canada has let Waterton boaters down
The recent news in regard to restricting motorized, trailer-launched boating within Waterton Park has required me to voice my opinion.
Firstly, the boat I have has been in my family since the mid-’50s and has not been in any other waters but Waterton Lakes. This does not give me any “right,” nor do I request one, to be allowed on these waters. I will suffer the loss of boating in these pristine waters along with several other long-time boaters from around southern Alberta, who have enjoyed these waters responsibly for decades.
In regard to the “mussel” issue, no one wants to see these in our waters and they are not currently in Waterton Lakes. What I do feel is that Parks Canada has let us all down. Firstly, by instigating a totally inadequate boat launching permit system a few years ago which required all boaters to sign on the dotted line stating that their boat had never been in the infected waters shown on the form. If you implied that you were previously boating in any of these waters, you had to get a provincial inspection. You then needed to present this to the authorities in the park to get your local boat launch permit.
Parks Canada must now deem the provincial boat inspection inadequate for what they require. Even if you (or I) had one of these in our possession, we would not be allowed on Waterton Lakes. So, what do they require? Well, I guess it has not been invented yet, or perhaps it has, but costs way too much for the park to purchase, operate and maintain. So, in typical government fashion, Waterton Lakes supervisory team have slammed the door in our faces.
Parks Canada has offered no “go forward” plan to allow power boaters to return to Waterton waters. If I may suggest, this is what they should be doing: Looking for state-of-the-art boat inspection, cleaning systems that may be currently available. The installation of card-activated barriers at boat launching areas (of which there are two), the pass cards to be issued after full inspection. Next, the complete banning of all vessels with registration numbers from infected states and provinces.
I honestly feel that the freedom that all motorized, trailer-launched boat owners who enjoyed Waterton for so many decades has been stolen from us.
Jerry Green
Pincher Creek