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November 30, 2005: Stakeholders provide input at planning forum

Canada

Stakeholders provide input at planning forum

by Kevin Gill

Wednesday November 30, 2005

JASPER BOOSTER

Jasper Booster — Locals got the chance once again to voice their opinions on the Parks Canada management plan during the 4th annual Jasper National Park planning forum, on Nov. 21 at the Sawridge Inn and Conference Centre.

The last forum was held in April 2005, but based on public input and the fact that a date late in the year works well for the Parks, the yearly meetings will now be held each November.

JNP Superintendent Ron Hooper said the forum’s main focus is to allow Parks to report on its performance in implementing the Jasper management plan and to receive public suggestions on implementation priorities. In Hooper’s opening address, he stressed the major goals of the Parks mandate -- protecting ecological integrity and ensuring commemorative integrity, assisting in delivering memorable visitor experiences, and advancing public awareness and understanding.

The federal budget in 2003 allocated $75 million over five years, plus ongoing funding of $25 million per year for Parks Canada to maintain or improve ecological integrity. In 2005, the budget added $60 million more over five years to enhance and expand ecological integrity measures.

Hooper said Parks has also been busy addressing serious infrastructure problems in JNP.

The federal budget in 2005 provided Parks Canada with $209 million over five years to manage those issues. He said that gave Parks 75 per cent of what it asked for, with the remaining 25 per cent coming from revenue generated through fee increases.

Hooper reported that $725,000 from fees was re-invested in road work. In addition, $500,000 was invested in upgrading trails, day use sites, new privies and upgrading campgrounds.

He also talked about the improvements Parks needs to make in involving the public in its plans. Instead of developing a plan or solution and then asking Canadians for their thoughts on it, he said Parks needs to fully involve people from the beginning.

"We recognize that there is a better way to engage interested Canadians and partners," said Hooper. "Engaging all interested Canadians is something that we must get right ."

Hooper also addressed a few of the controversial issues in the management plan. Among them was the issue of boating on the mid-Maligne River.

"While the process withstood the legal test, the decision has left a bitter legacy among members of the rafting community, and the issue has not gone away," said Hooper.

He added that he knows that Parks will be asked to reconsider the decision in the next management plan review.

"Our answer will be the same as in 2005 - if we receive a scientifically credible proposal to change the management of the Maligne River that will protect harlequin ducks and has broad-based public support, we would consider bringing that forward for public consultation," he said. "Until then, we will continue protecting this 18-km reach of river while ensuring that visitors enjoy many opportunities for rafting, kayaking, and canoeing on the more than 250 km of road-accessible river elsewhere in the park."

Among the other issues that came up later during a question and answer session with stakeholders was the condition and maintenance of the Icefields Parkway.

Hooper said Parks has committed to buying more heavy equipment for highways and funding has been increased for purchasing sand/salt to keep the roads open more often.

He added that the road needs to be resurfaced and plan is in place for that within the next couple of years. Upgrading facilities on pull-outs and adding interpretive signage will also be addressed in the near future.

The planning forum also included updates on other Parks priorities including ski area long range plans, the Jasper trails project and caribou recovery. Discussion groups were also formed focusing on monitoring and reporting, visitor infrastructure priorities, forging stronger relationships and environmental stewardship.

Parks Canada is now taking steps to prepare for the next substantive review of the plan in 2008. The first step is to complete a new assessment of the State of the Park Report in 2007.

http://www.jasperbooster.com/story.php?id=...