2017 Media Wrap Up

Written By: Jennifer Scott, National Communications Manager We couldn’t be prouder of the team of CPAWS-ers we have across the country and all the things we’ve been able to accomplish in our 50+ years, and 2017 was no different! It was a big year for CPAWS and we’ve been featured in news stories all over the country. Below you’ll find most of those articles. Globe and Mail – Conservationists concerned about free entry to Canada’s national parks in 2017 CBC News  – Crazy busy’ year anticipated in Jasper with free park passes Waterloo Region Record – Join our national park party CBC News – Why you still need a parks pass this year despite free entry Western Wheel – Free parks passes great for Canadians Jasper Fitzhugh – Price tag for Icefields Trail Project jumps to $86.4 million Truro Daily – Environmental assessment all wet Calgary Herald – Public to weigh in on proposed bike trail from Jasper to Columbia Icefield Global News – Alberta to expand Castle area parks, phase out off-highway vehicles Rocky Mountain Outlook – CPAWS Director launches 2017 naturalist series CBC News – Nearly half of national park ecosystems rate as fair or poor in Parks Canada report CTV News – Will free passes be bad for Canada’s national parks? Macleans – Free Parks Canada pass in 2017 worries conservationists 570 News – Conservationists concerned about free entry to Canada’s national parks in 2017 Castanet – Worried about parks Toronto Star – Conservationists worried free entry to Canada’s national parks in 2017 could affect ecological integrity Global News – Parks Canada preps for tourists during free Canada 150 year, conservationists concerned Huffington Post – Canadian national parks free entry in 2017 worries conservationists Brand Channel – De Beers woos millennials with personalized experience Whitehorse Daily Star – Liberals reaffirm stance on Peel’s management Yukon News – Yukon government files its Peel arguments with the Supreme Court of Canada CBC News – Alberta expands Castle area parks, plans to phase out off-highway vehicles Pincher Creek Echo – Province unveils new park boundaries for Castle Toronto Star – Keep our national parks healthy: editorial Wildsight – Selenium in our water: wildsight calls for halt to new miles in the Elk Valley Toronto Star – End moose calf hunt, Ontario government urged North Bay Nugget – Groups calls for end to calf hunt Sault Star – Spare moose calves from hunters, says group Weather Network – Here’s who’s worried about free access to Canadian parks Cape Breton Post – Marine protected area proposal confuses Cape Breton crab fishers Whitecourt Star – Environment minister meets with stakeholders, local mayors to discuss caribou conservation Globe and Mail – Federal government’s reef-conservation plan irks BC fisherman CBC News – Fisheries minister to announce protection for ancient glass sponge reefs News 1130  – Northern BC glass sponge reef gets federal protection Edmonton Journal – Opinion: new off-road limits a gutsy but visionary move DeSmog Canada – Battle to protect Northern Yukon, home of Pristinte Peel Watershed, from industry heads to Supreme Court Pique News Magazine – The national park system is under severe threat Coast Reporter Howe – Sound report a ‘blueprint’ for continued recovery CBC News – Castle-area ATV ban battle heats up as thousand weigh in CBC News – Tiger project ‘unsustainable’ without new road, company says Crag and Canyon – Conservation groups ask province to include green infrastructure investments in spring budget Global News – Government of Alberta seeks public input on conservation plan for castle area Jasper Fitzhugh- Parks releases Icefields Trail map Crag and Canyon – Open house for proposed trail between Jasper and Columbia Icefield on March 17 Metro Toronto – Conservation award to honour slain environmental activist Glen Davis CP24 – WWF-Canada announces conservation award in honour of slain philanthropist Glen Davis Toronto Star – Conservation award to honour slain philanthropist Huffington Post – The Peel: intact wilderness is a hedge against our ignorance Rabble – Defending Indigenous land in the far North Crag and Canyon – Management of national parks to focus on ecological integrity: Environment Minister CBC News – Peel Watershed dispute before Supreme Court of Canada this week Rabble – Yukon Supreme Court case will set a key precedent for all First Nations Whitehorse Star – Many travel to Ottawa for Supreme Court of Canada hearing Winnipeg Sun – Rallying support to protect Lake Winnipegosis island Times Colonist – Dozens of new campsites to open at Island parks Global News – Protesters rally against Alberta’s proposed phase-out of off-highway vehicles in Castle area SF University – Taking a stand for conservation CTV News – Unhappy trails? Parks documents show concerns with Icefield Highway bike path CP24 – Parks documents show concern with Icefield Highway bike path Calgary Herald – Parks documents show controversy over planned Icefeilds Parkway bike path Global News – Parks docs show concerns with proposed bike trail between Banff and Jasper Jasper Fitzhugh – Parks documents reveal aggressive timeline to build paved bike trail Cochrane Times – Y2Y encourages new approach to forestry CTV News – Documents show tight timelines for Icefield Parkway bike path National Post – Money is driving the project: Parks Canada appears to be rushing ahead with Icefields bike path, docs suggest CBC News – Parks Canada documents suggest tight timelines for Icefields Parkway bike path Calgary Herald – Travel notes: celebrate Earth Day and Canada’s outdoors; win a camera or an eco-lodge resort stay Osoyoos Times – Restored national park sign vandalized again in Osoyoos location Jasper Fitzhugh – Internal docs suggest Icefields Trail could lead to more development Globe and Mail – Charity files suit against Environment Minister over lack of reports on endangered caribou CTV News – Alleged lack of protection for caribou prompts lawsuit against McKenna National Post – Environment minister being sued for failing to protection boreal woodland caribou CBC News – Environmental group sues Catherine McKenna for failing to report on efforts to save caribou habitat Toronto Star – Wilderness group sues environment minister over boreal woodland caribou protection Metro Toronto – Lawsuit accuses environment minister of failing to protect caribou Radio Canada International – CPAWS – Charity group sues government over caribou Yahoo News – Activists sue to force Canada to protect caribou National Observer – Lack of protection for caribou leads to lawsuit against Catherine McKenna CKLB 101.9 – Minister of the Environment taken to court over boreal caribou habitat protection CBC News – Quebec to send threatened woodland caribou to zoo for protection The Hill Times – How one lobby campaign won support of mining, environment, indigenous groups and MPs from all parties Jasper Fitzhugh – Lobbying group behind mysterious Icefields Trail website Treehugger – Cycling trail in Canadian Rockies is a brilliant idea, so why the big fuss? The Current – Environmental group rejects proposed bike path through Jasper National Park Globe and Mail – Expedition to rare glass sponge reefs in BC to be livestreamed Prince Albert Daily Herald – Raising a glass for caribou Kelowna Capital News – Free Wills Month this May makes it easy to leave your legacy CBC News – Rare glass sponge reefs on BC coast to star in live streamed expedition Winnipeg Free Press – Debate still rages over proposed national park Prince Albert Daily Herald – The plan to save the Mossy River Plain The Telegram – Environment groups sue over drilling in Gulf of St. Lawrence Radio Canada International – BC conservationist wins $10,000 award Calgary Herald – “Residents, environmentalists sound alarm over clear cutting in Kananaskis Country” Toronto Star – 10 years after the murder of philanthropsist Glen Davis divded a family, his widow recalls a man of adventure and legacy Truro Daily – DNR proposes clearcuts on boundary of Gully Lake Wilderness Area Vancouver Sun – Opinion: BC’s marine heritage must be protected CTV News – In Canada, parks thrive but conservationists cry foul Now Toronto – Greenpeace’s battle royal over the boreal Mother Nature Network – Why Canada’s summer of fee-free national parks is making conservationists anxious Prince Albert Daily Herald – Bringing back the bison CBC News – Grizzly bears near Calgary prompt wildlife groups to install electric fence Radio Canada International – World Oceans Day: Canada announces a new marine protected area National Post – Federal government using fishery closures to count toward promised 5% marine conservation target CBC News – Whitehorse artist draws historic houses for colouring book Winnipeg Free Press – Pallister government adds two new provincial parks The Guardian – Island group calls for donations to support court against against offshore oil Globe and Mail – Experts seek place to dissect right whales to determine cause of death Radio Canada International – Environmental groups slam government plans to allow oil and gas drilling in proposed marine protected area Globe and Mail – Trudeau government proposes opening St Lawrence marine protected area to oil exploration Rabble – Environmental law review recommends changes to Fisheries Act, National Energy Board Crag and Canyon – Local earns spot on national environmental panel Times Colonist – Feds plan extra protection to critical island ocean sites National Post – Marine scientists alarmed by ‘double standard’ and lack of transparency in ocean protection CBC News – Province creates new parks on Lake Winnipegosis, but leaves out island with mining potential CBC News – Plans to log in Kananaskis riles locals, environmental groups CBC News – 3 groups call on Ottawa to update plan for Rouge National Urban Park CBC News – Canada trails G7 in protecting land, parks advocates say Radio Canada International – Canada lags in protecting nature: report Globe and Mail – Canada lags in conservation efforts Kelowna Now – Canada last among world leaders in protecting land and water Winnipeg Free Press – Land, water protection lagging: wildlife group Toronto Star – Canada must protect its biodiversity Metro – We really should be caring: Group calls for more protectednatural areas in Alberta Our Windsor – Toronto Star’s View: Canada must protect its biodiversity Montreal Gazette – While you were sleeping: parking wars and protected lands CBC New – NB ranks 2nd-last in Canada in efforts to protect nature, group says Financial Post – Protecting Canadians from fake eco news Whitehorse Star – We’ve still got some progress to make’: CPAWS Osoyoos Times – A national treasure worthy of protection Osoyoos Times – South Okanagan park an easy win for Horgan government, group says EcoLog – Canada last in land protection: CPAWS Journal de Montreal – Le Quebec a la traine pour la protection du territoire La Presse – Aires protegees: le Canada dernier du G7, tire vers le bas par le Quebec Le Devoir – Aires protegees: le Canada traine de la patte CBC News – Canada trails G7 in protecting land, parks advocates say NationTalk – “Canada lags the world in land protection. New Brunswick needs to step up.” Nova Scotia Forest Notes – CPAWS report says we lag in land protection nationally and in Nova Scotia but sees signs of change DeSmog Canada – Industry sways feds to allow offshore drilling in laurentian channel marine protected area Winnipeg Free Press – Riding Mountain National Park doesn’t expect hike in violations despite free entry DeSmog Canada – Fort Nelson First Nation files legal challenge to gas pipeline claiming it will threaten caribou habitat Global News – Alberta communities weigh in on plans to protect caribou, express economic concern Toronto Star – Environmental group demands greater transparency of federal caribou plan National Post – Federal caribou plan doesn’t meet legal requirements: environmentalists The Globe and Mail – Ottawa announces plan to protect boreal caribou after legal action taken CTV News – Feds announce plan to protect caribou after legal action taken National Post – Federal government announces plan to protect caribou after legal action taken CTV News – Federal caribou plan doesn’t meet legal requirements: environmentalists Insider Monkey – 11 best climate change charities in US, Canada, UK, and Australia Montreal Gazette – Timber harvesting threatens forest in Laurentians, coalition says CBC News – Centuries-old forests on Laurentians mountain face cutting – again Wood Business – FSC Canada considers formal comments on caribou plan Lawyers Daily – Suit against environment minister won’t be dropped until report on caribou released National Post – Rethink caribou plan, says forest industry CTV News – Rethink caribou plan, says forest industry Metro News – Satellite shots show logging in moratorium areas: environmentalists National Post – Satellite shots show logging in moratorium areas: environmentalists Troy Media – Barring the gates is no long-term solution for our parks Wood Business – Have environmentalists lost sight of what they’re fighting for? Times Colonist – Trudeau takes in Island, kayaking at Sidney Spit and visiting Tofino The Globe and Mail – Canadian forestry indsutry urges Ottawa to rethink plan to protect caribou National Observer – Quebec energy giant casts shadow over Magpie River CBC Radio – How much do we value Canada’s national parks? The Packet – Nine-year-old helping record shorebirds on Random Island Toronto Star – Logging took place in Canada’s protected caribou habitat, environment group says Castanet – Logging moratorium fails Outdoor Hub – Young and female – the changing face of hunting in America Whitecourt Star – Whitecourt Chamber of Commerce hosting forum on upcoming caribou range plan DeSmog Canada – Canada has 3 years to increase protected areas by 60% and, um, it’s not going to be easy Hakai Magazine – Proposed amendment could actually protected marine protected areas DeSmog Canada – 3% of the world’s endangered right whales died this summer, mostly in Canada’s unprotected waters The Tyee – The desperate fight to save the right whale from dying off The Rossland Telegraph – Op-ed: We need to stop killing endangered right whales Edmonton Journal – Clash over caribou, jobs in Whitecourt Edmonton Sun – Jobs, caribou debated at Whitecourt Whitecourt Star – Environmental, forestry groups debate Caribou Range Plan National Observer – Hydro Quebec abandons dam project on majestic Magpie River Western Producer – Planning it right: Albertans collaborate on the best use of public lands Castanet – Protecting Canada’s land Whitecourt Star – Caribou range plan looms over region Huffpost Blog – Canada’s climate groups need a kick in the butt Whitehorse Star – Plan may spur “environmental fragmentation”: conservationist National Observer – Hydro-Québec abandons dam project on majestic Magpie River The Reminder – National park proposal not a concern for mining company CBC News – Students spend week in the wild to cultivate connection to colour-changing lake Winnipeg Sun – Province take to task over caribou CBC News – Proposed clearcut near pending expansion of protected wilderness area sparks concern Whitecourt Star – What to do about Caribou? Mayerthorpe Freelancer – Alberta misses deadling for caribou range plan Terrace Standard – Contemplative Creek: Remembering Bruce Hill InsideToronto.com – Ontario officialy hands over 1,600 acres of Rouge Valley parkland Castanet – Digital learning in nature CBC News – Woodland caribou continue to decline as provinces fail to meet protection deadline CBC News – Wildlands Leadues says it gave Ontario a plan to protect boreal cairbou habitat – 5 years ago Osoyoos Times – Thompson Okanagan becomes first destination to in Americas to receive Biosphere Destination certification Yukon News – CPAWS petition to protect Porcupine caribou breaks 5,000 signatures New York Times – Canada legal fight may ‘destroy the faith’ in First Nations treaties Vancouver Sun – Opinion: Full public inquiry examining health impacts of fracking and LNG in BC needed The Globe and Mail – Red flag raised about the state of Wood Buffalo National Park Summerland Review – Biosphere designation boosts national park drive JWN – Forget  liquids, a dry gas asset is ARC Resources’ most profitable: This Week’s best quotes Toronto Star – The federal government says it has protected almost 8% of Canada’s oceans. Here’s why its math is questionable Yukon News – U.S. Tax bill passes, opening ANWR to oil exploration DeSmog Canada – How Canada is Driving Santa’s Reindeer Toward Extinction CBC News – Lukewarm response to Alberta’s draft caribou range plan The Globe and Mail – Canada adds eight sites to list of candidates for UNESCO world heritage status Fort McMurray Today – Alberta plan to help endangered woodland caribou criticized National Observer – Emails reveal internal government dispute in Quebec over hydro expansion Financial Post – Charities of the year: Our annual picks of Canada’s most efficient and accountable charities CTV News – SCC rules against Yukon government in watershed protection case (VIDEO) National Observer – High court sides with First Nations, environmental groups in Yukon dispute