Alberta – In a News Release today, Parks Canada announced that it will be consulting with Canadians on the proposed “Icefields Trail” project, a new bike and walking trail from Jasper to the Columbia Icefield. This project was announced with no prior public discussion in the 2016 federal budget, which allocated $65.9 million to the project, raising many questions regarding the origin of the project and the transparency of Parks Canada’s decision and project approval process.
CPAWS is pleased that Parks Canada has confirmed that this proposed project is not a done deal, and appreciates that Canadians and interested stakeholders will now be asked to participate in public consultations.
This proposal is inconsistent with the federal government’s stated commitment to limit development in our national parks, and their legal obligation to put ecological integrity first in all aspects of park management. It is also contrary to Parks Canada’s obligations to protect species at risk in the park, as the proposed trail would fragment and destroy critical habitat for threatened woodland caribou and sensitive grizzly bears, and disturb and potentially displace wildlife through its use.
We are also concerned that the message released by Parks Canada today is misleading to the public. Parks Canada states that “the project is based on the Icefields Parkway Strategic Concept” and that it is part of the Jasper National Park management plan.
The Icefields Parkway Strategic Concept actually states that Parks Canada will:
- Review the needs of cyclists and develop options. Explore options to enhance opportunities.