Dear Editor,
With the upcoming decision by Parks Canada on the Maligne Tours expansion, I feel I must add my voice to the tide of opposition.
Although Maligne Tours may have a 鈥渨ell thought out and enticing proposal,鈥� I cannot support it and would encourage Parks Canada to reject it outright for the following reasons:
Parks Canada鈥檚 current budget crunch is a philosophical, political decision by the current Conservative Government. Sharper minds than mine have stated that Canada came out of the economic melt down in better shape than most countries and the budget path, as chosen by the Harper Conservatives, is not based on economics. This is not the time for Parks Canada to make long range plans based on current budgets. If you want to base your development strategy on more money for JNP, what鈥檚 next? Are we going to sell the airport for riverside condos?
Maligne Tours is not the bad guy in this proposal. They are only doing what any business would and must do. My beef is with the federal government and Parks Canada. Their jobs are to protect Maligne Lake and all national parks and historic sites for future generations, not to starve them to death. Death by a thousand cuts.
That JNP would even consider this proposal, in the wake of the Caribou Recovery Plan, and the current policy of no expansion of outlying accommodations, is baffling. Even more concerning is that JNP is considering changing the policy of no expansion of outlying accommodations, as stated by a Parks Canada spokesperson at the recent Maligne Tours open house at the Lobstick Lodge. This may appear to be a regional issue, but if this expansion is allowed to go ahead how can Parks Canada stand in the way of any well thought out and enticing proposal in any of our national parks. The last time I checked, the National Parks Act makes no mention that our national parks and historic monuments are to be cash cows.
If, as I do, you oppose this project, I would encourage you to sign the petition, to be sent to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, on the avaaz.org website and to write the Prime Minister and our MP directly to voice your concerns.
Your voice counts.
Jeff Wilson
Jasper, Alberta.
