Dear Editor:
Regarding Dan Albas’ bad information circulating about Jasper Park, the recent media frenzy concerning the wording of a petition by the global civic organization www.avaaz.org is detracting from what the petition is about.
The original petition was launched by the Jasper Environmental Association to draw public attention to what was considered a looming danger in one of Canada’s best-loved national parks.
Brewster Travel Canada, a subsidiary of the U.S. VIAD Corporation wants to close a popular public viewpoint and charge for entry to a giant skywalk alongside the world-famous Icefields Parkway.
The Glacier Discovery Walk would consist of a 300-metre walkway blasted along the cliff face leading to a 30-metre metal and glass skywalk sticking out over the Sunwapta River 200 metres below.
This would set a dangerous precedent.
If, as Parks Canada says, this skywalk is “acceptable within policy” how many other thrill-based inappropriate projects will be proposed for this road through a World Heritage Site?
How will the construction of this massive project affect other visitors who come, according to all surveys, to enjoy the peace and beauty of some of the wildest landscapes on earth?
How will it affect the vulnerable local mountain goat population for which Parks Canada is lacking substantive data?
Mr. Albas refers to the 2010 public consultation process to identify a vision for the Icefields Parkway but has he read the final Strategic Concept of that Committee?
The report quite rightly called for increased learning opportunities but by no stretch of the imagination did it envisage anything on the scale of the Brewster proposal.
Our national parks cover a mere three per cent of Canada’s landmass and the huge response to this campaign to stop an inappropriate development indicates they are precious beyond measure to her people.
Jill Seaton
Jasper