By rdnewsNOW staff

Mixed reaction to government’s Bighorn Country proposal

Nov 28, 2018 | 10:55 AM

Reaction is mixed over the province’s plans to create a new wildland park, three new provincial parks and four new recreation areas in Alberta’s west country.

Following the announcement of the Bighorn Country proposal by Alberta Environment and Parks Minister Shannon Phillips on November 23, multiple stakeholders from across the province voiced their excitement with the opportunity to offer input.

However, others are not so pleased with the $40 million investment proposed over the next five years.

Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre UCP MLA Jason Nixon issued a statement saying the government has ‘once again proven that consultation with Albertans is not a priority.’

Nixon says the Bighorn Country proposal comes ahead of the interests of not only ordinary Albertans, but also the North Saskatchewan Regional Advisory Council and the legislated process for land use planning.

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“The NDP have reinforced their disregard for the residents of the area, for the critical economic interests that exist in the region, and the tens of thousands of Albertans who use the area for recreation,” Nixon exclaims. “The United Conservative Caucus believes in the importance of environmental conservation but recognizes that conservation initiatives and environmental protections can exist alongside critical economic activities and the many recreational pursuits of Albertans. We recognize the importance of investment in the Eastern Slopes.”

Nixon says the NDP has once again failed to properly consult those impacted by the proposal, including both individuals and industry, adding their process focused on special interests that exclude ordinary Albertans and seeks out a predetermined outcome.

“By choosing to pursue the next phase of the consultation process over the holidays, when many Albertans are spending time with their families and often travelling, it is apparent that there is still no intent by the NDP to seek meaningful input from Albertans,” says Nixon.

“If the NDP Government does proceed with changes that are against the wishes of Albertans, and without proper consultation, a future United Conservative Government would go back to Albertans with a real and meaningful consultation,” he adds.

Love Your Trails, an awareness campaign aimed at ensuring the management of Alberta’s Public Lands are in Alberta’s best interests and balanced to provide positive outcomes respecting Environment, Social and Economic factors, shares the same concerns.

In a release, the group says their concerns are not in relation to the objective of the Bighorn Country proposal, but with the process they say is now going ahead outside of the already established North Saskatchewan Regional Plan (NSRP) – Alberta’s formal Land Use Framework.

“Alberta’s formal Land Use Framework was implemented to focus land use planning in Alberta on a regional scale,” says the release. “Under the Land Use Framework, the Bighorn Country area falls within the North Saskatchewan Regional Plan. The NSRP is currently under development through a defined process which has been previously implemented in other regions of the province.”

The group adds with the NSRP yet to be finalized, the Bighorn Country proposal circumvents the legislated planning process for Alberta’s landscape as prescribed by the Land Use Framework.

“There appears to be a political sense of urgency being applied to this proposal, forgoing the existing legislated process and the extensive work done on the NSRP,” says the release.

Love Your Trails official add the Bighorn Country proposal is in fact, ‘almost exactly opposite of the recommendations and feedback received to date on the NSRP’.

“LoveYourTrails processed the Alberta Governments RAC Public Survey, and over 54% of all responses were opposed to the creation of these Parks or any changes,” explains the release. “Of those specifically stating a Bighorn Park, 85% were opposed. To see this new proposal presented outside of NSRP process, with these public input results – is very concerning.”

The Outdoor Recreation Council of Alberta (ORCA) lauds the proposal, saying the province has successfully addressed the outdoor recreation needs of thousands of campers, hikers, naturalists, equestrians, hunters, anglers and back-country hiking enthusiasts.

“As a provincial group providing a voice for ‘quiet recreation’ (non-motorized) users in land use and recreation management planning, we couldn’t be more delighted with this outcome,” states Al Black, Interim Chair for ORCA. “The new wildland park is testament to progressive thinking from the Government of Alberta , who are taking the recreation needs of the majority of Albertans to heart and doing something about it.”

Clearwater County Reeve Jim Duncan says the county will take part in consultations through not only administration and council but also through various boards and committees council sits on such as the Bighorn Backcountry Standing Committee, Clearwater Trails Initiative, West Central Stakeholders and Nordegg Community Association.

“We urge all interested citizens and groups to take part in the Province’s consultation opportunities and help shape the future of our backyard,” stated Reeve Duncan. “I believe that all stakeholders need to participate in this process, voicing their opinions and solutions in a respectful and professional manner. There will be differences – but there may also be opportunity as well.”

Information on the draft Bighorn Country plan and public consultation survey can be found at https://talkaep.alberta.ca/bighorn-country.