The Martlet

Some of you might be surprised to hear that this month a decision will be made that will affect the way Canadians interact with their national parks. Jasper National Park, located on the bor- der of B.C. and Alberta, 805 kilometres northeast of Vancouver, is one of Canada’s oldest and largest national parks. It was established in 1907 and boasts nearly 1000 kilometre of trails.

American-owned company Brewster Travel Canada proposed a project in January 2011 for a “Glacier Discovery Walk,” a 400-metre boardwalk featuring a glass-floored observation platform overlooking the Sunwapta Valley. The Mount Kitchener/Sunwapta Canyon view- point off the Icefields Parkway would be affected: instead of a pull-out accessible to anyone who wants to stop, the viewpoint would be under the control of Brewster Canada staff. The boardwalk would only be accessible via bus trips from the Columbia Icefield Centre, 6.5 kilometres to the south. It would be pay-per-use; visitors would choose between viewing the already spectacular landscape from a “public” viewpoint for free, or paying to have a guided tour on the boardwalk.

The project, although an impressive development, brings up issues of privatization in Canada’s national parks. Many argue that allowing an international company to build a privately owned attraction in a national park will set a dangerous precedent that will see parts of Canadian wilderness sold off to the highest bidder. Should a company be allowed to ask Canadians to pay for something they already own?

Both Parks Canada and Brewster argue that the development, if allowed to go ahead, will serve as an attraction that will increase the relevancy of Canada’s parks and enhance the viewing experience of the area. But really, nature sells itself. A view as spectacular as the one overlooking the Sunwapta Valley doesn’t need to be jazzed up by fancy walkways and glass- floored viewing points. Parks Canada should be honest and call the development what it is: a new way to increase revenue.

Our parks need funds, there’s no doubt in that. The federal government recently extended a freeze on park user fees until April 1, 2013, leaving the parks to scramble for other funding methods. Parks Canada is currently conducting a study on new ways to generate revenue, expected to be complete in March of this year. Although Canada’s national parks and heritage sites rake in billions of dollars annually, attendance in the parks has decreased by about seven per cent in the last five years.

The Green Party of Canada issued a press release on the Glacier Discovery Walk calling on Parks Canada to continue to protect ecological integrity, rather than focus on enhancing visitor experience. According to the press release, money spent on visitor experience increased be- tween 2007 and 2010 by $58 million, while money spent on ecological integrity decreased by $21.4 million. “Both the federal government and Parks Canada must realize that protection of our ecosystems is worth investing in, especially as the climate is changing,” said Party Leader Elizabeth May in the release.

In light of the state of the environment, our national parks should be protected, not only for us to enjoy, but for the sake of having untouched wilderness where the landscape and the animals that live in it are the first priority.