What is this "Save Jasper National Park" all about?

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by Canuck-Hater

Just the typical garbage I expected from Neo-Con puck...

Did you have an opinion on the matter or are you just going to do a drive-by insult?

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Canuck-Hater

Just the typical garbage I expected from Neo-Con puck...

Hahah, looks like somebody signed a petition they didn't understand.

[Rathji]

They should do an Occupy Glacier.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by Rathji

They should do an Occupy Glacier.

From what I've seen, the occupy protesters are typically in favour of rusting steel structures in publicly owned spaces.

[octothorp]

nm

[CaptainCraig]

I was raised in Jasper and still have family and friends that currently live there.

The majority upset by this proposal is for not only environmental issues but issues with Parks Canada and inconsistancy for what they are about.

They do have the best interest for the National Park 95% of the time, but when big money projects come in the picture they kind of roll over. Example is the Kinder Morgan pipeline project that went thru Jasper National Park in 2008. Major possible environmental issues during/after the project but the green light was given.

However, they banned local rafting companies from using Maligne River in the late 90's due to protect the impact of the Harlequin Duck.

My major issue with it is this: If big dollars can buy a green light for a project such as this. Where does it stop? It is a National Park for a reason and it naturally attracts tourism. They don't need to go to this extent.

[Frequitude]

Somehow, somewhere, I just know that Slava's behind this.

[LChoy]

Sorry to bump this.

I got tired of seeing this passed around on facebook so I wrote a response for it. However, it turned out much longer than I anticipated and too long as a reply on facebook. I thought I put it on here, and just link it to facebook if any one cared about what I said. Thanks to CP though for some of the arguments

I think this petition would be worthwhile if it was trying to promote less commercialization of the National Parks and/or minimize development in this unique natural environment. I would be all for that similar to Banff and Lake Louise resisting big box stores like Walmart from opening store there. However, the way this petition is worded makes it sound like the author is intentionally creating controversy to something they don’t have all the facts for. First of all, Brewsters is already operating in the Columbia Ice fields. They are the company that operates those special glacier buses that takes tourists on to the glaciers. They also have bus tours that take people from Calgary/Edmonton to Banff on different types of tour packages. This new proposal is regarding Brewsters wanting to build a walk way over the glaciers as another mode to experience the Ice Fields. Like any attraction, people would then have to pay if they want to use the walk way. This would be similar to the Grand Canyon walk way in the US. Again, if the petition was about how this could be environmentally disruptive building this bridge was, I can get behind it. On the flip side (and I don’t have any empirical evidence to support this), I think minimizing human and vehicle traffic physically on the glacier may help preserve it, similar to how they tell people to keep to the trails when they go hiking. Anyways, that’s what government regulators will be deciding, and presumably why Brewsters have hired lobbyist. If the petition was about the risk that lobbyist will subvert the regulatory process over environmental concerns, awesome, the petition will increase pressure to make sure the process is fair and transparent.

Now back to the petition itself. If it was to address any of the concerns brought up above, it has merit. However, upon examination, it makes a bunch of wild accusations that just aren’t true. Jasper National Park is not going to be “Privatized.” The +$20 a day to enter goes to Parks Canada just as all fees for things maintained by Parks Canada and the township. Attractions are a different story and just like any commercial attraction in society, it is operated by a private company. You want to go white water rafting, horseback riding, eat at a restaurant in town, stay in a hotel/spa...those facilities are all private companies that operate within the National Park. Last time I checked, we haven’t Nationalize any ski hills either. However, if a private company wants to build an attraction, it won’t force Parks user to contribute to it directly. You use it, you pay for it, but not everyone will be paying Brewsters simply by driving into the park. I said directly, because I’m not sure, but the financing for this project maybe supported by the government but a portion of all admission to this shall go back into Parks Canada. That is the goal here, the National Parks are trying to find new ways to finance the operation and maintenance of our National Parks.

Lastly, the whole American/foreign ownership thing is a little late as the Fairmont chain for example is owned by a Saudi Conglomerate for instance. There is probably a great commentary about how Canadian companies appear to be sold to US and foreign ownership but the fact is that as a country, we are committed to free trade and an open business environment. We would be hypocritical to have only Canadian operated companies in our National Parks, while complaining if the Americans institute a Buy American policy.

Anyways, this was much longer than I anticipated. You are free to sign any petition. However, similar to my feeling for democracy, it is best when you vote rationally on an issue rather than do so because of an angry response to an ill-informed title

Lchoy

[Flabbibulin]

^^^ that's perfect... And certainly a much more gracious retort than: anyone that buys into this "Jasper is being privatized" nonsense is a dumbass!

[mrkajz44]

Originally Posted by Flabbibulin

You'll see some pretty hilarious results if you twitter search "save jasper"

"I love Jasper. Don't let it be sold to an American company. Support the park and tell Harper NO DEAL!!!"

Ahahahahahahahahahaha etc etc

Twitter tends to explode with false facts. I probably saw this Jasper thing tweeted and re-tweeted about 20 times on my feed yesterday. The later it got the more outragous the comments.

[Bobblehead]

I was asking a guy I know who is part of a local hiking club. He says what drive him nuts it the total inconsistency of Parks Canada. On one hand they fight to keep the parks as natural as possible. On the other hand they approve things like this walk which total violates other edicts.

The jaded amongst us would say if it going to cost them money they won't do it so it can stay "natural" while if there is profit involved the tune changes.

[MarchHare]

The jaded amongst us would say if it going to cost them money they won't do it so it can stay "natural" while if there is profit involved the tune changes.

"Profit" is probably the wrong term to use there, as I don't believe Parks Canada actually makes money for the government (nor should it, IMO) except indirectly through increased international tourism to Canada. As an organization, they're funded through user fees (daily/annual park passes), leases to for-profit organizations like Brewster, Fairmont, various ski resorts, etc. And, of course, the bulk of their operating budget comes from federal tax dollars.

[Flabbibulin]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I was asking a guy I know who is part of a local hiking club. He says what drive him nuts it the total inconsistency of Parks Canada. On one hand they fight to keep the parks as natural as possible. On the other hand they approve things like this walk which total violates other edicts.

The jaded amongst us would say if it going to cost them money they won't do it so it can stay "natural" while if there is profit involved the tune changes.

I have no problem with the people that are disappointed in the direction that Parks Canada is going and want to voice their opinion.

As it relates to this particular petition though, I think the problem is in the language.

Hell, if the petition was phrased "stop the ongoing commercialization of Jasper National Park", I might even be inclined to take a peak at it. But, the twisting of things into "Harper is privatizing JNP" and "Harper is selling JNP to an American company" is where things get a little ridiculous... Not to mention the subsequent suckering of Canada's gullible.

[Table 5]

Replace Harper with "Druh", American with "fancy european", keep the misinformed hysterics, and a lot of this sounds like rhetoric that was used against the Peace Bridge.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Replace Harper with "Druh", American with "fancy european", keep the misinformed hysterics, and a lot of this sounds like rhetoric that was used against the Peace Bridge.

I'd have to disagree on that. The majority of objections to the Peace Bridge had merit, and weren't based on utter nonsense.

[troutman]

I do find it odd that there is a Lulu Lemon Store in Banff.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

I'd have to disagree on that. The majority of objections to the Peace Bridge had merit, and weren't based on utter nonsense.

Not true.

Many people thought the Peace Bridge was paid for with general municipal funds and was even partially responsible for property taxes going up. Both of those statements are without merit and based on utter nonsense.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

I'd have to disagree on that. The majority of objections to the Peace Bridge had merit, and weren't based on utter nonsense.

I disagree with your disagreement.

If you read any Sun or Herald opinion piece, it usually involved some podunk diatribe about it being too fancy, some xenophobic knock against it being designed by some euro-gay foreigner (usually followed by some mention of how local kids couldve designed something equally beautiful), some type of knock against that Druh Farrell for existing, and then some misinformed comment about where the money was coming from and going to. I've never seen such hysterics over a measly little bridge.

[Kavvy]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

Its pretty much the same thought process as the one greedy aboriginal corporate slaves built over the Grand Canyon and which has been a huge, money-grubbing success.

http://www.grandcanyonskywalk.com/

Cowperson

I think you may have this one wrong, the natives own that land, it is part of their reserve, not the park.

[Bigtime]

I really hope this walkway gets built, it is totally and would be reason enough for me to finally visit the icefields.