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BOW VALLEY – Banff-Kananaskis MLA Sarah Elmeligi has been denied a seat on the region’s human-wildlife coexistence round table by the UCP government despite former local MLAs of different political stripes previously sitting at the table.
The NDP’s Cameron Westhead, who helped get the round table off the ground in 2017, and the UCP’s Miranda Rosin were both members of the committee focused on safety of both people and wildlife during their times as local MLAs.
Elmeligi said she was informed Friday (Dec. 8) that Alberta Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen had denied her a seat on the committee despite that field of work being part of her professional career before running for office.
“This is frustrating and it’s also petty. The minister is taking something that is a non-partisan issue and making it a partisan issue,” she said.
“Human-wildlife coexistence in the Bow Valley is not about what political party you represent or whether you’re in government or in opposition or whatever – it is about keeping people and wildlife safe.”
The movements and management of famed female grizzly bear No. 148 in 2017 – and her subsequent death in what was then a legal trophy hunt in neighbouring British Columbia after relocation from Canmore – highlighted challenges faced by different agencies within the Bow Valley.
These included enforcement capacity, differing management tools and approaches, human activity in wildlife corridors, risks of injury, natural and unnatural foods in developed areas, and a lack of public compliance such as dogs off-leash and entering officially closed areas.
In 2017, the Bow Valley human-wildlife coexistence task force was formed as a result, coming up with 28 recommendations to improve human-wildlife coexistence, from transboundary management and keeping wildlife out of developed areas to habitat security and wildlife and people management.
Elmeligi said it is her job and responsibility as MLA to participate on round tables and committees like this to work with others to solve complex issues.
“It’s not only my job as the MLA, but this is my area of expertise,” she said, noting her PhD was specifically on people sharing trails with wildlife in Banff National Park.
“I definitely have some experience to offer from my research background of what visitor expectations are around bear management and how grizzly bears use the landscape.”
With a supporting letter from Canmore Mayor Sean Krausert, Banff Mayor Corrie DiManno and MD of Bighorn Reeve Lisa Rosvold, Elmeligi wrote to Loewen on Nov. 21 requesting a seat on the committee.
The provincial government has appointed Livingstone-Macleod MLA Chelsae Petrovic, of the UCP, to the committee.
While supporting Petrovic’s appointment to the committee, DiManno and Krausert believe Elmeligi – a biologist and former park planner for Kananaskis Country – should be there as well.
“She was elected by locals to represent our local issues and interests and she also brings to the table significant wildlife conservation expertise that can benefit our discussions,” said DiManno.
“In the same way that wildlife do not acknowledge the boundaries of the national parks or provinces, the issue of human-wildlife coexistence should transcend political parties.”
Krausert concurred with DiManno, noting Elmeligi’s education would have been a strong addition to the committee.
“Given MLA Elmeligi’s credentials, it’s very disappointing to not have her involved on the human-wildlife coexistence round table,” he said.
Krausert said former MLA Westhead played a role in the formation of the round table.
“Our MLA at the time was part of the convening group and it would make sense for that tradition to continue,” he said.
Elmeligi said she too supports Petrovic’s appointment to the committee, but believes there is also room for her voice at the table.
“Bringing in an outside MLA to see that process and how it works and how effective it is can be is really important to expand round tables and committees like this to other ridings that also have human-wildlife conflict issues,” she said.
The technical working group was set to meet Dec. 11 and the round table would next convene a discussion in March or April.
The minister's office had little to say, noting the minister was asked by the committee earlier this year to appoint a government representative.
