Lake Louise Ski Area will defend itself in December against charges under the Species at Risk Act that it destroyed a federally protected tree species on its leased property in a national park sometime in the summer of 2013.
In order to accommodate up to 14 witnesses in the trial, Crown and defence requested it be held in Calgary Provincial Court, and were granted permission by the court’s chief judge.
The trial is set for Dec. 4-22 in the city, with charges stemming from allegations by Parks Canada that between Aug. 12 and Sept. 24 in 2013 a species of threatened tree – whitebark pine – was destroyed on the company’s leasehold land.
Because the tree is endangered, it is protected under the Species at Risk Act, and as such the company was charged under that legislation, along with contravening regulations of the National Parks Act.
Whitebark pine is considered an important tree which stabilizes steep slopes, influences the amount of snow melt by sustaining snow drifts, and provides critical food, cover and shelter for many species of wildlife.
Scientists say the survival of whitebark pine has been threatened by the combined effects of fire suppression, climate change, mountain pine beetle outbreaks and a disease known as white pine blister rust.
The trees are found in seven of Canada’s national parks: Mount Revelstoke, Glacier, Jasper, Banff, Kootenay, Yoho and Waterton Lakes.
