Parks Canada’s controversial proposal for a 107-kilometre paved trail between Jasper and the Columbia Icefield, and eventually extending another 123-km to Lake Louise, appears to have been a done deal all along.
That’s according to internal Parks Canada emails, memorandums to the minister and draft communication strategies obtained under Access to Information by Ottawa-based public interest researcher Ken Rubin, and provided to the Outlook by a third party.
Minutes of an Icefields Trail steering committee meeting last October indicate that Parks Canada was “driving the project towards beginning construction ASAP next season” – three months before public consultations began.
In an initial communications plan in August 2016, staff drew up a timetable for media events, including one to mark the start of construction when the Jasper-Columbia portion of the project is “shovel ready.”
“The proposed consultation and engagement strategy for the Icefields Trail project has been developed with the goal of supporting project implementation,” according to the documents.
While the former aggressive timetable for construction has now been pushed back, yet another earlier document seems to indicate the plan all along has been to move ahead, despite what Parks hears during public consultations.
“Once public and Indigenous consultations are held successfully, construction would begin in spring 2017. The project is expected to be completed by March 2019,” it read.
Under the plan, a three-metre wide paved trail would follow the east side of the parkway for most of the 107-km route, about 20 to 30 metres off Highway 93 North, but cross to the west side from Athabasca Falls to Mount Christie picnic area, and Tangle Hill.
The proposal would see the trail cross the highway at least five times, at level crossings with signs and markings. Crossings are planned to get people to attractions and accommodations on the opposite side of the road.
Most of the trail would go through an outdoor recreation zone that covers about 100 metres either side of the highway, but about seven kilometres would run through declared wilderness along an abandoned road near Beauty Flats to avoid wetlands.
The $86.4 million budget for the project includes construction of the trail from Jasper to Columbia Icefield, as well as an environmental analysis and design to continue the trail to Lake Louise in future.
Just shy of $70 million is from the 2016 federal budget and another $20.5 million is from Parks Canada’s budget. Federal budget money had to be spent within a two-year time frame, but Parks Canada has been working to get an extension until 2019-20.
Despite the documents, Parks Canada maintains the project is not a done deal.
“It is important to note that the proposed Icefields Trail is currently in the conceptual phase and no final decisions have been made,” wrote Audrey Champagne, a media relations officer in Parks’ national office, in an email.
Consultations continue until April 24 and the public can comment online at www.pc.gc.ca/jasper.
Champagne said once the information from the first round of consultations has been compiled, it will be fed into a draft detailed impact analysis, which will be available for comment in mid- to late summer 2017.
“Through these consultations, Parks Canada hopes to identify issues and opportunities that will be considered for the proposed Icefields Trail,” she wrote.
Staff documents also speak to additional development that may come along with the trail.
While internal documents state there are no extra funds or planning for parking lots, picnic areas, bathrooms, or spur trails to sites such as Athabasca Falls, the door appears to be left open.
“Notwithstanding that, without explicit controls or prohibitions, VE (Visitor Experience) in the FU (Field Unit) anticipates that there will shortly be a requirement for more supporting infrastructure,” according to a background report.
“Based on experience with the Legacy Trail … trail use is likely to be high and will induce further development, e.g. campground expansions for more campers, or specifically for cyclist campers, or at least demands for further development.”
When questioned about the possibility of or pressure for additional development, Champagne stated Parks Canada is currently focusing on the public consultation process.
“Through these consultations, Parks Canada hopes to identify issues and opportunities that will be considered for the proposed Icefields Trail,” she wrote.
Meanwhile, a parliamentary standing committee recently called on Parks Canada to be more transparent and accountable to the public in its decision-making process and stick to development limits in national parks.
Last month, the federal standing committee on the environment and sustainable development report stated committee members found it difficult to understand Parks Canada’s decision-making process, specifically naming the Icefields Parkway bike trail.
“The committee was unable to determine what process led to the announcement in budget 2016 of a $65.9 million investment for a new biking and walking trail in Jasper National Park,” the report stated. “More transparency in decision-making is required.”
Local staff did express some concern that the timelines for the project were challenging, given the budget money had to be spent within two-years, and they wanted meaningful consultation and to get this right.
Parks Canada’s national office had indicated consultations on the trail could not go ahead until Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna was briefed.
