Editor:
One has to sympathise with Parks Canada.
It initially shouldered the blame for Banff council's inability to make a decision on the area redevelopment plan at the train station due to Parks Canada's lack of direction on the Norquay gondola proposal. When Parks eventually provided as much unambiguous clarity as possible on its position, or as much as what is possible for what is still very much a conceptual project, it still wasn't good enough because it wasn't the answer that council wanted to hear.
At least half of council continues to cling to a single dubious quid pro quo involving a third party exchange of parking spaces, which in turn is contingent on yet another party approving a gondola to Mount Norquay.
In its rush to embrace a "free" parking solution, council seems quite willing to overlook the significant transboundary environmental and policy costs of a gondola. Too much time and energy has been wasted on a single, highly questionable, complex "magic bullet traffic solution," one that comes with significant strings attached.
The unfortunate result of this single solution focus has been the lack of community engagement and discussion on alternative solutions; perhaps an issue and opportunity for our new mayoral and council candidates?
Reg Bunyan,
Banff
