Editor: Your recent editorials have fully captured the deep-rooted and science-based commitment of residents of Canmore to see their wildlife and large wilderness landscapes protected.
While Jason Kenney of the United Conservative Party propose a land stewardship trust, and a licence fee for OHV and camping trailers in natural areas, the NDP does not need to rely on election promises – they have already been delivering on protection for Canmore’s and Alberta’s natural environment.
In Canmore, the NDP has followed through on a process to see the final Wind Valley’s section of the Three Sisters Along Valley Corridor and the remaining section of the Stewart Creek Across Valley Corridor protected in perpetuity – consistent with provincial legal and scientific requirements.
In 2017, locals and Albertans had significant input into this process and while the last corridor proposal from Three Sisters Mountain Resort Properties was turned down by Alberta Environment and Parks in 2018, the developer has the opportunity to bring forward a revised corridor proposal that meets the scientific standards for corridor width and slope necessary for wildlife connectivity between our Bow Valley and Banff Park, the Spray and Wind Valleys and Kananaskis country.
At the provincial level, the NDP has created several new parks, including the 2017 Castle Provincial and Wildland Parks and the 2018 Birch River Wildland Provincial Park – contributing to the largest contiguous stretch of protected boreal forest in the world.
There is no doubt that over her time in office Premier Rachel Notley, along with local MLA Cam Westhead and Environment Minister Shannon Phillips, have proven their commitment to protecting Canmore’s wildlife movement corridors so that wildlife can both survive and thrive, and the NDP has significantly increased protection for Alberta’s natural areas.
Heather MacFadyen,
Canmore
