Alberta’s environment minister says Bighorn parks proposal will not go ahead

EDMONTON – Alberta’s new environment minister says he will scrap the previous government’s proposed plan for protected areas in western Alberta.

Last November, the NDP government announced eight new parks covering 4,000 square kilometres in what is known as Bighorn Country along the eastern edges of Banff and Jasper national parks.

Environment Minister Jason Nixon says the NDP’s plan for the area is flawed and the United Conservative Party government will not go ahead with it.

Residents and area officials have raised concerns about how the project might affect oil and gas exploration, the forestry industry and off-road vehicle use.

Nixon says the province will return to the North Saskatchewan regional planning process to better understand economic and environmental implications for the area.

The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society says it is disappointed with the decision to cancel the proposal but is hopeful the government will change its mind.

“And that in the end, they do see that it’s not political and that there is very concrete reasons for implementing increased conservation protection in the area,” Christopher Smith with the society said. “I would love to know how any evidence of foreign funding into that from decades ago and continuing for the last, at least, 40 years for the advocacy for this. The previous Conservative government actually partially designated the area as a protected area.”

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