Environmental Law Centre finds Alberta Parks Act “significant step backwards”
Finds Proposed Alberta Parks Act as “..inadequate”
from: Sam Gunsch, Sierra Club, Edmonton 780 885 5624
=========================================
Update: Bill 29 - Alberta Parks Act (November 14, Edmonton)
Environmental Law Centre finds Alberta Parks Act “significant step backwards”
Alberta’s Environmental Law Centre is describing the current Bill 29 – Alberta Parks Act as “..inadequate” , and “a step backwards”.
Excerpts:
“The ELC views the current Bill as inadequate to ensure that the ecological integrity of Alberta’s protected areas is preserved for future generations.
“ Bill 29 removes substantive provisions related to protected areas and this reflects a significantstep backwards in ensuring the preservation of Alberta’s natural heritage.”
(The Environmental Law Centre released its comments on the Parks Act on Friday November 12, website at http://www.elc.ab.ca/pages/WhatsNew/default.aspx?id=1032)
The Sierra Club’s response from Sam Gunsch, “When the lawyers put it in writing that a law is ‘inadequate’ and going “backwards”, you know the proposed Parks Act is going to be really bad for provincial parks and the wildlife that depend on that habitat.”
The provincial government is putting the bill forward Monday for 2nd reading without any details on what kind of protection their ‘zoning’ proposal will be included. The Environmental Law Centre points out that Act needs amendment to “give primary consideration to the maintenance of ecological integrity.”
Alberta’s parks conservation groups say the Act should be scrapped or put to an all-party committee for public consultation.
In 2000, Premier Klein shelved a similar parks bill, the Natural Heritage Act because then Energy Minister, Steve West blocked Environment ministers Mar’s plans to phase out industrial use out of parks. This new Bill 29 does not stop industrial use and commercial development in provincial parks and protected areas.
The groups say its worse than the previous bill because it will eliminate all existing provincial Wilderness Areas and Ecological Reserves.
“Albertans only need to know that when a new Parks law eliminates Wilderness Areas that Peter Lougheed supported, its a bad law. Stelmach’s environmental legacy is undermining the legacy of the best premier his party has ever had,” said Gunsch.
- 30 -
Sam Gunsch, Sierra Club, Edmonton, 780 885 5624
http://p.sierraclub.ca/en/media/release/conservation-groups-launch-save-our-parks-week
- Login to post comments
Connect With Us...
