With a telephone town hall scheduled for Sundre and area on Jan. 15 as part of the Bighorn Country consultation process, the province is “re-evaluating engagement plans and exploring rescheduling public information drop-in sessions,” according to Minister of Environment and Parks Shannon Phillips.
Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre United Conservative Party MLA Jason Nixon is calling on Phillips to reinstate the open houses.
The Bighorn Country proposal involves a vast area along the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains, and would include the creation of a new Ya Ha Tinda provincial park west of Sundre.
To participate in Tuesday's open house from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., dial 1-877-229-8493 and enter code 115500#. Participants can also listen and ask questions online at vekeo.com/youralberta.
Consultations regarding the plan have been underway for several weeks and include an online survey and telephone town halls.
An in-person public open house had been scheduled for Sundre on Jan. 14 but was cancelled on Jan. 5 over what the Minister Phillips called public safety concerns.
“This is a very fluid situation and we will continue to monitor it,” Phillips told reporters on Jan. 9. “When we are convinced that we have public safety restored and that we can move forward with some of these in-person consultations we will.”
She said the government has identified nine separate incidents of “verbal and other forms of harassment” of government employees involved in the public consultation process.
MLA Nixon says in-person public open houses must be held as part of the Bighorn Country consultation process.
“I sincerely hope that you will reverse this decision,” Nixon said in an open letter to Phillips. “I invite you to come and speak to affected Albertans in the region so that they have an opportunity to have their voices heard on an issue that affects them greatly.
“I think we both agree that all Albertans, both those supportive and opposed, should be able to provide their feedback to the government’s Bighorn plan. As a proponent of ‘social license’ theory, I’m sure you agree that this is especially true for those that live in the region.”
Nixon says he expects all open house participants to be civil.
“Let me be clear in no uncertain terms: we condemn any intimidation,” he said. “Regardless of where it might be coming from, any intimidation, threats, or harassment is unacceptable. We would of course condemn any documented incidents in the strongest possible terms.
“Cowardly ‘trolls’ are willing to say things online that they would never say in person. Of course, if the trolls cross a line, they should be held accountable. But in many respects, the reality of social media only makes a stronger case for in-person community consultation. We need to humanize those involved, regardless of which side of the debate they are on.”
Reinstating the open houses would help the province gather necessary public input about the Bighorn plan, he said.
“While a small group of cowards on both the left and right are willing to say terrible things online, we cannot allow their cowardly and inexcusable behavior to result in Albertans being shut out of discussions about the future of their home,” he said.
“All Albertans, especially those that live in the area, appreciate and want to see our majestic wilderness protected for future generations. For so many of us, the Bighorn country is an important part of daily life, widely used from recreation to industry.”
In cancelling the public open houses, Phillips said, “I have heard stories of Albertans afraid to attend community events, Albertans berated in public, Albertans followed home, and Albertans feeling intimidated to not speak their mind or participate in this important discussion.
“In recent weeks I have become increasingly concerned about the inflamed rhetoric and inaccurate statements made by some organizations and individuals on social media.
“This has led to significant misinformation on the status and substance of the proposal for Bighorn Country and, more recently, allegations of bullying, abuse, and concerns over personal safety.”
In a press release last week, UCP MLA Mike Ellis, the Opposition critic for the solicitor general, called on Phillips to be replaced on the Bighorn file.
“This Minister chose to politicize our law enforcement, mislead Albertans, and slandered countless concerned Albertans as behaving in a way that warranted exceptional RCMP intervention,” said Ellis.
“Through the Minister’s actions and statements, she has cast aspersions between Albertans who are affected by the Bighorn plan and the RCMP that serves the area. We do not say this lightly: Given the lack of trust in the region, another Minister should take over responsibility for the Bighorn plan.
“Given the Minister’s diminished credibility on this file, only another Minister can restore trust on this important matter concerning many Albertans.”
Premier Rachel Notley reportedly said she is standing by Phillips and does not plan to replace her on the Bighorn file.
The Bighorn Country plan would “create new opportunities for conservation, economic development, tourism and recreation in the region,” said Phillips.
