Re: Writer supports Bighorn Country proposal, page 17, March 12 Gazette.
The letter writer seems to have listened to everything the NDP have had to say, and ignored any rebuttal.
Does it matter how many Albertans who are not affected by the proposal are for it? The majority who would be affected by the proposal are against it.
Is the writer aware that the RAC public study implemented by the NDP found that 54 per cent of people were against the creation of more parks, and specifically 85 per cent were opposed to the Bighorn park. Could this be why the NDP did not want public consultation? The feel of the public consultations was that everyone who attended was against the proposal.
Contrary to what the writer thinks, the NSRP recommendations, which took five years to work out so far, have not been completed, and by making this proposal before the completion of the NSRP, the NDP is conducting land-use management outside of the legislated regulatory Land-Use Framework process.
Does the writer recall when Phillips promised to allow off-road vehicle trails to be kept in Castle, then after a year of negotiating, just walked away from that promise? Does the writer recall when Phillips said that the RCMP had said it was too dangerous have public consultations, and then have the RCMP contradict her.
Does the writer recall when she said she meant that there were open cases, and the RCMP contradicted her again. Do you recall when she said that the affected Indigenous people were consulted? The band denied that claim, saying that a 15-minute phone call to two band members is not consultation.
Does the writer trust Phillips to tell the truth? Does the writer recall that it used to be legal to snowmobile in Banff National Park, and that when that right was taken away, Kananaskis Country was created, with the express purpose of preserving a place where the recreational activities outlawed in Banff and Jasper could still be practised. It was created in 1977, to facilitate the development of infrastructure that supports a variety of recreation opportunities.
Kananaskis Country is 4,250 square kilometres. Originally 536 square kilometres was set aside in three parks, and 3,714 square kilometres was to allow motorized vehicles. Today there are 10 parks and only 1,250 square kilometres of the original 3,714 square kilometres are left for possible off-road use. I think everyone can see the path the Bighorn is on.
– Bob Wilson,
Calgary
