Clear-cutting in Parks
April 22, 2008
Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In mid-December 2007 a part of W. A. Switzer provincial park near Hinton was clear-cut by Yellowhead county. Late last year areas in the Kananaskis along the Trans Canada Trail were also clear-cut. Provincial parks are supposed to provide protection for our natural heritage. However, for this government a short-term economic pursuit trumps environ-mental sustainability. To the Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation: what designated green areas in this province are actually protected, or is everything open to clear-
cutting and industrial development?
Mrs. Ady: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to thank the hon. member for the question because I know he cares about parks, as does everyone in this Assembly. Relative to green I wish our parks were green right now. They're all white, but I do look forward to the day when they are green again. To the member's question. As far as clear-cutting in parks, our policy is that we do not clear-cut in parks. We do not. Now, there might be activity in those parks that he might be seeing. He might be seeing some pine beetle control. He might be seeing some FireSmart activities. We might be building a new campground. Those are things that could be happening.
Mr. Chase: Thank you. I would invite the minister to witness Moose Mountain , Cataract Creek, and numerous other devastated areas in the McLean Creek, Sibbald Flats, and Ghost-Waiparous
areas. That's clear-cutting. To the same minister: what penalties were assessed for the
unauthorized overcutting by Yellowhead county in the W. A. Switzer provincial park and by Spray Lake Sawmills along the Trans Canada Trail?
Mrs. Ady: I'm sorry, Mr. Speaker, but I'm unaware of those areas. I'll have to get back to the member with the specifics to his question.
Mr. Chase: Thank you. I shared those areas just moments before the House sat. My next question is to the Minister of Sustainable Resource Development. Given that in Banff national park the pine beetle is fought not through clear-cutting but through targeted cuts and burns,
why can't the same tactic be used in the Kananaskis at Sibbald and at Ghost-Waiparous?
Dr. Morton: Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member should begin by apologizing for misleading statements to this Assembly. The cutting that was done adjacent to the Trans Canada Trail is outside the protected area of Kananaskis. I'd further like to point out that Parks and SRD have had very productive meetings with the Trans Canada Trail Committee. We've discussed where the trail is, how it will be improved. In fact, the trails he refers to are old logging roads. These meetings we had have actually resulted in an agreement between the Trans Canada Trail partners and ourselves to improve the trail, working with Parks and SRD.
Thank you.