National parks working to improve 'visitor experience,' numbers

Recently, there has been a flurry of negative comments about Parks Canada's desire to attempt to regain the visitors who have stopped visiting the awe-inspiring mountain national parks. The comments come from the same tired voices that have a philosophical agenda opposed to parks and people.

Here are the facts:

The mandate of Parks Canada as stated in the National Parks Act is: "On behalf of the people of Canada, we protect and present nationally significant examples of Canada's natural and cultural heritage and foster public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment in ways that ensure their ecological and commemorative integrity for present and future generations."

One of the points that always needs to be stated clearly is that the national parks are for all Canadians to use so that they can understand, appreciate and enjoy their natural and cultural heritage.

At the recent minister's roundtable, held every two years by the minister responsible for Parks Canada, Jim Prentice, the question was raised as to how does Parks Canada "connect Canadians to history and nature?" This has been a focus for Parks Canada in its management plan review process and therefore is much more far-reaching than simply establishing percentage increases. Canadians need to participate in their national parks in a responsible way that supports a healthy lifestyle, while allowing for an ongoing learning of nature and history.

The new management plans are an improvement to previous plans in that they support the full mandate of Parks Canada and clearly state that visitor experience needs to be improved. The Parks Canada Agency senior management has increased support in this direction and should be recognized as moving forward in making improvements for Canadians. Bravo.

Sadly, the number of people taking part in the visitor experiences in Banff National Park has been declining since 1998. This has resulted in businesses closing and other businesses struggling to reinvest to offer the best in visitor experiences. The strategy to have increases in park visits is about economic sustainability, and not unchecked growth.

Businesses need to be competitive and creative and this means they need to be economically sustainable.

Ecological integrity needs to be put into perspective; and in the mountain parks it is not a standalone statement. It comes down to protection in the parks and that translates into responsible use; that is what the national parks should offer Canadians.

Richard Leavens, executive director, Association for Mountain Parks Protect ion and Enjoyment (AMPPE) , Banff