From the Parks Canada Charter:

Our Commitments: To protect, as a first priority, the natural and cultural heritage of our special places and ensure that they remain healthy and whole.

To present the beauty and significance of our natural world and to chronicle the human determination and ingenuity which have shaped our nation.

To celebrate the legacy of visionary Canadians whose passion and knowledge have inspired the character and values of our country.

To serve Canadians, working together to achieve excellence guided by values of competence, respect and fairness.

There have been opinions expressed lately that Parks Canada has “lost focus” or is otherwise somehow becoming deficient in safeguarding our national treasures because of a willingness to discuss ideas and projects that Parks sees as compatible with its mission and not a threat to its dominion. 

It was long observed to be customary Parks ideology that local (or regional) employees could and should handle most things great and small pertaining to Jasper and its environs. Can it be that Parks has become a little less ambivalent to other parties having a role in providing goods and services to visitors and locals, and is coming to recognize that entities other than bureaucratic monoliths can often do so more efficiently and cost-effectively?

Whether the Glacier Discovery Walk or other such projects are good or bad ideas only time will tell, and our purpose here is not to argue about the positives or negatives concerning such proposals. Leaving aside the positive impact that such developments will have on Jasper’s economy (and not coincidentally to government coffers), that Parks is willing to discuss ideas on their merits rather than dictating policy by fiat is a refreshing development.

On a related note, does it bother anyone that Parks Canada doesn’t talk about “people” but rather “visitors”? It long seemed to the cynical that Parks had much more regard for the animals, plants, creeks and stones than for the human element in Parks’ domain, but lately the exclusion of the word “people” from official communiqués is interesting: the Glacier Discovery Walk is mooted to be an enhancement of the “visitor” experience; the addition of a kiosk to the East Park gates is proudly touted to facilitate the entrance to and enjoyment of the Park by its “visitors”; the fleecing of “visitors” at the gates for entrance to Jasper is justified because it enables the maintenance and safety of the infrastructure these “visitors” need. “Visitors” seem to have been discovered as a newer valuable resource by Parks, and the language reflects this. But most glaringly, the word “people” seems to be missing from Parks’ vocabulary (never mind “local”).

In the new spirit of a willingness for dialogue, it’s time that Parks paid as much respect to Jasperites (hint: “local” +  “people”) as to its precious animals, plants, and “visitors” by allowing us the full measure of our autonomy, and together the Municipality of Jasper and Parks Canada can work to eliminate the red tape, misdirection and scapegoating, and the duplication of services and licensing that drives locals nuts. 2011 is Jasper’s 10th year as a municipality, and while by no means perfect, our town has proven itself mature enough to handle its own fate. The Crown will always be the final arbiter in any major issues that arise regarding Jasper’s overall existence as “The Gem of the Rockies”, so take off the training wheels and, among many other things, let the community decide how steep our roofs should be or what colour to paint our window sills.