To ensure that it was meeting visitor needs and remaining relevant to Canadians, Parks Canada approved a number of new recreational activities for national parks in 2010, including those with guided interpretive elements, which includes aerial parks, canopy tours, via ferrata
and zip-lines (but not as a stand-alone activity); mountain biking; hang-gliding and paragliding; community gardens; and traction kiting.

They passed the baton on to the field units, yet in Jasper National Park it appears to have been dropped. Out of eight potential recreational activities, only four (mountain biking, aerial adventure parks, hang-gliding and paragliding, and traction-kiting) have been given the green light.  The door for proposals considering other activities was closed without consultation.

Eliminating several recreation activities with a stroke of the pen, makes it impossible to entertain suggestions for the future.  Closed doors just don’t open that easily, as we have seen with the recreational rafting sector’s challenges on the Mid-Maligne River.

AMPPE strongly encourages Parks Canada to give nationally-approved recreational activities the attention they deserve.  Meaningful and substantive consultation with the public, visitors, and tourism businesses on new recreational activities is needed – otherwise prospective operators have little incentive to investigate opportunities for investment, business plans and marketing.

Parks Canada must keep the doors open to good ideas, eliminate policy roadblocks that lead to business uncertainty and let the private sector do what they do best, provide high-quality visitor experiences and recreational opportunities that attract people to the parks.  The mountain national parks account for close to 70 per cent of Parks Canada’s overall economic contribution, and are among the most visited nationally.  Tourism operators are the best source for helping to increase revenues and new recreational activities are among the best opportunities to create meaningful connections with a broad range of Canadians.

Monica Andreeff, Executive Director

To download the provisional Guidelines for New recreational Activities in Jasper National Park click here:

Provisional Guidelines for New Recreational Activities in Jasper National Park