MARCH 2020 Editor: CONTENTS Ian Urquhart, PhD MARCH 2020 • VOL. 28, NO. 1 Graphic Design: Keystroke Design & Production Inc. Doug Wournell B Des, ANSCAD Features www.keystrokedesign.com

MIX The Trout: An Elk Creek Provincial Paper 4 ® Association News FSC C013747 Recreation Area Tale 6 Fortress Mountain and the False 22 Mark Boyce’s 2019 Martha Promise of Public Participation in Kostuch Annual Lecture Alberta Wilderness Watch ALBERTA WILDERNESS 9 The Buzz about Native Bees ASSOCIATION “Defending Wild Alberta through 12 Rinse and repeat: Another 24 Updates proposed revision of Alberta’s Awareness and Action” parks legislation 30 In Memoriam: Richard Guy, Dedicated to the conservation of Sept. 30, 1916 – Mar. 9, 2020 wilderness and the completion of 15 Ottawa Proposes a Sandhill Crane Hunt a protected areas network, Alberta Events Wilderness Association is a voice for 17 A Right to Roam the environment. Since 1965, AWA has inspired communities to care for 20 Louise and Richard Guy 31 Adventures for Wilderness Alberta’s wild spaces through awareness Poetry Corner and action. With a provincial office and library in Calgary, AWA has active members, volunteers, and sponsors Cover Photo throughout Alberta and beyond. AWA Lindsey Wallis took this photo of her daugh- is a non-profit, federally registered, ter, Karina Eustace Wallis, along the South charitable society. Donations and Saskatchewan River—inspired perhaps by financial support are greatly appreciated, a photo taken a generation ago when Lind- please call 403 283-2025 or contribute sey’s dad photographed her on a rock along online at AlbertaWilderness.ca another prairie river—the Red Deer. Pre- Wild Lands Advocate is published cious. PHOTO © L. WALLIS four times a year, by Alberta Wilderness Association. The opinions expressed by the authors in this publication are not necessarily those of AWA. The editor reserves the right to edit, reject or withdraw articles and letters submitted. Please direct questions and comments to: 403-283-2025 • [email protected] Featured Art Subscriptions to the WLA are $30 per Brownie, aka Anne Beverly Brown of Bragg Creek, began her creative life as a singer/ year. To subscribe, call 403-283-2025 songwriter producing two recordings of original music before home-schooling her or see AlbertaWilderness.ca. children for 14 years. Now in her next phase of life Brownie paints, something she had been doing intermittently for years. Having worked with acrylic, oil, and watercolour on canvases of many sizes, Brownie is presently enjoying watercolour pens and a touch of ink, a medium that best suits working small (4 x 6” to 9 x 12”). Each painting is inspired by her love of the land and a desire to communicate that love, pure and simple. Please visit: annebeverlybrown.com 455-12 ST NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1Y9 403-283-2025 www.AlbertaWilderness.ca [email protected] Charitable Registration Number: AWA respects the privacy of members. Lists are not sold or traded in any manner. AWA is a federally registered charity 118781251RR0001 and functions through member and donor support. Tax-deductible donations may be made to AWA at 455-12 ST NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1Y9. Ph: 403-283-2025 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.AlbertaWilderness.ca ISSN 1192-6287 A Fork in the Road

Will history judge February 23, 2020 as a label arguably fits some investors as well, resources, ensuring a sustainable future watershed moment in Alberta? Then, Teck the investors who are turning their backs for our oil and gas industries, and restor- Resources stunned boosters and detractors on the oil sands sector and denying com- ing Canada’s reputation as a reliable place of oil sands exploitation alike. With the panies capital – their lifeblood. to do business.” (my emphasis) federal cabinet poised to decide the imme- The managers of Norway’s $1 trillion gov- So far, there’s no indication the Teck de- diate fate of Teck’s Frontier Oil Sands Proj- ernment pension fund decided last fall to cision will push the Premier to reconsider ect within a few days, the company pulled sell the fund’s holdings in four key oil sands whether, in order to attract more of the oil its application. players: Cenovus, Husky, Imperial Oil, and sands investment he craves, his govern- Not surprisingly, the Alberta government Suncor. Hundreds of railway blockad- ment must take seriously the need to take condemned what Teck did. But, Premier ers didn’t lead them to that decision. Or, the right fork and cut greenhouse gas emis- Kenney didn’t fault the company for not what about Royal Dutch Shell and Conoco sions from the oil sands sector. waiting several days for the federal deci- Phillips – companies that recently aban- Instead, the provincial government has sion. Instead, his news release rounded up doned their longstanding positions in the offered a long list of decisions that only his usual suspects. Environmentalists and oil sands? Or, what about BP’s decision to focus on deregulating oil and gas and im- aboriginal opponents to the Coastal Gas- dissociate itself from three U.S. petroleum proving corporate bottom lines in the short Link natural gas pipeline were to blame. So lobby groups? Climate change and the term. They include: was Ottawa…but just Liberal Ottawa. Con- need to take it seriously offer more compel- - cutting the budget of the Alberta Ener- veniently ignored is the fact that the Harp- ling explanations for those decisions than gy Regulator (AER) by more than $150 er government, in which Premier Kenney the Premier’s preferred narrative. million over four years; served in cabinet, was the obstacle to ful- Teck’s decision highlights that Alberta is - cutting staff at the AER by 22 percent in filling Teck’s hope for a regulatory decision at a fork in the road. To the right, is a route 2019/20; by 2014. that takes climate change seriously and re- - ordering rural municipalities to cut taxes One phrase from Teck’s project withdraw- quires policies that will make significant on shallow gas producers by 35 percent; al letter received much press attention. It reductions in GHG emissions in Alberta, - refusing to force oil/gas companies to read: “However, global capital markets are in Canada, and in all major industrialized pay the $173 million they owe rural changing rapidly and investors and cus- and industrializing nations. Alberta’s gov- municipalities in unpaid property taxes; tomers are increasingly looking for juris- ernments – Progressive Conservative, New - cutting corporate income taxes. dictions to have a framework in place that Democrat, and United Conservative – have Instead of doubling down on the way reconciles resource development and cli- never taken that road. government/industry relations have been mate change…” (my emphasis) The fork to the left keeps us on a famil- conducted historically in Alberta I think it’s Does Alberta accept Teck’s premise? I iar route. It’s the road where the Premier time for the province to recognize a “mili- don’t think so. When the Premier vilified “a declares his government’s deepened “re- tant minority” of investors who are looking militant minority” in response to Teck’s de- solve to use every tool available to fight for for government to take a new route that cision, I suspect his target was all oil sands greater control and autonomy for Alberta recognizes new realities. opponents, those who use legal as well as within Canada, including reinforcing our - Ian Urquhart illegal means. But, the “militant minority” constitutional right to develop our natural The Trout: An Elk Creek Provincial Recreation Area Tale

By Ian Urquhart

railer relocation, not fish- a snake-like trail through the valley. It’s edge of the bank, this was a perfect place ing, was the main reason my not a very wide creek – I’m pretty sure for a trout to take up residence and let T friend Michael and I found my younger self would have been able to the creek’s current deliver its meals. ourselves at the Elk Creek Provincial Rec- jump across it at more than a few places. What happened next was the most reation Area years ago. I had inherited an Its many bends and curves suggest it isn’t extraordinary sight I’ve ever seen while old Scamper trailer I needed to pull to in much of a rush to join the Clearwater. fishing in the foothills. Either in person the Clearwater Trading Company camp- Willows and other sun-loving shrubs jos- or on video you may have seen a whale ground just west of Caroline. Michael, tle for position along the creek’s banks. “spyhop.” This is when a cetacean, such who always was looking for an excuse to Like those shrubs, the creek avoids dense as one of the orcas that frequent Rob- spend time in the foothills, thought I re- forest. Instead, it slaloms through open son Bight on Vancouver Island, vertical- ally needed a navigator. So we hitched up meadows interspersed with shrubs and ly pokes its head and some of its body the trailer onto the Explorer and headed patches of white spruce. As the shadows straight out of the water. That’s what my southwest, first to Shunda Creek near lengthened, we enjoyed our beers, lis- trout did at Elk Creek. In the soft light Nordegg and then south on the Forestry tened to the creek gurgle, and breathed just before sunset, a brown trout rose Trunk Road. in the aroma of the forest behind us. Yes, vertically out of the water within inches I can’t tell you much about the trip be- it was tranquil. of the undercut bank and slipped silently fore we stopped at the Elk Creek camp- “The Trout” broke that tranquility. Just back into the lie. In early evening light ground or after we left there to drop below our campsite the creek, no more it was gorgeous, the sun gave it a cop- the trailer off. But, I’ll never forget the than five feet wide, made an S. In that per-like hue. In any light, the trout was evening we spent there. As most of you first bend in the S, the creek bank was enormous. I guessed that at least 15 inch- know, there’s nothing particularly luxuri- undercut, the water was deeper, the cur- es of the trout came out of the water. I ous about PRA campgrounds. The camp- rent was slower. It had formed a “lie” for couldn’t believe what I had seen. site had a firepit and a suitably engraved fish. Sheltered by a small spruce on the Excitement turned fingers into thumbs. picnic table. As for the campground it- self, it had pit toilets and a water pump – like then, today I still think it’s a bit AWA WANTS YOUR MEMORIES!! Yes, we want you to strange to see a pit toilet described as share with us any memories you have of the time you’ve an amenity. In those days, firewood was provided. But, we didn’t need it because I spent in these threatened elements of our provincial always like to travel with my own. parks system. Please, please send them to us. Get your But the campground’s setting – that is friends to send their memories. I want to devote much Elk Creek’s real amenity. The campground of the June issue of the Advocate to sending a message sits at one of the broader points in the from all of us to the provincial government that its pro- valley separating the grey, towering Front posal is anything but “optimizing Alberta Parks.” Your Ranges of the Rockies to the west from thoughts, your stories will make that message powerful. the gentler, fully-forested mountains of the foothills to the east. Elk Creek, like Tell us what sites like Elk Creek have meant to you in your the Clearwater River it feeds just down- life so we can tell the government how wrong-headed its stream from the campground, carves plans are.

4 WLA | March 2020 | Vol. 28, No. 1 | FEATURES Frozen Over, 8” x 10”, watercolour pens with ink, PHOTO: © A. BROWN

While Michael chuckled, I managed to virtually against the bank… system. Its future may be one where it assemble my fly rod and tie on one of my A few minutes later I landed a gorgeous will be “available for partnership oppor- mayfly imitations. I scrambled down to 22-inch brown trout. When it hammered tunities” or something called “alternative the creek, grateful for the room the open my fly it burrowed deep into the lie un- management approaches.” Maybe it’ll be gravel bed on my side of the water gave der the bank. Given the shallowness of closed altogether. Would I have had my me. Staying low to keep my profile below the water both above and below the S in magical moment if the Elk Creek PRA the shrubs and trees behind me I tossed the creek, I guessed it felt the hole of- hadn’t existed? I don’t think so. I won- the fly into the current and watched it fered it the best chance of escape. When der how many other magical moments in drift down to where the trout had sur- I released my trout, it darted back under the outdoors have taken place there, or faced. Nothing. Maybe my placement the bank. in any of the other 164 sites the province was off, maybe my fly was drifting too I’ll never forget that amazing experience. wants to abandon? close to the middle of the creek, too close I thought back on that day when I read to the shallow water edge of the lie. My the provincial government’s inventory of next cast was higher up the creek and the 164 sites it intends to close or other- deliberately onto the bank on the other wise cut loose as part of its “Optimizing side. I gently tugged the fly off the grass Alberta Parks” initiative. Elk Creek Pro- and into the water just inches from the vincial Recreation Area is targeted as one bank. It drifted down, under the spruce, of the sites to be removed from the parks

WLA | March 2020 | Vol. 28, No. 1 | FEATURES A5 Fortress Mountain and the False Promise of Public Participation in Alberta

By Shaun Fluker

he AWA has closely monitored case-in-point. I recently had an opportunity water bottling in southern Alberta; the application by Fortress to review AEP records concerning the For- • impacts on downstream water users T Mountain Ski Hill for an amend- tress approvals, records which are publicly would be ‘essentially non-existent’ be- ment to its water license which – as of Oc- available on request but are not readily avail- cause: (1) the source tributary is non-fish tober 25, 2019 - now authorizes Fortress able online. These records paint a very clear bearing within the Fortress leasehold; (2) to remove up to 50 million litres of water picture of how little regard there was for pub- the proposed diversion for commercial annually from a tributary of Galatea Creek lic input in this process. use represents a small percentage of the in Kananaskis Country and sell it as bottled Fortress applied for the amendment to its total annual flow in the tributary (sup- water in the retail consumer market. Carolyn water license under the Water Act (Alberta) ported by a study of the hydrogeology Campbell has reported on this proposal, set- on August 1, 2018. After what appears to be of the region conducted by a University ting out the numerous environmental con- several months of back and forth, AEP wrote of Calgary graduate student); and (3) cerns associated with it (see the September to Fortress on October 30, 2018 indicating the proposed diversion represents just and December 2019 Wild Lands Advocate). that additional information was needed be- 0.0113% of the total average flow in the Along with this water license amendment, fore the application would be considered. Kananaskis River. Fortress has public lands authorization to Among these requests, AEP sought informa- On February 25, 2019, AEP informed construct and operate infrastructure to divert tion to support the water bottling proposal Fortress of the additional public land use the water, store it in a reservoir, and fill water including whether diversion from the source authorizations needed for the water bottling transport trucks. Fortress has stated that an tributary would be seasonal or year-round, proposal and what information Fortress average of nine truckloads per day of divert- where the diversion would occur, and how would have to submit in that regard. Much ed water would be transported to a bottling the water would be transported to the bot- of this information related to the proposed facility in southern Alberta. tling facility. At some point thereafter, For- transfer/fill station and truck transportation The manner in which public input was tress confirmed that diversion for bottling of the diverted water. Fortress requested that (dis)regarded in this approval process illus- would be year-round. AEP then sought addi- the water license amendment be processed trates yet again the false promise of public tional information by way of correspondence concurrently with these additional consents participation found in Alberta’s legal and pol- sent on January 25, 2019. In particular, AEP and approvals needed under the Public Lands icy framework for decisions concerning the asked for details concerning: Act (Alberta). At some point between late development of natural resources and the as- • signed water bottling contracts to confirm February and early July 2019, AEP complet- sessment of that development’s environmen- the volume of water that would be divert- ed its ‘technical review’ of the application. tal impacts. Despite statements of purpose ed for this new commercial use; Although, as noted below, it appears many in legislation such as the Environmental Pro- • an assessment of all environmental im- technical details on the impacts of this pro- tection and Enhancement Act (Alberta) which pacts that will arise from year-round wa- posal had yet to be fully considered in this speak to providing Albertans with an oppor- ter diversion and how these impacts will ‘technical review.’ tunity to give input on decisions affecting the be mitigated; On July 4, 2019, AEP directed Fortress environment, nothing could be further from • confirmation that any other necessary to give public notice of its proposal. These the truth in this province. The department consents or approvals have been obtained directions included a requirement for a one- of Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) for the water bottling operation. time notice in the Rocky Mountain Outlook typically authorizes projects with very little Fortress responded by confirming: newspaper, as well as a posting on the gat- transparency and without any opportuni- • there was a memorandum of understand- ed access road to Fortress and at the Barrier ty for public input. The Fortress decision is ing with a Calgary-based company for Lake Visitor Centre along highway 40 at the

6 WLA | March 2020 | Vol. 28, No. 1 | FEATURES entrance to Kananaskis Country. AEP also suggested how the public notice should be worded, including text that indicated any person who is directly affected by the application may submit a statement of concern to AEP within 30 days of the notice. Several observations are immediately apparent about the content of this public notice. Most obviously, the notice provides almost no details about the application and makes no reference whatsoever to the very purpose of this application: water bottling for the consumer market. This deficiency is re- markable given that AEP staff themselves had specifically raised concerns and sought more details about the bottling proposal from the outset. Similarly, there is no reference in the notice or even suggestions about the proposal’s possible environmental impacts; this silence exists despite the fact that AEP staff had completed their ‘technical review’ of the application and, as internal records demonstrate, by this time AEP staff were aware of the possible environmental impacts. While the notice states further information can be ob- tained from Fortress or AEP, the public is left to guess what might be available. And the AEP record includes an internal AEP memo written on July 23, 2019 that suggests some reluctance on the part of Fortress to disclose additional information during the 30-day comment period. The notice also references the ‘directly affected’ test for public participation in Alberta concerning environmental decision-making. As many readers will know from actual experience, this is the test used by AEP to exclude, rather than include, the public from decisions with possible environmental impacts. As is typical with AEP generally, none of the filers of statements of concern were found to be directly affected by the Fortress application. This is because AEP insists that in order to be ‘directly affected’ one must establish that they live or use a natural resource in close proximity to the approved activity. In short, AEP applies a test that nobody can meet for a project such as this one which is located on public lands in Kananaskis Country. In my view, this ap- plication of the ‘directly affected’ test by AEP must be unlawful in light of the statements of purpose in its governing legislation. One of the more interesting documents on the AEP record is a decision statement dated October 8, 2019. This decision statement lists each of the 224 statements of concern received by the department within the prescribed comment period. With only a few exceptions, the AEP decision statement concludes each statement of concern is invalid because the filer did not pro- vide information to support how they are directly affected by the project. In letters sent to statement of concern filers, AEP provided the following basis for rejecting statements of concern: • the information submitted did not demonstrate how the filer is directly affected by the project; • the filer’s place of residence is outside the area of potential environmental impact associated with the transfer/fill station; • concerns raised were outside the mandate of the Water Act; • there was not sufficient information provided in response to the public notice of application; • the statement of concern was filed after the 30 day comment pe- riod expired. How is a member of the public even to know about these thresholds for participation when AEP requires the Fortress public notice to contain so lit- tle information? There is absolutely no reference to a ‘residency’ or ‘use’ re-

WLA | March 2020 | Vol. 28, No. 1 | FEATURES A7 Galatea Creek in Kananaskis Country is fed by waters that will be depleted by the Fortress Mountain water license amendment. PHOTO: © C. CAMPBELL quirement in the governing legislation for by AEP that every single statement of con- ficient to mitigate adverse impacts to wildlife. this process. In any event, such requirements cern filed on this project was ‘invalid.’ In my view, the Fortress application should are clearly impossible to meet for just about For example, statements of concern filed by have been subjected to an open and trans- anybody concerned about a project in Ka- the public identified the potential for adverse parent environmental impact assessment nanaskis Country. Many public concerns fo- impacts to wildlife from truck traffic associat- process right from the start. The application cused on the removal of water for consumer ed with this proposal, and within AEP simi- was destined to be controversial because of bottling and, while this concern may not fall lar concerns were being discussed and com- its potential adverse environmental impacts clearly within the mandate of the Water Act, municated to Fortress. AEP records indicate located in the highly valued lands of Kanan- it is surely within the mandate of the Environ- that on July 16, 2019 – during the public askis Country, and these impacts are clearly mental Protection and Enhancement Act. Given comment period – Fortress was informed of significant concern to many Albertans. how little is disclosed in the public notice, it that AEP was considering a seasonal closure Not only would an open and transparent really seems like a ‘slap in the face’ to public on truck traffic between May 1 and June 15 environmental impact assessment process participation for AEP to dismiss concerns for each year because the subject lands are lo- have given the public a meaningful forum failing to give sufficient information! cated within core grizzly bear habitat. On to raise concerns with the proposal, it would On a related note, the record demonstrates August 29, 2019, a senior wildlife biologist also have provided Fortress with more pre- that AEP held these statements of concern with AEP was asked to opine on the potential dictability over the issues it would need to for most of August and all of September, be- impacts to wildlife arising from the transfer/ address and the overall timeframe for doing fore summarily dismissing them in early Oc- fill station and truck traffic on the Fortress so. As a further benefit, such a process would tober 2019 just weeks before AEP approved access road. In correspondence sent Septem- also have provided some legitimacy to the the application on October 25, 2019. Given ber 10, 2019, the wildlife biologist answered ultimate decision here. As it stands now, For- the basis upon which statements of con- that the impact of the transfer/fill station will tress has the legal authorizations it needs to cern were rejected in this case, the length of be low because it is located on a previously bottle Kananaskis water but its social license time AEP held these statements of concern disturbed site. However, the biologist stated to do so remains in doubt. is somewhat curious. And what transpired truck traffic on the access road during the Shaun Fluker is an Associate Professor in the internally within AEP during the months of summer was a concern and that this will Faculty of Law at the University of Calgary. He August and September is also interesting. Is- have impacts on wildlife. The public lands also is the Executive Director of the Faculty’s sues with the proposal raised by the public in authorization issued to Fortress for the trans- Public Interest Law Clinic. His research focuses, statements of concern were, in fact, similar to fer/fill station on October 25 did include a in part, on public participation and community the issues being raised internally within AEP condition of no activity between May 1 and engagement with natural resources/environmen- in August and September. At the very least, June 15, but there does not appear to be any tal decision-making. all of this raises some doubt over the decision explanation on the record for why this is suf-

8 WLA | March 2020 | Vol. 28, No. 1 | FEATURES The Buzz about Native Bees

By Joanna Skrajny, AWA Conservation Specialist

ees – we literally can’t live without Bee Council with a colleague due to their later, they found that three species had van- them. Approximately 45 percent concern over the lack of information – both ished and the populations of four species B of the world’s crop species used scientific and public – about the status of na- had declined. in agriculture depend on pollinators and tive bees in Alberta. Currently, four bumble bee species in Al- the value of this ecological service is pegged Megan points to the fact that Alberta berta are listed under the Species at Risk Act: in the tens of billions of dollars. After about doesn’t even have a complete inventory of two of them are assessed as Threatened, half of the honeybee colonies in the U.S. the number of native bee species in Alber- one is listed as Endangered, and the fourth were lost in the winter of 2006, the public ta. A couple of years ago, the Alberta Native is listed as Special Concern. Once consid- grew increasingly aware and concerned that Bee Council partnered with researchers at ered a very common bumble bee species in honeybee populations were declining. the University of Calgary and Alberta’s wild- Alberta, the western bumble bee (Bombus However, the public is generally unaware fire lookout towers. They set up bee traps occidentalis occidentalis) was designated as that a collapse in honeybee colonies is not, in wildfire towers across the province as a Threatened in 2014. After winter ends, the in fact, a conservation problem. first step towards compiling a province-wide queen bee will emerge and look for a nest Why? The honeybee (Apis mellifera) is inventory of Alberta’s bee species. While the site; a perfect spot is an abandoned rodent not native to North America, and actually data is still being processed, they’ve already nest either underground or within a piece of originated in Europe. In other words, hon- discovered one new species, bringing the wood. Once they pick a suitable nest, they’ll eybees are an invasive species! They were total number of known native bee species forage for pollen and nectar and lay eggs in brought over and are still used to this day as in Alberta to 322. Megan estimates there the nest in order to produce worker bees. livestock, shipped around to different farms might be another 30 to 50 species that we The workers then take over the nest care and greenhouses in order to pollinate crops. have yet to discover. Since the body shapes and finding pollen duties. Late in the sum- As a result, the issues facing honeybees are and colours of native bees vary widely, it mer, the queen produces male bees and new similar to some of the problems generally may not be immediately obvious to many queens which leave the nest to mate. Only facing industrial-scale agriculture. that the winged creature before us is a bee. the newly mated queen will survive until the A lack of species diversity, coupled with Let’s take a closer look at the charismat- next season. The rest of the bees, including large populations held in close proximity ic uncle of the bee world, the bumble bee the old queen, will die off come winter. to one another, has increased outbreaks (Bombus spp.). Big, hairy, and personable, The decline of nesting bumble bee species of viruses, parasites, and pests afflicting this species is a welcome, cheerful sight in has had cascading ecological impacts, in- honeybee hives. Shipping bees to multiple any garden. Worldwide, there are about 250 cluding the decline of the gypsy cuckoo bee locations is highly stressful and likely con- known species of bumble bees; of those, 29 (Bombus bohemicus) which co-evolved as a tributes to their death. Finally, lack of food reside in Alberta. European countries have nest parasite. A queen cuckoo bee takes over availability, poor nutrition, and changes in done a much better job of cataloguing their the nests of other bumble bee species in the habitat due to monoculture crops and pes- bee populations. There, many bumble bee spring by killing or injuring the host queen ticides have poisoned and malnourished species have declined steeply; several spe- bee and tricking the male worker bees into bee populations. cies have gone extinct. taking care of her own eggs. The observed Megan Evans, co-founder of the Alberta In Canada, Sheila Colla and Laurence numbers of gypsy cuckoo bees in the wild Native Bee Council, says that while the col- Packer studied bumble bees in Guelph in are so small and sporadic that COSEWIC lapse of honeybees is well-documented, we the mid-2000s. There, they re-sampled ar- suggests the species may be extinct. know relatively little about our native bee eas studied in the 1970s where 14 species Since our bumble bees are loud, proud, populations. She started the Alberta Native of bumble bees were found. Thirty years and visible to the naked eye, the collapse of

WLA | March 2020 | Vol. 28, No. 1 | FEATURES A9 bumble bee populations has been fairly ob- About 70 percent of North America’s ed to pollinate them. Honeybees also may vious. What’s less obvious is the current sta- native bee species are solitary and nest in perpetuate the spread of invasive species by tus of our remaining native bee populations, bare ground. Bumble bee colonies are quite pollinating invasive plants. but it would not be unreasonable to assume small, typically around 50 to 100 individ- that they have been facing similar declines. uals but rarely exceeding 200. Honeybee Solutions colonies are much larger – the Canadian Luckily, solutions are within reach. Despite Causes for the collapse of Honey Council reports there may be more widespread public outcry, the Canadian Alberta’s Native Bees than 50,000 bees in a single colony. Natu- Government has refused to ban neonicot- The introduction of neonicotinoids – a rally occurring pollen amounts may not be inoids; this simple change would provide pesticide still commonly used – in the early able to sustain such large honeybee popu- a significant benefit to our native bees. In 1990s likely triggered the initial collapse of lations. Some beekeepers therefore sup- agricultural settings, it’s important to move bumble bee populations. Pathogens that de- plement honeybees with sugar syrups and away from monoculture crops and provide veloped in honeybee colonies and jumped other pollen substitutes to maintain large, “bee refugia” – strips of native wildflowers over to native bee populations subsequently otherwise unsustainable, honeybee popu- and trees to provide nesting sites and a year- amplified the decline. lations on the landscape. round diverse supply of food. In Europe, As for honeybees, habitat loss and a The sheer numbers of honeybees collec- financial incentives offered to agricultural change to monoculture crops have affect- tively depleting natural sources of pollen can producers who restore grasslands and set ed native bees. However, since honeybees devastate native bee populations. A single aside areas of wildflowers have helped in- are generalist species, they can feed on a honeybee colony can eat food that otherwise crease bumble bee species and numbers. number of different plant species. In con- would have sustained 100,000 native bees. In Alberta, healthy rangelands have great- trast, most native Alberta bees are highly This effect may be reflected in the fact that er numbers of bee species, suggesting that specialized species; as specialists, they re- bumble bees located near honeybee hives ranchers can play an important role in sus- quire specific habitats and pollinate specific gain less weight and have smaller queens. taining bee diversity. plants. Due to this specialization, scientists Unfortunately, Alberta has a love affair with Of course, wildlands are a vital source of often use specific characteristics such as the honeybee – over 40 percent of the coun- diverse habitat and food for specialist na- tongue length and the flowers native bees try’s honeybees are in Alberta. tive bee species. However, researchers such feed on to identify species. A decrease in native bees should be cause as James Cane and Vincent Tepedino be- Evans suggests one rarely discussed phe- for public alarm. Their decline threatens crop lieve this refuge in the U.S. is increasingly nomenon is having a significant impact on pollination – one indispensable public benefit imperiled as “managed honeybee hives may our native bees. Large honeybee colonies are they provide. Other cascading impacts may be placed after midsummer (e.g., Rocky effectively starving native bee populations include the loss of certain wildflower species Mountains, Sierra Nevada, and the Great by competing with them for pollen. since honeybees lack the specialization need- Basin)” in wildland areas. This “supplemen- tal” feeding of honeybees likely reduces the food supply of native bees and increases the risk of honeybees invading and/or spreading disease. Honeybees should not be brought into wild areas. Cane and Tepedino also recommend re- ducing the number of honeybee hives. In- terestingly, despite the investment agricul- tural producers make in shipping around honeybees, native bees are actually more efficient in crop pollination and are able to do most of the pollinating legwork for 86 percent of crops. There is also a lot that we can do as indi- viduals to help protect and maintain native bees in our own backyard. You should try and do your part to provide good habitat for

A honeybee pollinating leafy spurge, an invasive species that originated in Europe and is listed as a noxious bees and other species. In general, being a weed. PHOTO © K. MIHALCHEON lazy gardener is good for wildlife. Leave a

10 WLA | March 2020 | Vol. 28, No. 1 | FEATURES A male bumble bee (Bombus spp.) in Picklejar Lakes, Kananaskis Country. PHOTO © J. HILDEBRAND. few dandelions on your lawn in the spring, ten continue to sell invasive species of plants to your elected city councillors and let them rake the leaves in the fall, and leave a few or will spray their annuals with insecticide, know you believe we should focus on sup- piles of branches and leaf litter. Also, don’t which will end up doing more harm than porting native bees, not honeybees, and that use insecticides. good. If you are interested in planting na- our parks and city landscapes should focus One very rewarding way to help our native tive plants for native pollinators, some great on planting native flowers. bees is to convert some of your lawn into resources to get you started include Wild In conclusion, I think that it’s time for us flower gardens. Try to have plants flower- About Flowers, ALCLA Native Plants and to reconsider our exclusive relationship with ing year-round; a particularly crucial time the Edmonton Native Plant Society. Alberta the honeybee and focus instead on increas- is the months of April and May, when the Invasive Species Council’s guide “Plant Me ing and encouraging our native bee popula- queen bee is eating food in order to begin Instead” also offers alternatives to invasive tions. The outcome – a more diverse planet, reproducing. There are a number of native flower species. full of beauty and flowers – would be a great plants that are relatively easy to grow in the Cities have emerged as an excellent ref- ending to this tale. garden. In AWA’s own garden, we have ear- uge for wild bees because of an abundance ly blue violets that bloom along our gravel of habitat and food variety and a decrease Bee! I’m expecting you! paths in mid-May and are always smothered in urban insecticide use. Unfortunately, Was saying Yesterday with bumble bees. Once established, colum- that benefit is negated when honeybees in To Somebody you know bines are low maintenance perennials that backyard hives compete with native spe- That you were due- faithfully bloom every June. In late summer, cies. It’s estimated that Calgary currently The Frogs got Home last Week – meadow blazing stars produce tall spikes of has 1,400 backyard hives and there is no Are settled, and at work – bright pink flowers – these showy flowers question that this negatively impacts our Birds, mostly back – are a bee and butterfly magnet! Finally, Sas- native bee populations. The Clover warm and thick – katoons provide a double benefit – not only In Alberta, the cities of Calgary, Airdrie, You’ll get my Letter by are they great for bees in the spring, they’ll and Chestermere are all officially listed as The seventeeth; Reply provide you with delicious fruit as well. bee cities, which means they are dedicated Or better, be with me – It’s important to do some research before to establishing and maintaining bee food Yours, Fly. you go shopping for plants; greenhouses of- and habitat. If you live in a bee city, write (Emily Dickinson, 1865)

WLA | March 2020 | Vol. 28, No. 1 | FEATURES 11A Rinse and repeat: Another proposed revision of Alberta’s parks legislation

By Grace Wark, AWA Conservation Specialist

Writing on Stone Provincial Park PHOTO: © J. SKRAJNY lose your eyes and picture your from a nearby racetrack; there, stands of sage the potential changes we may see coming favourite provincial park. What brush and blue grama grass are replaced by to parks legislation. One of the pillars of the C do you see? fields of noxious leafy spurge; once vibrant UCP platform during the 2019 election was a For me, that park is Writing-on-Stone in cliff ledges packed with chattering swallows promise to “modernize” parks legislation and southeast Alberta. I can hear the din of crick- and nesting hawks now lie empty, abandoned all signs indicate the government intends to ets in tall grass and the whispers of the wind for a more tranquil setting. While such shifts keep this promise. This suspicion is fuelled eroding sandstone pillars. I see its lush riv- may seem extraordinary or even impossible by the summer/fall sitting of the legislature; erside pathways shaded by arching willows. to imagine, they are the types of changes that at its conclusion the government announced I appreciate the culture and history of that our provincial parks system could see with that it had already fulfilled 58 of the 375 special place; warmth…that’s the feeling I’m even subtle shifts in the system’s mandate or commitments it claimed it made during the left with. if the management regime is changed in in- campaign. Now imagine that the buzz and hum of in- hospitable ways. So, if changes to the Parks Act will be com- sects is drowned out by the squeal of tires This article addresses critically some of ing down the pike, what will it mean to

12 WLA | March 2020 | Vol. 28, No. 1 | FEATURES “modernize” Alberta’s parks? What can we Since amendments to Acts require debate in portant reasons. expect out of a potential review? Since the the legislature, they are in the public eye and Bill 29 would have consolidated two im- government hasn’t told us what Acts they may invite controversy if opposition politi- portant acts (Provincial Parks Act and WAER- will consider changing, at this point in time cal parties and/or the media raise questions. NAHR), erasing the important distinctions we’re left to start with understanding the leg- Regulatory changes, which the law authoriz- between seven types of protected areas and islative landscape of Alberta’s parks system, es governments to make, don’t require public the activities permitted within them. Every- what it currently accomplishes, and what is debate. Jason Unger, Executive Director of thing not considered a Heritage Rangeland – potentially at stake with a review. the Environmental Law Centre, explained a designation for managing grazing on native that regulations are typically created “in the grasslands – would be classified as a provin- The lay of the land black box of government.” Since it’s a box cial park. Designations such as wilderness The Provincial Parks and Protected Areas Act that’s closed to public view, it’s tempting for areas, ecological reserves and natural areas was first introduced in 1930 and was Alber- governments of all political stripes to try to would have been eliminated. ta’s first legal lever for establishing protected make significant, controversial changes by Then, a zoning system would have estab- areas. Despite turning 90 this year, it hasn’t regulation, rather than by legislation. This is lished permissible and prohibited park ac- been left in some corner to collect dust. An- why we should be attentive to and wary of tivities. Parks would be classified into one other Parks Act was drafted in the 1950s, any government attempt to move something of four zones. At the time of the proposal, amended in the 1960s to include wilderness important, like protective status, out of an Act the details of these zones, and permissible and natural areas, and has since been revised and into a regulation. We’ll revisit this later. activities therein, were not published. Zon- continually to meet our evolving knowledge ing system details would have come through of ecosystem management. With numerous Sound familiar? provincial regulations. The Minister would updates and revisions to parks legislation Like something out of Bill Murray’s movie essentially have had discretion with respect over the years, the call for “modernizing” un- Groundhog Day, it feels like we’re destined to decisions regarding: protective status, park derestimates how the Act has evolved. to relive the proposed remodelling of parks access, recreation types, and where industrial Today, Alberta’s parks legislation consists legislation over and over and over again. It dispositions could or could not go. of three major acts: the Parks Act, Wilder- was only a decade ago that the Stelmach Bill 29 also proposed to use delegated ad- ness Areas, Ecological Reserves, Natural Areas government introduced the infamous Bill ministrative organizations for recreational and Heritage Rangelands Act (WAERNAHR), 29, which proposed to turn Alberta’s current trails. Reduced management costs would and the Willmore Wilderness Park Act. To- suite of protected areas into two categories: cut government spending – a motive that’s gether, the Acts have established Alberta’s provincial parks and heritage rangelands. dear to the heart of the current government. wide variety of protected areas, everything This bill was panned for a number of im- This would have opened the door to privat- from strict protection (Wilderness Areas) to more recreationally friendly spaces (Provin- cial Recreation Areas). This underlines that not all “parks” are created equal in the level of protection they offer. The deliberate com- plexity of our current system accommodates regions that require more intensive ecosys- tem management, those that can allow more human use and enjoyment, and everything in between. The Acts flesh out the answers to key ques- tions such as: what is the purpose of protect- ed areas? What level of wilderness protection does each designation offer? How will the area be managed to achieve conservation? Are roads allowed or foot access only? Are you allowed to hunt, fish, bike, boat or camp? In other words, they direct activities that have bearing on the ecological integrity of a protected area and how it will realize its Paddlers like these on the Red Deer River may find their favourite pullout spots like the Bleriot Ferry Provin- conservation outcomes. cial Recreation Area closed to overnight camping. PHOTO AWA FILES

WLA | March 2020 | Vol. 28, No. 1 | FEATURES 13A ization in parks and protected areas. The environmental sector criticized this proposal for its potential to erode park conservation values and remove public resources from public control. Thankfully, Bill 29 was stopped dead in its tracks, one of few instances where a bill was pulled due to clear and unyielding public opposition.

Bigger business, relaxed regulations The government’s commitments to eco- nomic growth, business, tourism, and fewer regulations also may have worrisome impli- cations for the substance of “modernization.” Travel Alberta and the Ministry of Econom- ic Development, Trade and Tourism recent- A herd of moulting bighorn sheep atop Plateau Mountain Ecological Reserve, a protected area designation that ly announced their plan to grow provincial would have disappeared under the proposed 2010 revision of the Provincial Parks Act. PHOTO © G. WARK tourism revenues to $20 billion by the year pacts, from the intensification of commercial The Alberta government is focused on 2030, more than double the amount the sites on roadsides, the introduction of sur- ways to cut spending, shift costs onto other tourism sector currently generates. This pro- faced trails and campsites, the increased like- governments or actors, and promote eco- posed growth likely has important implica- lihood of human-wildlife interactions, and nomic growth. Given this focus it’s not hard tions for protected areas, given that Alberta’s growing demand for local resources. The to imagine a rewritten parks act that invites parks are existing focal points for tourism backcountry isn’t immune either. Luxury commercialization within protected areas. and highly sought-after destinations. backcountry huts can lead to overcrowding This could mean relaxing the rules over new With proposed tourism nodes already within undermanaged areas, and with the developments and recreation types, or allow- written into Alberta’s regional plans, we’re increasing popularity of e-bikes, we’re also ing greater extraction of resources in or ad- expecting new developments to start crop- seeing higher intensity disturbance travelling jacent to protected areas (see Shaun Fluker’s ping up in parts of Kananaskis, Crowsnest further into the backcountry. article on the Fortress Mountain Resort water Pass, Bighorn, Lakeland, and even in the Despite tourism’s noticeable footprint on license for an example of what’s already hap- badlands. While tourism can bring econom- the landscape, it is important to facilitating pening adjacent to two provincial parks). ic diversification to rural communities, any a personal connection to the land and gen- proposed development within or adjacent erating the political and economic will to Wait and see... to protected areas will need significant vet- support protection. However, tourism’s net At the end of the day, there are a lot of un- ting to ensure we aren’t treading where we positive benefits can only be unlocked when knowns in how this platform commitment shouldn’t. Habitat, headwaters, and species new developments are ecologically sustain- to modernization will shape up. Provisions at-risk need to remain as the core values of able, something that is easier said than done. have already been made in the provincial our protected areas. They must not be sac- Scale, timing and seasonality, recreation budget for a parks legislative review, so we rificed when attempting to balance environ- types, and amount of use permitted, among know that changes will be proposed soon mental protection with tourism and recre- many other ecological factors influence the enough. For now, take the time to consid- ation opportunities. sustainability of an activity. Estimating sus- er the history of Alberta’s parks legislation, Under the lens of recreation ecology, the tainability often can’t be determined with- what our parks system currently achieves, impacts of outdoor recreation on landscapes, out an in-depth environmental assessment. and what Alberta’s protected areas mean to habitats, and species have been well-docu- With so much diversity between parks and you. My hope is that whatever revision the mented. From literature and observation, we protected areas, there is no general consen- government ultimately proposes does not know that recreation can lead to decreased sus on what constitutes eco-tourism within dilute the protection that’s already in place water quality, introduction of invasive spe- them. Contrary to what marketers would and that any proposed changes happen cies, habitat fragmentation, changes to wild- have you believe, an activity does not qualify transparently and with opportunity for di- life behavior, and wildlife displacement. as eco-tourism simply by virtue of being in alogue on the management of our favourite Frontcountry sites feel the brunt of the im- the mountains... wilderness spaces.

14 WLA | March 2020 | Vol. 28, No. 1 | FEATURES Ottawa Proposes a Sandhill Crane Hunt

By Ian Urquhart

n February the Canadian Wildlife ences between Whooping cranes With respect to the proposed sandhill Service (CWS) proposed to intro- and Snow geese has been done for crane hunt, AWA believes we need more re- I duce a sandhill crane hunt to Al- several years and will be amended search to establish, with a very high degree berta. Saskatchewan and Manitoba already to include Sandhill cranes. of certainty, that these wildlife management have hunting seasons for these migratory It also stated that, if the Aransas/Wood Buf- units are well outside of whooping crane birds, as do most of the U.S. states in the falo migratory population appears in an area migratory routes. While the recovery of the Central Flyway. According to the proposed open for sandhill crane hunting, “risk will be Aransas/Wood Buffalo migratory population amendments to the Canadian Migratory assessed and measures taken to protect them is developing into a conservation success Birds Regulations, this new hunting oppor- by altering hunting areas in the future.” story, the whooper’s recovery is fragile. If tunity was repeatedly requested by hunters. AWA believes the CWS should give more this population appears in an area open to Some Alberta farmers also wanted the hunt importance here to the precautionary princi- sandhill crane hunting, it is certainly possi- as a way to address crop damage caused by ple. Jaydee Hanson invites us to think of the ble that years of recovery progress could end the cranes. precautionary principle as a collective or so- up in the game bags of bird hunters. Apart from responding to this political cietal expression of the Hippocratic princi- But, the CWS seems to believe that spe- pressure, the CWS’s Waterfowl Technical ple “first, do no harm.” Unlike Hippocrates’ cies information and hunter education will Committee cited the increasing trend in the medical oath, the precautionary principle make it very unlikely that hunters targeting mid-continent sandhill crane population applies to more than just human health. It sandhill cranes would shoot a whooping over the last generation. The latest three- applies to environmental health as well. crane by mistake. This assumption is base- year average of this population is well-above management plan objectives. Based on har- vest estimates, the Committee felt that an Alberta hunt only would increase Canada’s harvest by less than five percent. Regardless of this data, AWA urged the fed- eral government not to establish this hunt. Here, the whooping crane, listed as endan- gered under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) was a very important consideration. The Al- berta hunt is intended to take place in wild- life management units that “avoid known Whooping crane migratory routes.” (my emphasis) The Committee also based its rec- ommendation on information and hunter education. The proposed amendment with respect to Alberta states: Whooping crane descriptions are currently published online and in

Alberta’s guide to hunting regula- Sandhill cranes? Whooping cranes? With very similar in-flight silhouettes these two species will be difficult tions. Educating hunters to differ- to distinguish in the light of early dawn or dusk. PHOTO: © C. OLSON

WLA | March 2020 | Vol. 28, No. 1 | FEATURES 15A less. In the first place, contrary to the quote above, Alberta’s 2019 guide to hunting reg- ulations DOES NOT contain a description of whooping cranes. Whooping cranes are not mentioned at all in those regulations. Furthermore, if hunters are being educated about the differences between whooping cranes and snow geese, this education is not coming from Alberta’s hunting regulations. Those regulations only provide hunters with a drawing showing the differences between snow geese and swans. Hunting sandhill cranes should be seen as a recommendation posing an unnecessary and unwarranted risk to the recovery of the Aransas/Wood Buffalo whooping crane pop- ulation. Precaution should guide govern- ment here. It’s preferable to err on the side PHOTO: © C. OLSON of caution.

Featured Artist Anne Beverly Brown

Up Past Chester Lake, 5” x 7” watercolour pens and ink, PHOTO: © A. BROWN

Fireweed and Aspen, 5” x 7” watercolour pens with ink, PHOTO: © A. BROWN

16 WLA | March 2020 | Vol. 28, No. 1 | FEATURES A Right to Roam

By Nissa Petterson, AWA Conservation Specialist

was born and raised in Alberta In my personal opinion, one possible av- restricting severely public access. Legislative and learned quickly that there is enue to increasing social wellness within barriers to public access need to be removed I an irrefutable set of privileges that our communities is establishing a “right in order to fully explore the opportunities Al- come with calling Alberta home. My family to roam.” Recognizing the importance of berta’s wilderness provides to increasing so- spent a lot of time outdoors and I consider Alberta’s wilderness and prioritizing it as a cial wellness. myself pretty lucky because of it. Most of vehicle to social wellness is vitally import- I once thought accessing public lands for our summer weekends were spent camping ant to a healthy future for current and sub- low-impact recreational purposes was pretty and fishing in some pretty beautiful places sequent generations of Albertans. Unfortu- straightforward and nearly always allowed. throughout the foothills and Rockies. To- nately, to date successive governments have But, in reality, that’s not the case. In fact, any day, this continues to be how I spend most been blind to this opportunity. number of regulations prioritize the right of of my spare time; nature is where I feel Alberta needs to follow the path of a coun- industry to explore and develop public lands most comfortable and can re-centre from try like Finland. There, the general public over public use. the craziness of life. - citizens and visitors alike - have the ex- Under the Public Lands Act (PLA), the Public Alberta’s wilderness has a richness and di- traordinary freedom to access public lands Lands Act Administration Regulation (PLAR), versity that has helped establish a wide range throughout the country. Called “The Every- the Recreational Access Regulation (RAR), of livelihoods, a high quality of life, and to man’s Rights,” this right to roam through and other statutory instruments, the public some extent, social wellbeing. While all these landscapes responsibly is central to the Finn- may be granted recreational access, but only elements are equally important in their own ish understanding of what the human/nature under certain conditions. Discovering what domain, the benefits that Alberta’s wilder- relationship should look like. those conditions are takes time and research. ness enables for social wellness is often over- Alberta’s blindness is reflected in govern- The onus is on you to be the sleuth and dis- looked, but is arguably the most important. ment’s perennial favouritism of econom- cover of the circumstances under which you Ample evidence clearly demonstrates that ic gain in its management of public lands. can access any particular parcel of public people need to connect with nature; experi- Conservation and/or public use of these land. encing wilderness areas has been proven to lands generally have taken a back seat to re- “The PLAR authorizes any person to enter be an inherent need that increases our overall source exploitation. By now, this favouritism for recreational purposes,” Arlene Kwasniak well-being. Specifically, as Brymer, Cuddihy, is well-entrenched in government policy, in wrote, “vacant public land, where vacant and Sharma-Brymer argued in a 2010 paper, addition to being successfully sewn into the public land is a vacant disposition area, or exposure to the natural world reduces mental cloth of heritage or legacy for many Albertans. if the land is Environment and Sustainable fatigue, fosters deep reflections, and rekindles So how do we make a more general under- Resource Development (ESRD) adminis- sentiments of nurturing and connectedness. standing of social wellness more of a priori- tered land that is not under a formal disposi- Social wellness, however, does not just ty? How do we manage our public lands in tion…”. (ESRD is now Alberta Environment function on an individual level, it also influ- a fashion that enhances human health and and Parks) ences communities as a whole. Under the wellness? To start, I think the legislation for Now, despite the seemingly straight-for- right circumstances, people can find a per- Alberta’s public lands needs to be changed ward language here, there is still a tremen- sonal balance physically, mentally, and spir- to equally weigh all values of public lands, dous amount of information to unpack. Prior itually, but in caring for themselves, people rather than propagating the single narrative to accessing public lands, citizens are expect- foster more positive connections with others, of exploiting the land for economic gain. To ed to understand what constitutes a “formal allowing for communities to find greater eq- this end, the law strains towards making pub- disposition” or what is considered to be a uity and connectedness. lic lands private preserves for leaseholders by “vacant disposition area.”

WLA | March 2020 | Vol. 28, No. 1 | FEATURES 17A According to PLAR (section 1 (ff)), for va- While public access to public land un- year. As the coordinator of AWA’s hikes sea- cant public land to be considered as a vacant der a formal disposition or authorization/ son, I have had my fair share of awkward disposition area, a suite of conditions must permit may create safety concerns for op- conversations (bordering on interrogations) all be met: erators and the public, the regulations for when asking lessees for permission to hike (i) Public land on which no development managing public lands clearly do more to across a quarter of their grazing lease. I un- is occurring or is likely to occur for accommodate industrial endeavors and derstand there are certain times, like during 90 days; dissuade public access to what is defined as crop harvesting or calving season, when the (ii) Public land under the administration of a public resource. public’s right to roam should be more lim- the Minister; and In southern Alberta, public lands often are ited. But, in my opinion, the RAR is far too (iii) Public land that is subject of managed as if they were private properties. If general; it may be used unnecessarily and (A) an authorization, easement, miscella- you plan to hike or to hunt on public lands unfairly to discourage and exclude Alber- neous permit, commercial trail riding in the prairies or the foothills, you better ref- tans from accessing public lands. It seems permit, pipeline agreement or provin- erence the Recreational Access Regulation to be all too common for some leaseholders cial grazing reserve (RAR) to ensure you aren’t trespassing. There to construe the regulation as giving them (B) or a licence of occupation, unless the are many agricultural dispositions such as land tenancy authority and to prevent con- public land is a closed road within the farm developments and grazing leases as- tinuously public access. Governments seem meaning section 54.01 of the Act, sociated with parcels of public lands in the content with this situation. In 2017, the (C) a timber disposition, southern part of our province where their ac- provincial government renewed the RAR (D) grazing allotment under the Forest Re- tivities often supersede your right to access. without any public consultation; that didn’t serves Act, or On leased public lands, the RAR requires you bode well for seeing access to public lands as (E) a registered fur management licence. to obtain permission to access the area from a means to increase social wellness. Additionally, the term “vacant public land” the leasee. That means recreationists need Last summer, red tape frustrated AWA’s is in itself inherently misleading; the use of to determine who holds the lease, contact efforts to organize two group hikes. In one the word “vacant” in the term does not nec- them, and give them specifics on how you case, Alberta Environment and Parks told us essarily imply that there is no activity or de- wish to access the area, (i.e. date, approxi- we required a Temporary Field Authorization velopment associated with the parcel of land, mate duration of your activity, number of (TFA) to visit the Antelope Creek Ranch. Lo- and that the public is permitted to access it. people accessing the area etc). Ultimately, the cated west of Brooks, Antelope Creek Ranch All of the elements within public lands legis- RAR appoints the lease holder as gatekeep- is a working ranch managed by Alberta Fish lation makes decisions about where and how er of public lands, allowing them to choose and Game, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Wild- the public can access public lands for recre- whether the public can access the land. life Habitat Canada, and the Government of ational purposes overly difficult. Being denied access to public land is some- Alberta to demonstrate how multiple uses thing AWA became all too familiar with last

The Whaleback hike that almost didn’t happen. PHOTO: © N. PETTERSON

18 WLA | March 2020 | Vol. 28, No. 1 | FEATURES on a landscape can occur without compro- by the ranch. A B.C. Supreme Court judge Scotland, Sweden, Norway, New Zealand, mising the landscape’s natural integrity. The eventually ruled that Kroenke could no lon- Maine, and Nova Scotia are all examples of ranch managers encourage public access. In ger unlawfully prevent public access to the different jurisdictions that have taken the the second case, AWA was told it needed to lakes; this was just one encouraging example issue of public access to wild spaces, and purchase a permit to conduct our perenni- of where a right to roam was affirmed. found creative solutions that prioritize social al Whaleback hike. Thankfully, correspon- The “freedom to roam” or “the right of wellness, eliminate liability concerns, protect dence and phone calls evaporated the red public access to the wilderness” is a centu- environmentally sensitive areas, and even in- tape. We have since had productive meetings ries old movement. Started by recreationists centivize private land owners to encourage with AEP and believe last year’s frustrations of all varieties, its goal is to marry justified public access. won’t happen again. access to wilderness while respecting private When comparing the dilemma we face To return to a point made near the outset property. Under this campaign, recreationists here in Alberta with accessing public land of this article: there is potential to grow social don’t seek unfettered access to all areas, but and the fact that some jurisdictions have wellness by increasing access to wildspaces rather an acknowledgement and support by found solutions that practically enable unre- using the right to roam. Multiple jurisdictions governments in having the basic right to ac- stricted access throughout their boundaries across the world have successfully invoked cess wilderness for social wellness. (both on private and public land), it’s difficult elements of the “right to roam” to facilitate In 2000, England enacted the “right to to understand why Alberta cannot find an better public access to wild spaces, and this roam” by means of the Countryside and approach to public land access that respects even includes accessing private lands. Right of Way Act (CRoW). Under this legisla- a range of values. When exploring this access issue, I came tion, all private land classified as “mountain, When assessing the current level of access across an article about a dispute between rec- moor, heath or down” is open to the public Albertans have to public lands, journalist reationists and the Douglas Lake Cattle Com- for hiking and pic nicking. Restricted activ- Bob Scammell once wrote that the provincial pany (owned by Stan Kroenke) located in the ities under CRoW include driving, lighting government has a duty to ensure that, “… Cariboo-Chilcotin area of British Columbia. fires, bathing, commercial endeavors or any public access to our public lands for lawful In short, the members of the public were in a activity that may cause damage to the prop- purposes should be improved and guaran- long drawn out battle to access Stoney Lake erty. CRoW also sanctions local authorities teed to the owners, the people of Alberta”. and dozens of other waterbodies (which are to issue a code of conduct for recreationists AWA believes that the public has a funda- considered Crown property) surrounded exercising their access rights, and includes a mental right to access public lands, and will by the private property of the Douglas Lake provision and fines for any person who sta- continue to defend that principle for the Cattle ranch. Members of the public encoun- tions a notice containing “false information overall social wellbeing of all Albertans. tered blocked right-of-ways, or gates installed likely to deter the public.”

Featured Artist Anne Beverly Brown

Wetlands in the Valley, 5” x 7” watercolour pens with ink, PHOTO: © A. BROWN

WLA | March 2020 | Vol. 28, No. 1 | FEATURES 19A Louise and Richard Guy Poetry Corner

THE BALLAD OF TAMARACK GLEN By Richard Guy, 2008.

Do you think we could hike up to Tamarack Glen? Louise says, not “if:” it’s a question of “when?” ABOVE SNOWY PASS We decide to set out, ere we get any older By Richard Guy, 2003 And find ourselves hopping from boulder to boulder. Now Wilma had shown us the start of the route I’ll tell you a tale of a couple of guys And we often could follow the marks of a boot. Who scaled a mountain twice their size Louise it was, who had the hunch, But, as time passes by, how one’s memory fades! So they bottled some booze and packed some lunch, We remember our walking through gorgeous green glades. They seized their poles and donned their packs Now we’re walking a tight-rope of thin sand ridges; And set off through the snow on westward tracks. Being bitten by nasty mosquitos and midges. Traversing the slopes above the lake And if I ventured to step on this slippery sand With never a care that their backs did ache ‘Twould be hard to predict just where I might land! Leaving the tracks, they blazed a new trail Where nary a white man had ere set sail. But I have an idea! If I take off my pack To find a new route was their wildest dream, I can manage to squeeze through this eighteen-inch crack. So with fearless leaps they crossed the stream. And then we are wondering which way to go. Then came the question – which way to go? Perhaps we should aim for those steps in the snow? Should they take the rock? Should they take the snow? But how do we thread through this vast rocky maze? Louise kicked steps, having taken the lead, We mustn’t despair of our finding our ways. Higher and higher, till they at last succeed. They ate and drank and admired the views At last it is looking a little more lush: Built cairns to later folks confuse. It’s good that we feel the adrenaline rush. From by the boulder they gave a hail Matt had radio’d Rob to make sure we’re still whole, And an answer echoed across the vale. And he meets us, and guides us both, safe to our goal. Steadily down the way back they came: The plateau where CMH patrons are able It’s funny how routes never look the same. To have barbecued lunch while seated at table. Plowing their way through a sorry morass From time to time they were up to their knees. Cassandra and Norman and Sandra and Dan Eventually they regained the trail Were climbing the rocks wherever they can. And lived to return and tell this tale. And Steve, Jean and Leny (seventy-one year beginner), And Kim, till she had to rush off to cook dinner. And we couldn’t stay long, ‘cos we knew our down climb Would be like our ascent, and take just as much time. But Rob’s there again, to smooth our descent, And after only eight hours we are back at our tent.

20 WLA | March 2020 | Vol. 28, No. 1 | FEATURES THE CALL OF THE WILD By Robert William Service (AWA thought this poem was especially fitting to mark Richard Guy’s passing)

Have you gazed on naked grandeur where there’s nothing else to gaze on, Set pieces and drop-curtain scenes galore, Big mountains heaved to heaven, which the blinding sunsets blazon, Black canyons where the rapids rip and roar? Have you swept the visioned valley with the green stream streaking through it, Searched the Vastness for a something you have lost? Have you strung your soul to silence? Then for God’s sake go and do it; Hear the challenge, learn the lesson, pay the cost.

Have you wandered in the wilderness, the sage-brush desolation, The bunch-grass levels where the cattle graze? Have you whistled bits of rag-time at the end of all creation, And learned to know the desert’s little ways? Have you camped upon the foothills, have you galloped o’er the ranges, Have you roamed the arid sun-lands through and through? Have you chummed up with the mesa? Do you know its moods and changes? Then listen to the wild - it’s calling you.

Have you known the Great White Silence, not a snow-gemmed twig a-quiver? (Eternal truths that shame our soothing lies.) Have you broken trail on snowshoes? mushed your huskies up the river, Dared the unknown, led the way, and clutched the prize? Have you marked the map’s void spaces, mingled with the mongrel races, Felt the savage strength of brute in every thew? And though grim as hell the worst is, can you round it off with curses? Then hearken to the wild - it’s wanting you.

Have you suffered, starved, and triumphed grovelled, down, yet grasped at glory, Grown bigger in the bigness of the whole? “Done things” just for the doing, letting babblers tell the story, Seeing through the nice veneer the naked soul? Have you seen God in His splendours, heard the text that nature renders? (You’ll never hear it in the family pew.) The simple things, the true things, the silent men who do things - Then listen to the wild - it’s calling you.

They have cradled you in custom, they have primed you with their preaching, They have soaked you in convention through and through; They have put you in a showcase; you’re a credit to their teaching – But can’t you hear the wild? - it’s calling you. Let us probe the silent places, let us seek what luck betide us; Let us journey to a lonely land I know. There’s a whisper on the night-wind, there’s a star agleam to guide us, And the wild is calling, calling ... let us go.

WLA | March 2020 | Vol. 28, No. 1 | FEATURES 21A Mark Boyce’s 2019 Martha Kostuch Annual Lecture

By Ian Urquhart

In part, that definition reads: “A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.” (I believe it’s incredible that The Wilderness Society’s Howard Zahniser was the primary author of this legislation. Conservationists writing conservation legis- lation…wouldn’t that be a change from what we’re used to?) Mark came to see the existence of wilder- ness and healthy wildlife populations as a quality of life issue. That understanding, while motivating Mark in his early years of teaching, was the exception. In 1981 he taught one of the first conservation biology courses and realized that “usually the dollar

Some of the overflow audience for the Annual Lecture admiring previous recipients of AWA’s Wilderness rules and, if something is worth a lot eco- Defenders Award. Martha Kostuch is in the middle photo of the top row. PHOTO: © K. MIHALCHEON nomically, conservation takes second fiddle, wilderness loses ground.” Optimistically, When I think of trade between Canada and the by rolling hills and, in modern times, corn- Mark sees signs in the last few years that United States, commodities or goods and their fields. A self-described “farm boy,” Mark that imbalance is changing. Climate change’s import and export come first to mind. Oil, auto- pitched a lot of manure, ploughed a lot of global importance has elbowed its way into mobiles, cattle…those are the sorts of goods that fields, and planted many bushels of corn the public mindset and positively affected I first imagine. Dr. Mark Boyce, 2019 AWA Wil- growing up. When he wasn’t doing chores, how the general public views wilderness. derness Defender and the deliverer of the annual he was hunting, fishing, and trapping and After delivering a few barbs to what he Martha Kostuch Annual Lecture, exemplifies the those were the activities that changed his life called Alberta’s “petro-state” and government value Canadians receive through a different kind and led him to pursue a career in ecology. petroleum policy, Mark shifted to talk about of import – intellectuals and their ideas. The Through his education, and reading there- his research. Much of his wildlife research in University of Alberta recruited Mark from the in works such as John McPhee’s Encounters Alberta though is connected intimately to the University of Wisconsin system in 1999. Since with the Archdruid – a profile of David Brower, activities of the oil and gas industry. Some of then he has been a Professor of Ecology in the one of America’s leading 20th Century envi- our audience may not have appreciated the Department of Biological Sciences and he has ronmentalists, Mark developed a broader, important role that Mark and his research built a reputation as a world-renowned pop- more nuanced understanding of “wilder- played in pushing the federal government to ulation ecologist. ness.” Chasing waterfowl in the marshes of issue an emergency protection order for the Mark grew up in Iowa, in the U.S. Midwest. Iowa, Mark had never experienced what the greater sage-grouse. When the federal gov- The Hawkeye State’s landscape is dominated U.S. Wilderness Act defined as wilderness. ernment prepared its first version of its re-

22 WLA | March 2020 | Vol. 28, No. 1 | ASSOCIATION NEWS da.” Given the statistical trend of the greater the Dene Tha that they offered a two-year sage-grouse population, Mark wouldn’t be stipend for a graduate student to engage in surprised if this iconic bird disappears from this research. Alberta by as early as 2021… next year. Towards the end of his remarks Mark took Mark told a more positive story based on us back to an issue he mentioned at the out- the research he did with his doctoral student set: climate change. Everyone, Mark suggest- (now Dr.) Matthew Scrafford. Their subject ed, is talking about planting trees as a means was wolverines in northwestern Alberta. to sequester carbon. Prime Minister Trudeau Mark, despite the awe he feels towards wol- certainly talked about this approach during verines, initially wondered if they would last fall’s federal election. Then he promised a capture enough of these forest ghosts to form Liberal government would plant two billion solid conclusions about their population and trees as part of the effort to transform Canada behaviour. Whatever reluctance he had was into a net-zero emissions country by 2050. laid to rest by the end of the first week when Due to the fire cycles in both the boreal they had already captured and released three and Rocky Mountain forests, the soil in our wolverines. Over four years, they put collars grasslands and parklands is likely a better on 46 wolverines and logged over 50,000 candidate for an enduring carbon sink. That relocations as their radio-collared subjects conclusion is suggested by the historic depth Dr. Mark Boyce, delivering the 2019 Martha roamed through two general areas – Rain- of the black soil horizon in grasslands and Kostuch Annual Lecture bow Lake and the Birch Mountains. The wol- parklands alike. So carbon sequestration and PHOTO: © K. MIHALCHEON verine population in the Rainbow Lake area conservation in the grasslands is one of the covery plan for greater sage-grouse it refused is at a high density due to the very healthy research themes Mark’s lab at the University to identify critical habitat for sage-grouse. population of beavers in the region. There of Alberta is currently working on. The goal Ecojustice called Mark and asked if he would they discovered not only that beavers are one of their work is ambitious and praiseworthy participate in the lawsuit that AWA and four of the wolverine’s favourite prey species but – to try to develop grazing practices that will other environmental groups had launched. also that wolverines would take up residence be positive for grassland productivity, carbon The position Ecojustice argued was that the in beaver lodges. “On more than one occa- storage, and cattle production. federal government, in refusing to identify sion,” Matthew Scrafford wrote, “a wolverine Mark’s lecture underlined the very signif- critical habitat, was ignoring scientific infor- was living in a beaver lodge after he killed icant conservation challenges that we face mation about the existence and location of the beavers and growled up at us from within today. But, it also emphasized the very prom- that habitat. Sensitive to the possibility the the lodge.” ising research work that, if embraced by gov- University of Alberta might not like his par- One especially rewarding part of the wol- ernments and powerful economic interests, ticipation in the lawsuit, he sought the coun- verine research was the interest the Dene Tha will increase the probability of realizing a sel of his department chair. To her credit, his showed in the project. So enthusiastic were sustainable future. Chair told him that this type of work was an important reason they had brought him to Alberta. “Get after it” was her advice and he did. His research, as well as that of Jennifer Carpenter and Cameron Aldridge, made an important contribution to the Federal Court’s decision that Environment Canada had bro- ken the law; Ottawa had to identify critical habitat. The research subsequently helped push the federal government to issue an emergency protection order for greater sage- grouse under the Species at Risk Act. While the emergency protection order has helped with respect to new oil and gas de- velopment, the future of sage-grouse remains extremely tenuous. It remains “probably the It was the WLA editor’s pleasure to present Mark Boyce with a 2019 Wilderness Defenders Award. most endangered species of bird in Cana- PHOTO: © K. MIHALCHEON

WLA | March 2020 | Vol. 28, No. 1 | ASSOCIATION NEWS 23A Updates

Teck Frontier Oil Sands Mine and Wildlife As the ‘end of February’ deadline ap- proached for a federal decision, AWA urged the Canadian government to reject Teck Re- sources’ proposed ‘Frontier’ oilsands mine. On February 23, Teck announced it was withdrawing the Frontier proposal from the regulatory process. We thought it was im- portant to publish our key wildlife concerns with this project ‘for the record.’ Teck’s Frontier mine would have had last- ing harmful impacts to wildlife habitat. The large open pit bitumen mine would have caused further loss of northeast Alberta’s ‘biodiversity,’ the diverse wealth of native species and ecosystems that both Alberta Part of Teck’s proposed Frontier mine site, October 2019, illustrating the complex, ecologically valuable and Canada have committed to maintain for mosaic of natural wetlands that would be destroyed by an open pit tar sands mine. PHOTO: © GARTH LENZ future generations. Delta, along a major North American migra- whole regional ecosystem’s diversity and The federal-provincial regulatory panel that tory flyway. The Delta is one of the world’s ability to retain water. reviewed Teck Frontier concluded that the largest freshwater deltas and supports glob- Forests are removed on oilsands mine mine would have ‘significant adverse effects’ ally significant waterfowl populations. AWA sites for many decades. For the forest on biodiversity, locally and also regionally, was concerned that migratory birds, includ- dwelling Canada lynx, industrial distur- considering the combined impacts of this ing endangered whooping cranes, would be bance in the wider region is already having mine and other industrial projects. The regu- harmed by the increased toxicity of industri- a significantly adverse impact on their hab- latory panel added “the proposed mitigation al lands and waters on the nearby mine site. itat. The Teck mine would have added to measures have not been proven to be effec- Wetlands are a key part of Alberta boreal that. Old forests would be gone on-site for tive or to fully mitigate project effects on the ecosystems, storing carbon and water, and more than a century; whether they would environment or on indigenous rights, use of providing valuable wildlife habitat. They have returned to their former diversity and lands and resources, and culture.” make up just under half the landscape on complexity is uncertain. This is harmful to What was at risk? For a start, a herd of the Teck Frontier site. Alberta has exempt- valued fur-bearers such as marten and fish- wood bison called the Ronald Lake bison. ed oil sands industry applications, up to and er and to sensitive older forest bird special- They are special because they are free from including the Frontier mine, from the pro- ists like the mighty northern goshawk or the diseases of bovine tuberculosis and bru- vincial wetland policy. The site’s peat wet- the beautiful Canada warbler. cellosis that were introduced in the 20th cen- lands, such as bogs and fens, would have With or without the Frontier mine, an- tury to the wood bison herds further north been removed forever, as they cannot be other serious problem for regional wildlife inside Wood Buffalo National Park. Local reclaimed once they’re destroyed by a mine. is the likelihood that oilsands mines will First Nations rely upon these disease-free bi- Some swamps and marshes were planned default on their reclamation obligations. son for part of their food security. The mine to be re-built eventually, but at lower den- Alberta’s regulations only require these would have destroyed or blocked the south sity than today. Re-creating water flows that mines to post a small financial security part of the Ronald Lake bison range. They support wetlands on mine sites is difficult. deposit now against their current reclama- could have been pushed into poorer habitat Furthermore, toxic soils from salts and hy- tion obligations, and to ramp up payments and into contact with the diseased herds, drocarbons add to the risk that reclaimed 15 years before the end-of-mine life. The which would jeopardize their health, num- wetlands in the mineable oilsands region will theory is, big companies with high assets bers, and value to indigenous communities. be significantly impaired. This is bad news, now will pay up in future decades. But why Teck Frontier’s lease sits beside the Atha- not just for sensitive wetland birds like the would investors in this sunset industry pay basca River just south of the Peace-Athabasca yellow rail and rusty blackbird, but for the billions to reclaim a site long after its main

24 WLA | March 2020 | Vol. 28, No. 1 | WILDERNESS WATCH revenue-earning years are over? reation areas. The government decided it’s enough in user fees so that the government Alberta now holds only about $1 billion in not worth using your tax dollars to continue could break even. In the user-pay world Min- oil sands mine clean-up funds. That’s three funding many of the provincial parks, natu- ister Nixon advocates, this outlook on parks percent of operators’ self-calculated clean-up ral areas, comfort camping areas, and recre- is in danger. If a provincial park or recreation costs of $31 billion, and less than 1 percent of ation areas dotted across Alberta – most of area doesn’t make enough money, it doesn’t the Alberta Energy Regulator’s 2018 internal which were established by Progressive Con- merit inclusion in the province’s stable of pro- clean-up cost estimate of $130 billion. Que- servative governments. The government tected and recreation areas – despite the taxes bec and Yukon each have stronger up-front has decided it’s time to either close them or most of us pay to fund these and other ser- financial security requirements to motivate privatize them. The latter is what the gov- vices. The dollar and cost-recovery through timely, progressive mine reclamation. Alber- ernment really means when it describes its user fees, not a place’s natural beauty, are the ta’s unfunded mine reclamation liabilities plans to make these areas “available for part- trump cards in this world. mean un-reclaimed landscapes may well nership opportunities or alternative man- If these parks, natural areas, and recreation become a long-term ecological hazard and agement approaches.” areas are being underutilized, there are other public burden. As Grace Wark noted in AWA’s March 3rd ways of addressing that issue. The tolerance The Teck Frontier mine proposal, nested news release (https://albertawilderness.ca/news- of random camping, especially in the vicini- within Alberta’s deficient regulatory system, release-government-plans-to-remove-164-sites- ty of established parks and recreation areas, fell far short of responsible resource develop- from-parks-system/), the Ministry of Environ- robs these sites of clientele. As long as gov- ment. As well as addressing their significant ment and Parks justifies this action in part ernment accepts the belief of some Albertans greenhouse gas emissions, the regional land because the 164 locations targeted are “main- that it’s their right to set up camp anywhere and water impacts of oil sands development ly small and underutilized.” It didn’t consult they want, it’s unlikely the use of designated must be reduced to uphold Alberta’s and the public at all before taking the axe to these campgrounds will increase. Canada’s international obligations to main- sites. It also calls into question the sincerity of As Grace pointed out, there wasn’t any tain and restore biodiversity. the government’s commitment to ensure that consultation about this major decision. Un- - Carolyn Campbell 17 percent of Alberta lands are protected and fortunately, this may be a norm the govern- conserved by the end of this year (in 2018- ment aspires to establish and follow. And, if Another Punch to Parks 19 Alberta’s actual protected areas percentage consultation does take place, will it be wide- In the December 2019 issue of the Advocate was 14.7 percent). This target, set in order to spread? When the government changed we detailed the provincial government’s plans achieve globally-agreed to biodiversity con- grazing fees, it only consulted the groups for fulfilling its environmental stewardship servation objectives, was established by the most likely to agree with their changes. responsibilities. Those plans were outlined in Harper Conservative government. Likely supporters got invitations. Those who the UCP government’s first budget, “A Plan In the longer term the apparent logic be- might have suggested other options were left for Jobs and the Economy.” The picture wasn’t hind these actions is distressing for what it outside the door. pretty; it was a punch in the gut. The Octo- says about the societal values governments This is symptomatic of an unhealthy stealth ber 2019 budget promised to reduce full-time should privilege. First, the Minister’s spokes- and secrecy animating much of what we’ve staff in Alberta Environment and Parks signifi- woman asserts this is about a long overdue seen so far from the UCP government. Look- cantly; it promised to cut spending on core modernization of Alberta’s parks system. ing ahead, is it the case that Minister Nixon ministry responsibilities. Since modernization has positive connota- plans to introduce a permit fee that would be The February 2020 budget does not pause tions to many, this decision therefore must be used to finance the construction and upkeep those measures. In fact, this downsizing is ac- a positive one. To this point, Bob Weber of the of recreational trails on public lands? And celerating. A further 49 full-time positions are Canadian Press quotes her as saying: “Gov- what kind of trails – motorized, equestrian, estimated to evaporate in the 2020-21 fiscal ernment is subsidizing a financially struggling or hiking trails – would be financed by this year. The Ministry’s operating expenses for system year after year, while attempting to fee? Does the Minister plan to consult with 2020-21, targeted to be $575 million last Oc- ensure maintenance, programs and services Albertans about this idea? When will those tober, are now estimated to be no more than remain at a high level.” consultations begin and who will be invited $532 million – a further $43 million cut. The J.B. Harkin, the first Commissioner of Can- to those consultations? Minister’s 2022-23 target in now $537 mil- ada’s National Parks system, said the follow- The concern about stealth and the questions lion, $13 million less than the target of just ing more than a century ago: “National Parks above don’t arise from any news release from five months ago. exist for the people. They are the people’s the Minister of Environment and Parks. They In a related vein, the government used its share of the natural beauty of the mountain, arise instead from a close reading of the Feb- latest budget to deliver another punch to lake, and stream.” He didn’t say they should ruary 2020 budget. There, Schedule 22 (page your network of provincial parks and rec- only exist for the people if the people paid 219 of the 2020-23 fiscal plan) states that

WLA | March 2020 | Vol. 28, No. 1 | WILDERNESS WATCH 25A Environment and Parks plans to introduce a A variety of potential issues were not ad- Transit Hub” is a separate proposal, AWA new trail permit, not in this budget year, but dressed by the feasibility study. They includ- hopes Parks Canada will hold to their limits in the 2021-22 fiscal year. This $30 fee would ed: the disturbance that expanded summer and prioritize the ecological integrity of Banff be designated for “supporting development, use at the resort would create for wildlife National Park. maintenance and longevity of recreation trails during their more active summer season, the - Grace Wark on Crown land.” So Minister Nixon, what’s impacts on other species and critical habitat up? When will you be announcing your con- within the area, and the fact that Liricon’s pro- Federal Government Bans sultation with Albertans about the trail permit posal called for development outside of their the Use of Strychnine to system you’ve committed to in the 2021-22 lease lands. Control Prairie Gophers and 2022-23 fiscal years? The gondola proposal is part of Liricon’s On March 4th, the Pest Management Reg- - Ian Urquhart overarching vision to create an “Eco Transit ulatory Agency of Health Canada announced Hub” based out of the Banff CP rail station, its final decision on the re-evaluation of Norquay Gondola: which they currently hold on a long-term strychnine and its associated end-use prod- A “No-Go” for Banff lease. That larger vision imagines twinning ucts for controlling populations of Richard- At the end of January, Parks Canada an- the CP Rail line from Calgary to Banff for pas- son’s ground squirrels. nounced they would be rejecting Liricon senger service, building an intercept parking The agency has officially banned the desig- Capital’s (aka Norquay Ski Resort) proposal to lot at the train station, and providing shut- nated use of strychnine citing concerns with build a gondola from the town of Banff to the tles and walkable routes to various locations environmental risks with regards to poison- top of Mount Norquay. The gondola, as pro- in the Banff townsite. Some have objected ing of non-target species and potential im- posed by Liricon, was advertised as reducing to the proposed transit hub as further com- pacts to species at risk. traffic up the Norquay Access Road. It would mercializing the National Park. Liricon also People opposed to the ban have 60 days to have been paired with boardwalks and a new envisions the development of “Banff’s Historic file a scientifically-based objection to Ottawa’s pavilion. Rail Lands” into a tourism destination which decision. Parks Canada rejected the gondola proposal would further increase the development foot- The phase out of cancelled products will because it did not adhere to the site guide- print within the protected area. take place over three years: lines for development and growth. Those AWA supports Parks Canada’s decision to • Registrants of products containing strych- guidelines stipulate that, in order to approve reject this proposal. It recognizes the vital nine (such as Maxim Chemical Interna- a gondola, the project would need to deliver point that there must be limits to develop- tional Ltd.) may sell the product for one “substantial environmental gain.” This de- ment and growth in the National Park. Sta- year from the date of the Health Canada cision didn’t see sufficient merit in the feasi- tistics Canada’s 2016 census put the Town decision; bility study the Miistakis Institute produced of Banff’s population at 7,851, less than 200 • Retailers may sell the product for one year for Liricon. Miistakis concluded there that people short of the policy objective of keep- from the last date of a registrant’s sale; closing the access road would deliver a po- ing the town’s population below 8,000. Some • Users are permitted to use and apply the tential environmental gain for grizzly bears feel very strongly that the town and the park product for one year from the last date of and cougars, but ambiguous results for big- more generally have reached, if not exceeded, sale by a retailer. horn sheep. their social carrying capacity. While the “Eco AWA has long opposed the use of strych- nine to control Richardson’s ground squirrel populations. This poison poses significant threats to species at risk such as burrowing owls, ferruginous hawks, and swift foxes. All of these prairie-dependent species rely on ground squirrels as a critical food source. AWA has also cited human health concerns, with strychnine baits potentially contaminat- ing water and/or soil. While AWA is pleased with this re-evalua- tion decision, concerns still remain with re- gards to the humaneness of using this sub- stance, and its application to larger mammal Banff as seen from the road leading to the Norquay ski resort. CREDIT: THIS IMAGE WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED TO FLICKR BY DAVEBLOGGS007. THE FILE IS LICENSED UNDER THE CREATIVE COMMONS species such as wolves or coyotes. ATTRIBUTION 2.0 GENERIC LICENSE HTTPS://CREATIVECOMMONS.ORG/LICENSES/BY/2.0/DEED.EN. - Nissa Petterson

26 WLA | March 2020 | Vol. 28, No. 1 | WILDERNESS WATCH Another Episode of Potatoes and Politics?: Native Grass- lands Sold for $460,000

On March 31, 2020, the provincial govern- ment sold a quarter-section of native prairie in southern Alberta for $460,000. The par- cel is located about 29 kilometres due east of Taber and 6 kilometres southwest of the hamlet of Grassy Lake. An Alberta company, 1709054 Alberta Ltd. owned by Louis Ypma, had a grazing lease on this land. The sale happened less than one month after Environ- ment and Parks Minister Jason Nixon told a Postmedia columnist: “We are not selling any Crown or public land – period.” AWA objected to the government’s deci- sion to auction off these lands for various reasons. As AWA Director Cliff Wallis ex- plained to Bob Weber of the Canadian Press: “Every piece of native prairie that we have left is precious. Temperate grasslands are one of the most rapidly disappearing The privatized provincial grazing lease sits one mile north of the Sherburne Lake Reservoir. This image habitats on the planet.” This point was un- shows the extensive conversion of native prairie already characterizing this area. All of the circles in the derlined in a March 17, 2020 letter from Google Earth image are native grasslands converted to irrigated, agricultural properties. AWA’s Nissa Petterson to Premier Kenney velop a policy, preferably enshrined in legis- must be incorporated into the Alberta’s Pub- and his Minister of Environment and Parks. lation, outlining the criteria governing any lic Lands Administration Regulation. With less than two percent of Alberta’s na- future privatization of public land. We also Louis Ypma, the company’s owner, has had tive prairie grasslands protected, no further will ask the government to prohibit any fur- a longstanding interest in purchasing and/ conversions of prairie to agricultural use ther privatization of native prairie grasslands or trying to purchase public lands from the should be entertained. – unless the proceeds of such privatization provincial government. In the December Wishful thinking describes well the pub- will be used to purchase more ecological- 2007 issue of WildLands Advocate, Joyce Hil- lic consultation about this sale, like that for ly-valuable lands. debrand thoroughly and superbly detailed the government’s agenda for parks and for Currently, there are approximately 12 Ypma’s efforts to acquire public lands to the grazing fee changes announced last fall. sections of public land (7,680 acres) in the convert to agricultural production. In 2004, In the case of this auction, the absence of immediate vicinity of the Sherburne Lake Ypma negotiated a land exchange successful- any consultation underlines the absence of Reservoir. We know sensitive and threatened ly with the Ministry of Sustainable Resource any certainty in the public record and mind species would like to call these lands home Development. His success came over the ob- about what public lands the province may and therefore want the government’s assur- jections of Fish and Wildlife biologists. They sell and for what reasons. ance that these grazing lease lands will not objected to the land exchange because they Currently, the Minister of Environment and be privatized. didn’t believe Ypma’s lands offered sufficient Parks has virtually unlimited discretion when In the accompanying Google Earth image, wildlife resources. it comes to the sale of public lands. Section 6 two of those 12 sections have been labelled In 2010, AWA’s Nigel Douglas discovered (2) of the Public Lands Administration Reg- “Future Public Land Sale?” The history of that through a private, secretive process Al- ulation states: “The Minister may, subject to 1709054 Alberta Ltd., the company with berta was about to sell 25 sections of land the Act and regulations, sell public land by grazing leases on those two sections, justifies (16,000 acres) near Bow Island to SLM Spud public auction, private sale or tender, on the the question of whether these grazing lease Farms Ltd. The Ypma family owned SLM terms and conditions the Minister consid- lands will be put up for sale in the future. Spud Farms. Legally, the proposed sale like- ers appropriate and at a price not less than It also justifies the recommendation that cri- ly was untouchable since the Minister had the fair value of the land.” (my emphasis) teria more substantive than “terms and con- almost unfettered discretion to decide what AWA will be asking the government to de- ditions the Minister considers appropriate” was “appropriate.”

WLA | March 2020 | Vol. 28, No. 1 | WILDERNESS WATCH 27A Nigel’s discovery of “Potatogate” sparked a togate.” But, since 2013 Ypma has offered fi- lion’s share of the nomination contest pro- wide-ranging public outcry against this pro- nancial support to first, the Progressive Con- ceeds to the Taber-Warner UCP constituency posal. That outcry helped secure a promise servatives (2013 and in the 2015 provincial association, the Ypma family effectively con- from Alison Redford, a candidate to replace election), then the Wildrose Alliance (2016), tributed nearly 42 percent of the constituen- Ed Stelmach as leader of the Progressive and finally for Jason Kenney in the 2017 cy association’s total annual revenue in 2018. Conservative party, to suspend the land sale UCP leadership contest. Grant Hunter currently serves as the Associ- if she was elected party leader. Soon after her His political contributions (totaling $5,125 ate Minister of Red Tape Reduction. victory, she canceled the land sale. in those contests) have been equaled or ex- Am I mad to think the financial support One foundation of a healthy democracy is ceeded by other members of the Ypma family the Ypma family gave to the UCP may have the public’s belief that a government’s deci- starting with the 2017 UCP leadership elec- influenced the decision to auction this quar- sions are based on principles and clear crite- tion. Two other family members financially ter-section? Maybe. But, that’s where I’m left ria – not on whim or favouritism. We need supported Jason Kenney in the UCP leader- when the Minister won’t explain to AWA stronger, clearer criteria for public lands sales ship race. why scarce, native grasslands were privat- in Alberta to reassure us that those sales are Most notably, five members of the family ized. Here, AWA is not alone. When The guided by more than whimsy or favouritism. each donated $3,000 to help nominate Grant Western Producer reported on the land sale The Ypma family has developed important Hunter as the UCP candidate in Taber-War- Barb Glen wrote: “The Western Producer did connections with Alberta’s governing conser- ner. The $15,000 the Ypma family donated not receive a reply to queries made to Nixon’s vative parties since 2011, the year of “Potato- to Hunter constituted 91 percent of his total office.” Nor did she get any comment about gate.” After donating $700 to the Progressive nomination contributions. If you subtract the sale from Lyle Ypma, one of Louis’s sons. Conservatives in 2011, Louis Ypma didn’t the $1,000 Hunter contributed to his own Such silences only strengthen my suspicion give Premier Redford’s party a penny in 2012 nomination that percentage rises to 97 per- that political favouritism is part of this story. (according to the Elections Alberta database, cent. In addition to the Ypmas and Hunter, The silences also strengthen the need for reg- 2011 was the first year Louis Ypma made a only one other person contributed to Hunt- ulatory reform. donation to a provincial political party). This er’s nomination. - Ian Urquhart shouldn’t surprise in the aftermath of “Pota- Since the Hunter campaign transferred the

“A Mixed Bag:” Bill 12 and feeding that addiction. Alberta was a friendly, gas properties that do not have an owner to Cleaning Up Oil Wells trustworthy dealer. be accountable for the cleanup.” She said it In recent years, attention has started to would strengthen the abilities of the Alberta focus on cleaning up the environmental Energy Regulator and the Orphan Well As- damage created by feeding that addiction. sociation (OWA) to manage orphan, aban- Thanks to organizations such as the Alberta doned wells. The Bill would do this “while Liabilities Disclosure Project (ALDP) public protecting landowners and ensuring envi- awareness has grown of the need and scope ronmental and public safety.” of this clean up. As any recovering addict David Swann, retired MLA and member of should tell you, cleaning up from addiction the ALDP, sees some merit in this new law. is hard work, expensive work. Last July the The legislation includes “part of the recom- ALDP wrote to Energy Minister Savage to mendations we were making at the Liabilities suggest that approximately 1,500 companies Disclosure Project.” He said the ALDP had had amassed $64.6 billion in oil and gas well “encouraged the Orphan Well Association cleanup obligations. to take over some of these companies while Through Bill 12, the Liabilities Management there still was some viable producing wells.” Statutes Amendment Act, 2020, the Alberta The revenue from this production could government took aim at this dire situation. then be used to start the cleanup.

Orphan Well Association site near Frank Lake, east Introduced on March 31, 2020, the bill was This recommendation found its way into of High River. PHOTO: © C. OLSON pushed through the legislature in three days. Bill 12. Marlin Schmidt, the NDP Environ- In 2006, President George W. Bush told Energy Minister Savage told the Legislature ment and Parks critic, also felt that, in princi- Americans they were “addicted to oil.” By the initiative was one that would create ple, this was a positive measure. But Schmidt then, Alberta’s oilfields and tar sands had be- much needed work in the oilpatch, work wanted additional guarantees in the law that come the most important stash of foreign oil that would “accelerate the cleanup of oil and the OWA would have the authority to do

28 WLA | March 2020 | Vol. 28, No. 1 | WILDERNESS WATCH that effectively. The government didn’t offer like the OWA, will be replaced by political tined to leave to the next generation. But, I such amendments, any amendment, to Bill decision-making. If the OWA’s clean up pri- think the government could have done bet- 12. Schmidt, in the all-too-brief legislative orities don’t fit well with those of the cabi- ter. It allowed less than three hours of debate debate on this Bill, also was glad to see the net, the cabinet can dictate to the OWA what in the legislature on such a vital issue. More Bill demand that oil and gas operators must the Association must do. And, cabinet deci- importantly perhaps, the government re- remediate, not just reclaim, the lands hosting sion-making is secret, not transparent. Sabir fused to refer the legislation to the Standing petroleum facilities. agreed in the legislature with Swann’s first Committee on Resource Stewardship. In that However, an enormous “but” may detract contention. He described this change as one committee, MLAs could have heard at length significantly from these positive changes. Bill that gave the cabinet “carte blanche” – com- from landowners and from experts about 12, despite the Minister’s assertion that the plete freedom to act as it wishes – vis-à-vis what the likely consequences of this new law law is “protecting landowners,” may instead the OWA and the Alberta Energy Regulator. will be. Referrral to the Standing Commit- be a slap in their face. In Swann’s words, Sabir pointed out that neither the Energy tee, in other words, could have strengthened “they haven’t respected the rights of land- Minister, nor any other Minister of the gov- and improved the legislation. That is how a owners. They’ve said the Orphan Well Asso- ernment, “has given us any good reason why well-functioning representative democracy ciation…can go on someone’s land and do this Legislature should pass this piece and should operate. what they choose to do, when they choose give government this power.” - Ian Urquhart to do it.” Like Swann, Schmidt sees Bill 12 Potentially then, parts of Bill 12 could help as undermining individual’s property rights: ensure we reduce the size of the petroleum “This piece of legislation strips away the abil- industry clean up challenge we seem des- ity of property owners to even give consent. It doesn’t even require them to give consent when the old legislation did.” According to Corrections to the December 2019 WLA tioned concerns about overcrowding in Swann, this possibility was never raised se- Story “Celebrating the 45th Anniversary the backcountry. riously when the OWA consulted with land- of Project: Great Divide Trail.” 6. The project was tasked to document owners about changing the mandate and Dr. Jenny Feick pointed out a handful of natural and historic features – not cul- authority of the OWA in the year prior to the errors in our December 2019 story about the tural features. appearance of Bill 12. Great Divide Trails Project. I am pleased to 7. Despite Dave Zevick’s lighthearted com- The Energy Minister never responded to address her concerns here. ment about it was impossible to turn these criticisms in the legislative debate. Ian Urquhart, Editor down a job that offered “$90 a week: all She left it largely to Minister of Municipal the bologna you can eat” it was quite a Affairs Madu to address the Official Oppo- 1. The project was called “Project: Great challenge for Cliff White, Mary Jane Cox, sition’s concerns. Madu insisted that other Divide Trails”, not “Project: Great Di- and Jenny Feick to recruit the last two measures in the amended section 101 of vide Trail”. members of Project: Great Divide Trails – the Oil and Gas Conservation Act ensured 2. Only three of the so-called “Original Six” Chris Hart and Dave Zevick. The wages that landowners, in fact, were protected. Af- were undergraduate university students were so low compared to other summer ter reading both the previous and the new at the University of Calgary (Cliff White, jobs. Also, the need to have a vehicle to sections of the Oil and Gas Conservation Act, Jenny Feick and Mary Jane Cox). use on the rough roads of the study area I believe landowners should be concerned 3. Two people, Cliff White and Mary was an additional obstacle. that the new law further infringes on their Jane Cox, were undergraduate majors 8. The blue Volkswagen belonged to Chris property rights. Furthermore, it also appears in Geography. Jenny Feick did a mi- Hart, not Dave Zevick. the sub-surface property rights of petroleum nor in Geography. producers are better protected than the sur- 4. The phrase “all under the age of 21” Dr. Feick also wanted to mention that in No- face rights of landowners. should have read “all under the age vember 2019, all 30 copies of the Collector’s Swann and the NDP’s Irfan Sabir raise an- of 22.” Edition of Tales from the Great Divide had been other important point about this Bill. It gives 5. According to Dr. Feick, Parks Cana- sold. She is working on the Second Edition, which the provincial cabinet the authority to over- da did not build the Great Divide Trail will correct all errors that she and her contribu- ride management decisions made by either within the mountain national parks be- tors discovered in the Collector’s Edition and add the OWA or the Alberta Energy Regulator. cause of concerns about potential envi- new material. For more information see https:// For Swann, this raises the spectre that, in ronmental damage as well as potential greatdividetrail.com/book-launch-tales-from- some circumstances, the decision-making overcrowding issues with the proposed the-great-divide/. of an independent, non-profit organization trail shelters. The AWA article only men-

WLA | March 2020 | Vol. 28, No. 1 | WILDERNESS WATCH 29A In Memoriam: Richard Guy, September 30, 1916 – March 9, 2020

mountains that, like a magnet, attracted arming Concept. So many of the most the Guys to Calgary from India in the early important issues for present and future 1960s. This shared love of the mountains generations were ones Richard cared inspired Richard and Louise to attend doz- deeply about. ens of the Alpine Club of Canada’s annual As a native Briton, I hope Richard would General Mountaineering camps. approve of me relying on the Oxford English But, when it came to the mountains and Dictionary for my understanding of humil- wilderness more generally, you can’t talk ity. Humility is the opposite of haughti- PHOTO © J. QUIROZ about Richard Guy without highlighting ness; it describes a person who is unpre- his generosity. His large donation to the Al- tentious, who is not arrogant or disdainful Too few indeed are those of us with intel- pine Club of Canada, in memory of Louise, towards others. Again, watching Richard ligence, devotion, generosity, and humili- enabled the ACC to build the Louise and at the Climb in the last decade of his life ty. Richard Guy was one of that rare breed. Richard Guy Hut on the Wapta Icefield. was where I believe I saw that quality on I didn’t know Richard very well. Unlike The fact the hut is a winter-only facility display. My memory of this is particularly close friends like Chic Scott, I came to ap- attests to the appreciation Richard and the strong from the 2018 Climb, when par- preciate these qualities in Richard from a ACC showed towards wilderness wild- ticipants were tasked to climb the 1,188 distance – from his perennial participation life species. The hut is closed from spring stairs of the Bow Building in Calgary. On in AWA’s Climb for Wilderness, from the through to the late fall because the area to the 54th floor, where people gathered after comments people made about him during the south of the hut is important grizzly their climbs, Richard spoke to dozens of those occasions. bear habitat. participants. He had time for one and all. His intelligence was the trait I heard the I witnessed Richard’s generosity every It always was inspirational to see some- least about, a silence I attribute to his hu- one of Richard’s age climb those stairs mility. Mathematics was the British-born in order to raise money to help AWA’s Richard’s vocation. He published many conservation work. I know my AWA col- books and many more articles on mathe- leagues and anyone who had the opportu- matics, a subject he loved and taught at the nity to know him will miss Richard deep- University of Calgary since the 1960s. ly. We have lost a friend, an inspiration. One might also say that he exhibited his This planet will never have enough intelligence when, in 1937, he took the people with Richard’s qualities. In so first steps to spending more than 70 years many ways, he taught us well. When we of his life with Nancy Louise Thirian. They lose a Richard Guy, we should mourn loved dancing, they loved mountains. In our loss but also commit to do better in 1940 they married and were life partners our own lives. PHOTO © J. QUIROZ until Louise passed away here in Calgary in For more on the life of this wonderful October 2010. citizen see Chic Scott’s biography/remem- Devotion though is the better lens to use year at AWA’s Climb for Wilderness. For brance of Richard Guy on the Alpine Club when it came to the relationship between example, in 2014 when the Climb was of Canada’s blog “Aspects.” (https://blog. Richard and Louise. When AWA’s Andrea held at the Calgary Tower, a 97-year old alpineclubofcanada.ca/blog/2020/3/10/rich- Johancsik interviewed Richard before the Richard Guy was AWA’s top individual ard-guy?fbclid=IwAR0NXN_J_Cl0nwGCuG- 2017 Climb for Wilderness he described fundraiser. He raised over $4,000 for our 7B8cHZcztgFUh1xuq6u0y-JlD0fnIqtwnqa- Louise as his inspiration when it came to association (by the way, he climbed the U1tSjM) the wilderness. Louise was his “wonderful tower twice that year…). And, that wasn’t Alberta Wilderness Association, along companion for seventy years, the perfect the only year when Richard was the indi- with the Alpine Club of Canada and the person.” Anyone who saw Richard during vidual who raised the most money through University of Calgary Scholarship Endow- a Climb for Wilderness will have seen him the Climb for AWA. Not a tall man, Rich- ment, was recognized as one of Richard’s wearing a sign of his devotion to Louise – ard’s bright red jacket made him easy to favourite charities. We are grateful for his her photograph hung around his neck. spot every year at the Climb. If you got recognition and will be honoured to receive Devotion also described well Richard’s close enough you could read the text on gifts in his memory. outlook on his vocation as well as the his ever-present button: Peace is a Dis- - Ian Urquhart

30 WLA | March 2020 | Vol. 28, No. 1 | WILDERNESS WATCH After 28 successful Climb for Wilderness events, we are celebrating 55 years as an association with a new and exciting program. Adventures for Wilderness What’s your adventure? We, like our sisters and brothers around the world, are living in extraordinary times. At AWA, we hope you are coping well and finding peace in this time of uncertainty. The longer days, bird song, and sunshine have given us at the AWA plenty of reasons to be thankful and hopeful. (Ian, however, has been complaining about the *&%&%^$ cold! We have been working to ensure that our day-to-day work and our Adventures for Wilderness program follow the advice of public health experts during this time; as such, event dates and details are subject to change but we are keeping our website up to date. For now, there are a few Adventures that you can enjoy from home and here’s two of them. Pollinator Power! Even though we’re practicing social distancing, our bees aren’t. They still need our help. We are building bee boxes and for a minimum donation we will deliver your box to your doorstep. Our April 19th scavenger hunt is postponed until further notice. Once you have your box you will be able to personalize it and set it up for your pollinator friends. Photographs for Wilderness Spending a bit more time in front of the computer now? That’s what makes this the per- fect time to open up your photos collection and share your past adventures in Alberta’s wil- derness through the art of photography! Your photograph will be featured on the website, you will be entered for a chance to win one of four categories, and most importantly, you will raise money for conservation. Those donations will help ensure that future generations will be treated to the spectacular locales you’ll share through your photographs.

Whether you are staying at home or working on the front lines, we’d like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone for your support - we are in this together! If you are still able to give, we appreciate your ongoing financial and emotional support. - Your AWA Team

Adventures for Wilderness is AWA’s annual program to engage Albertans in wilderness conservation. We believe an Adventure can be anything from climbing a mountain, to walking by the river, to enjoying the beauty of nature in your own backyard (literally YOUR own backyard!) Visit our website to learn about the Adventures this season and how you can support Alberta Wilderness Association.

WLA | March 2020 | Vol. 28, No. 1 | EVENTS 31A Return Undeliverable PM 40065626 Canadian Addresses to:

Alberta Wilderness Association 455-12 ST NW Calgary, Alberta T2N 1Y9 [email protected]

ISSN 485535