Dear Editor,
I have agonized over this; researched every scrap of information, read and studied the Maligne Lake Situation Analysis and the Maligne Tours Conceptual Proposal, twisted, probed deep, way down into my 鈥淚 love Jasper National Park, local guts鈥� and I support Maligne Tours Conceptual Proposal for overnight accommodation at Maligne Lake for these reasons:
I understand the necessity for change and why there is a need, a desire to refresh, update what businesses/partners and JNP is offering to the visitor. Even iron clad park policies need an occasional microscope, or to refocus the lens in a changing world.
Today鈥檚 reality: simple economics, Parks Canada has no money. As we all know, PC is funded from the federal government with a strict budget. Local parks make extra revenue from park gates; runner up is the business community that pay a percentage of their gross revenues to PC. Parks need the big players: Brewster, Maligne Tours, Marmot Basin/Jasper Tramway and outlying commercial accommodations to help supplement the meager budget that Ottawa provides them. I get that this makes people very upset! They think Big Business; their interests are ruling, running...ruining the park, the fundamental aspects of the national parks are being threatened or ignored. No wonder the bile rises in many of their stomachs.
More reality: we have to figure this out with reason, logic and balance! Not only is it time to update Maligne Tours鈥� menu but also to reassess/rejuvenate the whole Maligne Valley. We have to make an effort to appeal, resonate to all aspects of JNP鈥檚 visitors while keeping wildlife and wilderness in the forefront. All this takes money, compromise and creative thinking! A challenge indeed!
I understand and sympathize with the many who feel 鈥渢his development would open the floodgate to uncontrolled development in the national parks鈥� and would 鈥渏eopardize the very survival of the Maligne caribou herd.鈥� I highly encourage, implore all concerned to get informed before jumping onto an emotional, truth stretched, out of control bandwagon. After my exhaustive research, I now surprisingly have confidence in park managers and Maligne Tours to do the right and appropriate kind of development in one of the world鈥檚 most precious places.
Maligne Tours has an enticing, well thought out proposal; they obviously have invested much time, energy, years and money. Again I support the overnight accommodation if it鈥檚 done in a meaningful, historical and respectful way.
Loni Klettl
Jasper, Alta.
