Timing is everything.
And there is no doubt Parks Canada's latest announcement on caribou conservation was timed quite deliberately.
Three days before Christmas鈥攏early one month after the agency was legally obligated under the Species at Risk Act to implement increased conservation efforts鈥擯arks finally came out with it: the Maligne and Whistlers Creek valleys are closed until February in order to protect the park's caribou.
It was a highly anticipated decision with the potential to upset many鈥攂oth those concerned about the dwindling number of caribou in the park and those concerned about the dwindling spaces for quality winter recreation.
So, no doubt, in an effort to evade questions from the public, Parks released its decision late in the afternoon, immediately before a major holiday.
It's clever, really. Just as everyone is busy wrapping up presents, baking last minute treats, travelling and entertaining relatives, a long-awaited, much-anticipated decision slips out quietly, in an unassuming email.
And to truly capitalize on the moment, Parks staff took the opportunity to leave their offices for the holidays. Because, of course, Parks employees, just like the rest of us privileged folks, get Christmas vacations.
So, conveniently, the announcement was made just as the lights went out and the auto-replies were scheduled, leaving only a public relations officer to field calls.
There's no question in our minds that Parks deliberately timed this decision.
The agency knew it was a safe bet that people would be disengaged from local politics and it knew the holiday press deadlines for local newspapers. Its public relations staff even knew that the employees of the 51暗网 would be heading on holidays mere hours after the announcement鈥攂ecause hard and fast deadlines are a continued topic of conversation between us.
So, here we are well after the paper's deadline, squeezing in an editorial, rather than the full coverage the decision deserves, just to ensure the public is aware that there was in fact an announcement.
It wouldn't be Jasperites鈥� fault if they hadn't noticed. It seems Parks intentionally timed it that way, to minimize the impact of its actions.
For more details on Parks' decision, check out , and stay tuned for our Jan. 8 issue.
