A controversial project to build a paved bike trail from Jasper to the Columbia Icefield will cost significantly more than first thought.
According to Parks Canada, the proposed trail will cost an extra $20.5 million, which it will pay through its infrastructure investment program.
The estimated price tag to build the 107-km trail is now $86.4 million. Parks Canada said the total cost is based on the outcome of consultations and a detailed impact analysis.
In March, the Liberal government earmarked聽$65.9 million in the federal budget聽for the consultation, design, and construction of the trail.
鈥淲hen we first were looking at it we were trying to come up with what we thought would be a rough estimate of the total price,鈥� said Alan Fehr, superintendent for Jasper National Park.
鈥淚n budget 2016 they put $65.9 million towards this proposal and it was determined that if there was more money required that Parks Canada would take care of that out of the infrastructure investment fund that we have,鈥� he said, explaining the money is coming from Parks鈥� national capital budget.
In June, five environmental groups voiced their opposition to the project聽citing a lack of public input. The groups also said they feared a paved trail would damage critical habitat for endangered species.
In a press release published on Jan. 6, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) called on Catherine McKenna, the minister of environment and climate change, to reject the project.
鈥淭his proposal is inconsistent with the federal government鈥檚 stated commitment to limit development in our national parks, and their legal obligation to put ecological integrity first in all aspects of park management.鈥�
鈥淚t is also contrary to Parks Canada鈥檚 obligations to protect species at risk in the park, as the proposed trail would fragment and destroy critical habitat for threatened woodland caribou and sensitive grizzly bears, and disturb and potentially displace wildlife through its use.鈥�
Jill Seaton, chair of the Jasper Environmental Association, echoed those concerns, but said her organization would prefer to see Parks Canada widen the shoulders of the highway rather than create a new trail.
She said she鈥檚 also concerned about where they are going to get the gravel to build the trail.
鈥淚f they鈥檙e collecting it in the park then there goes their ecological integrity right there.鈥�
According to Parks Canada, the project is based on the Icefields Parkway Strategic Concept, which briefly states the need to 鈥渄evelop鈥� and 鈥渆xplore鈥� options to enhance cyclists鈥� needs. Parks Canada also said the project is part of the management plans for both Jasper and Banff National Parks.
While Jasper鈥檚 management plan doesn鈥檛 specifically mention a paved trail from Jasper to the Columbia Icefield, the Banff management plan mentions it four times, although Seaton questioned Parks Canada鈥檚 interpretation of the plan.
The Banff management plan states: 鈥淐omplete a long-distance cycle route from Canmore to Jasper that enables users to avoid travelling on the Trans-Canada Highway, by developing a cycle route connecting the Bow Valley Parkway and the Icefields Parkway.鈥�
Seaton pointed out the statement doesn鈥檛 specifically state there should be a paved bike trail through Jasper National Park, rather the plan envisions building a bike path connecting the Bow Valley Parkway to the Icefields Parkway so cyclists can avoid travelling on the Trans-Canada Highway.
According to Parks Canada, the multi-use trail will run parallel to the Icefields Parkway and make use of areas that have already been disturbed, such as the old paved highway, and could be extended to Lake Louise. Public consultations will begin early this year with a targeted completion date of March 2019.
鈥淲e鈥檙e in the conceptual phase of this project, it鈥檚 a proposal,鈥� said Fehr.
鈥淭he next phase of this project is consulting the public, consulting Indigenous peoples and hearing what they have to say and then us doing some of our own leg work to ensure there aren鈥檛 any significant environmental impacts.鈥�
He said public consultations will begin within the next few weeks. There will also be an online component and Fehr said Parks intends to publicly share a draft of its detailed impact assessment with the public.
鈥淲e want people to see what the potential issues are and how they might be mitigated and then based on that information the minister will make a decision whether we鈥檙e going to proceed or not,鈥� said Fehr.
Despite his reassurance, Seaton cast doubt about whether public consultations will actually amount to anything.
鈥淭hey always have public consultations, but do they listen to them?鈥� asked Seaton.
鈥淧eople are voicing their opinions already about the tremendous expense it鈥檚 going to be and quite frankly their press release sounds as though it was written by the tourism industry.鈥�
CPAWS called on the government to use the money to restore science capacity and conservation programs and urged Canadians to voice their concerns about the proposal.
The Association for Mountain Parks Protection & Enjoyment (AMPEE), a vocal supporter of the project, said it supported the government鈥檚 detailed impact assessment process.
鈥淎MPPE believes in the federally mandated impact assessment process that ensures the responsible usage of our mountain parks and the protection of the wildlife within,鈥� wrote Casey Peirce, executive director of the pro-tourism group.
Fehr acknowledged that some people are concerned, but pointed out that the area is already zoned for this type of activity.
鈥淭he one thing I think people forget is that the area along the highway is zoned as outdoor recreation so this trail is not going to be a wilderness trail. It鈥檚 going to be a multi-use hiking and biking trail that鈥檚 going to be predominantly within the outdoor recreation zone.鈥�
According to Fehr, the outdoor recreation zone extends 100 metres from the centre line on both sides of the highway, however the proposed trail will likely only be about 20 to 30 metres off of the highway.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not going to be on the outer edge of the 100 metres, it鈥檚 going to be closer so that as people wind their way through they鈥檒l get a sense that they鈥檙e in a natural setting, but they鈥檙e safe,鈥� said Fehr.
During the telephone interview he played down concerns about paving the trail, explaining that it will reduce maintenance costs and provide a more enjoyable experience for people with strollers and wheelchairs.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not being designed for hardcore cyclists to go from Jasper to Wilcox Campground in the morning and then back again. This is intended for recreational use, for people to connect with nature.鈥�
Paul Clarke
[email protected]
