Last year, the hot button issue was the Glacier Discovery Walk. This year, it’s the proposed winter backcountry closures on the tip of everyone’s tongue.
The similarity with these issues is many Jasperites feel their opinions—spoken loudly on countless occasions—haven’t been heard.
With the discovery walk, people screamed foul, as it seemed Parks Canada had made up its mind well before the public consultation period was complete. A year later, the same complaint can be heard about the backcountry closures.
No matter where you sit in these debates, it’s hard to argue with these complaints.
Sure Parks has collected and recorded opinions and concerns from Jasperites and Canadians—there’s proof of that in the “What We Heard” document released last month—but there is no indication that that feedback has come into any kind of consideration.
Jasperites brought their voices to meetings. They wrote letters. They engaged.
But, in both cases, Parks’ consultations seemed to be window dressing for decisions that have long been made, either here in the park or in Ottawa. They’re a check in the box.
And that’s not what public consultation is for. Public consultation exists to ensure the decisions being made reflect the opinions of the public. It’s a way for politicians and civil servants to check in with their constituents to ensure they’re heading in the right direction.
This process is an integral part of living in a democracy. It guarantees we each have a say in what’s happening in our town, our region, our province and our country.
On a local level, the Municipality of Jasper is currently working to guarantee that engagement with a review of its public engagement policy.
Part of that review includes engaging Jasperites to find out just how they want to be engaged in the future. That engagement is happening online and during public events—the next is tonight, April 25, at the Volunteer Banquet.
As with Parks, Jasperites have had many complaints about the municipality’s past public consultations, so now is the time to bring those concerns forward. Because, if the public doesn’t engage with the municipality on the public engagement policy, then it loses the right to complain about how it’s engaged in the future.
Visit the Activity Centre tonight and talk to Christine Nadon, communications manager for the municipality, or visit the municipality’s website and fill out the online survey.
While there is a captive audience, raise your voice and ensure future consultations are more than a check in the box.
