Please forward this note to anyone who may be interested.

It is time once again to remind our federal decision-makers that the importance of Canada's national parks lies in the glories of nature, and not in commercial outlets and parking lots. Sunshine Ski Area in Banff has started a postcard campaign calling for loosening of the development restrictions under which it and all national park ski areas operate. Its goal is to enlarge its parking lot, and in doing so to carve yet further into the natural habitat of Banff National Park. It may also be trying to set a precedent for all sorts of new commercial development on the ski area leases and perhaps elsewhere in the parks. In the past Canadian have said loud and clear that they do not want their national parks abused in this way, and that message has been reflected in federal policy. Now we have to make sure that policy holds firm. Read more about Action Alert: Development at National Park Ski Areas

News Release: May 11, 2005

Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) has learned that Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has been secretly developing plans to reduce protection of the aquatic environment. Documents were sent anonymously to Martha Kostuch, Vice-President of the Friends of the Oldman River.

"The Modernizing Compliance Initiative came as the result of an expenditure review exercise that was carried out in complete secrecy from staff, unions and the Canadian Public," notes Kostuch. "The department is still trying to quietly undertake this initiative, reducing both the level of service to Canadians and the level of protection of the aquatic environment. This becomes clearer when comparing the information available to staff on DFO's Intranet website to the information provided to the public on DFO's public website." Read more about Department Of Fisheries And Oceans Secretly Reducing Protection Of Fish Habitat

The Fisheries Act is one of the strongest and most important environmental acts in Canada. As you can see from the media release which follows this Action Alert, DFO is planning to decrease protection of fish habitat.

What can you do?

1. Distribute this media release or do your own media release.
2. Call, write, fax, email or meet with members of Parliament and the Senate and ask them to oppose both the proposed reduction in funding for protection of fish habitat and the Modernizing Compliance Initiative which would result in the cutting of 80 Fishery Officers and 42 Habitat Management Positions.
3. Ask to be consulted about any proposed changes related to fish habitat protection and about any proposed changes to the Fisheries Act. (Rumors are that a new Fisheries Act is going to be tabled in the fall.)

Please click on the following web link to view the RCEN E-Bulletin - May 6th, 2005 Edition: