Alberta Parks
Involving Albertans |
Updated: 21 Mar. 2011 |
The passion that Albertans feel for their parks is evident in the feedback that Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation regularly receives from park visitors, Aboriginal groups and stakeholders. Albertans have told us they want more involvement in decisions about their parks and in the delivery of park programs. Understanding their expectations and ideas is critical in helping us to better manage the Alberta parks system. The consultation and notification processes outlined below have been developed to support the implementation of Strategy #1 (Involve Albertans) in Alberta's Plan for Parks, which guides decisions for managing the Alberta parks system. These processes set out the circumstances which determine whether consultation or other forms of notification will be used, and how they will be conducted. Note: This does not direct or influence First Nations Consultation requirements which are subject to Alberta's First Nations Consultation Policy and Consultation Guidelines on Land Management and Resource Development. The Consultation Process Public consultation on issues related to the Alberta parks system will involve soliciting feedback which will inform decision-making. In a 2008 telephone survey of park users and non-users, Albertans indicated a preference for email and web-based consultation. Information on proposals is posted on our consultation webpage; Stakeholders and other interested parties are advised of the consultation via email, and invited to submit feedback during a 60-day comment period, using either an online feedback form, email, or regular mail. If you would like to be informed when future opportunities for public comment are announced, please subscribe to 'Park News'. Information bulletins are also issued through the Alberta Communications Network which alerts media to the consultation. The need for additional consultation mechanisms such as open houses, information sessions and public or stakeholder meetings is determined on a case-by case basis. Once the consultation period has concluded, a summary document is posted to the consultation webpage which summarizes the feedback received, along with resulting decisions and next steps. The consultation webpage lists all projects currently underway. |
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The Notification Process
In some cases, consultation may not be required. However, it is still important to keep the public informed of changes in the Alberta parks system. Examples where notification is more appropriate include the addition of privately donated land to an existing park, emergency closures, routine management decisions or minor facility expansions.
As a minimum standard, notification is posted to our notification webpage and includes department and media contacts who are able to respond to questions. Depending on the specific situation, other means of communication may be used.
The notification webpage lists all projects currently underway.
In addition to consultations and notifications, we regularly communicate with the public on matters such as seasonal campground closures, temporary fire and liquor bans, trail condition reports and site construction. Up-to-date information is made available through a variety of means including on site signage and website information on AlbertaParks.ca and Reserve.AlbertaParks.ca.
| Issue | Consultation | Notification | |
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| Designation of New Parks or addition of lands to existing parks | Designated from public/crown land |  |
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| Designated from a private land sale or donation | |
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| Boundary Amendments | Significant change in size or shape, or significant change to public use of park | |
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| Insignificant or administrative change to size or shape1 , or no significant change to public use of park | |
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| Facility Development | Major new development, is of a significant size and footprint, or will significantly change the use of the site | |
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| Minor facility expansions 2 | |
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| Park Management | New or modified legislation | |
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| System-wide policy changes | |
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| Development of Regional Park Plan, sub-regional park plan or Park Management Plan | |
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| Follow-through on actions committed to and consulted on in strategic plan, regional park plan, management plan, etc. | |
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| General or routine management actions and decisions | |
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| Change in legal classification or the management intent of a park | |
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| Major changes to management zones within a park 3 | |
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| Minor modifications to management zone boundaries within a park | |
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1 Example of an insignificant change to the size or shape of a park is the deregulation of park 0.5 hectares in size that does not contain any natural or recreation values, and has not been used by the public for many years.
2 Example of a minor facility expansion is the addition of ten new campsites to an existing campground.
3 Example of a major change to a management zone would be changing the management intent of a zone from a management zone that allows hunting to one that does not allow hunting. A minor modification might be a correction of an error in the original legal description of a zone.
