Alberta Park Boundaries Face Resort Changes
Proposed changes to Alberta provincial park boundaries under the All-Seasons Resorts Act could impact hiking trails and reduce public access to wild spaces. The legislation may allow private resorts to expand into protected parklands, sparking concerns from conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts. Critics argue the changes threaten trail integrity while proponents suggest they will boost tourism and economic growth.
- The first three resorts to operate under the new legislation are Fortress Mountain, Nakiska, and Castle Mountain. This has resulted in boundary changes including Fortress Mountain receiving 131 hectares from Spray Valley Provincial Park, Nakiska adding 929 hectares from Evan Thomas Provincial Recreation Area, and Castle gaining 54 hectares from Castle Provincial Park. - The All-Season Resorts Act, passed in December 2024, allows the government to create "All-season Resort Areas" on public land to encourage private investment and tourism. Proponents suggest this will create up to 24,000 jobs and generate $3.6 billion in GDP over the next decade. - A key feature of the act is the introduction of 99-year leases for resort developers, intended to provide long-term certainty for significant investment and multi-phase planning. - Critics, including Banff-Kananaskis MLA Sarah Elmeligi, argue that changing park boundaries sets a "very slippery slope" that undermines the entire provincial park system. The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) has expressed deep concern about the privatization of public lands and the lack of public consultation in these boundary changes. - The legislation exempts designated all-season resort areas from public consultation requirements under the Alberta Land Stewardship Act. This has led to criticism that the government is bypassing established environmental review and land-use planning processes. - An access to information request revealed a proposal to "deregulate and designate" 83 hectares of Spray Valley Provincial Park, with a note that the "cumulative impact of development and visitor intensity remains a concern in the Kananaskis Valley." - This is not the first time changes to Alberta's parks have faced public opposition. In 2020, a government proposal to close or delist 175 parks and recreation areas was withdrawn after a significant public outcry. - Fortress Mountain Resort has submitted the first full proposal under the new act, with a public input period ending on February 27, 2026. The proposal has been described by critics as having an "amusement-park style vision."
