Jasper National Park

All Parks Canada consultations and formal engagement on management plans are suspended until further notice

The health and safety of Canadians, visitors, and Parks Canada team members is of the utmost importance to the Agency. Parks Canada is following the advice of public health experts and implementing measures to support Canada’s efforts to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and reduce risks to employees and visitors.

As a result, Parks Canada has also suspended all public consultations and formal engagement with stakeholders and Indigenous peoples on management plans until further notice.

Management plans are developed through consultation and input from various people and organizations, including Indigenous peoples, local and regional residents, visitors, and the public. The Agency is currently focusing its efforts on critical operations. There is, therefore, limited capacity to undertake full and meaningful management planning consultations at this time. Parks Canada also recognizes that the focus of the Canadian public, Indigenous partners and our stakeholders is on public health and safety and the economy. Parks Canada is committed to resuming all management planning activities, including public consultations and formal engagement with stakeholders and Indigenous peoples, once operations return to normal and capacity allows.

Feedback from the first phase of public and Indigenous engagement is summarized in What we heard: Jasper National Park and What we heard: Mountain parks executive summary.

What is a park management plan?

A management plan is the road map that guides Parks Canada’s work in a national park to:

• protect natural and cultural resources
• facilitate visitor experiences and learning opportunities
• collaborate with other organizations and Indigenous partners

Management plans are prepared in consultation with the public and Indigenous peoples.

Under the Canada National Parks Act, we are required to review our park management plan every ten years. We last updated our park management plan in 2010 and are aiming to table a new plan in Parliament in 2020.

Get involved!

We want to hear from you. Public involvement ensures that management plans reflect the perspectives of Canadians.

There will be several opportunities to provide your input during the management planning process.

Key topics for the management plan review

We last updated our park management plan in 2010. Much of the direction in that plan is still relevant. However, fresh approaches are needed to address new environmental pressures, demographic and technological changes, and government priorities

We would like to discuss seven main topics during the management plan review. We came up with this list by completing our State of the Park Assessment, evaluating our delivery of the current management plan, taking stock of public and Indigenous feedback during the last ten years, and reviewing our Agency’s current priorities.