FAQs

The Canada National Parks Act 8(2) states that the "maintenance or restoration of ecological integrity, through the protection of natural resources and natural processes, shall be the first priority of the Minister when considering all aspects of the management of parks." 

The purpose of an SEA is incorporate environmental considerations into the development of public policies, plans, and program proposal to support environmentally-sound decision making. 

Cumulative effects occur when multiple human activities and natural processes impact the same aspect of the environment. Cumulative effects within a national park may arise from infrastructure, activities or strategies within the park, pressures associated with visitation, climate change, and/or from sources originating outside park. 

Valued components are defined as fundamental elements of the physical, biological or socio-economic environment, including the air, water, soil, terrain, vegetation, wildlife, fish, birds and land use that may be affected by the implementation of the plan, policy or project.

Parks Canada has specific requirements for all community plans. They must be consistent with the park management plan; align with the appropriate activities and land uses identified for the community and park; provide direction on  how the community will stay within the growth management strategy; and finally, the plan must provide direction on how the community will be consistent with the principles of no net negative environmental impacts, ensure responsible stewardship and continue to conserve heritage components and structures relevant to the area and park.

National parks are dedicated to the people of Canada for their benefit, education, and enjoyment, so it is important for Parks Canada to hear about what is important to you. Your ideas are considered and reflected to the degree possible in developing the documents, which will guide our decisions and approaches for the foreseeable future.

You can get involved by:

1. Leaving a comment and/or responding to the survey on the www.letstalkmountainparks.ca website
2. Emailing your comments, ideas, or questions to opinion@pc.gc.ca 
3. Sending your input via regular mail to: Office of the Superintendent, Parks Canada - Banff Field Unit P.O. Box 900, Banff, AB T1L 1K2