Alberta been seen as a province that puts its oil above its environment. Especially after being scrutinized by James Cameron in front of an international audience, Alberta is notoriously perceived as a place that doesn’t put much thought to its environmental impact. However, a recent uplifting story can be used to show not to lose all hope in Alberta, and may even support the idea that we may have been unfairly labelled. Bill 29, otherwise known as the Alberta Parks Act, was proposed recently and almost passed at the provincial legislature. According to the Environmental Law Centre, Bill 29 would nullify specific prohibitions in some of our protected areas and make ecological reserves and wilderness areas into Provincial Parks under zoning regulations. More simply put, Bill 29 would threaten our protected areas by opening them up to commercial development, resorts, off-road trails, and other activities that could seriously affect their ecology. In response to this evidently controversial act, conservation groups including the Alberta Wilderness Association, Provincial Parks Stewards Association, Canadian Parks & Wilderness Society, Federation of Alberta Naturalists, and the Sierra club teamed up to raise awareness to the public about the lasting affects the act would have on our parks and attempt to have the proposition withdrawn.
The public outcry that resulted was tremendous; Alberta citizens rallied to express their opposition to the Alberta government about the bill. A youth-initiated rally was even planned to take place outside of City Hall this past Friday. The protest did not need to go forward, however, because the bill was dropped a couple of days before. It is evident that he Alberta government listened. You may be wondering, if the bill has been shut down and our parks will continue to be preserved as they were initially, what is the point of this story? What this story exemplifies, is that you CAN make a difference simply by raising awareness about an unjust cause and using your passion to educate the public. Alberta is by no means close to doing all we can to protect our environment which many of us take for granted on a day-to-day basis, but this shows that there is still a glimmer of hope for the future of Alberta’s wilderness. As cliché as it may sound, always speak up for what you believe in and your voice may have the power to make a difference.