Photo courtesy of Parks Canada
The public consultation process for a draft management plan for the Prince Albert National Park has begun.
The plan is assessed every 10 years to ensure key strategies are being met in areas such as conservation, outreach and promotion and enhancing visitor experience. The Canada National Parks Act and the Parks Canada Agency Act require each national park and historic site to have a management plan to help shape the future direction of the park.
Interested stakeholders have been invited to provide feedback on the plan, which includes Aboriginal and Métis groups. At least 13 Indigenous groups have ties with the Prince Albert National Park. Parks Canada says it understands the importance of the relationship with those groups.
Carla Flaman with Parks Canada says there were a number of stakeholder groups involved in the drafting the plan, from community groups within the town site of Waskesiu, tourism organizations outside of the park and neighboring municipalities.
“Some of the feedback has been technical in nature, but nothing that would warrant major changes to the draft, but we don’t know what we will hear over the course of the next week or so,” she said.
Flaman says after the consultation period ends on August 15, there will be an internal review of the draft management plan before it is adopted by the federal government.
The park has posted the draft management plan on its national park website for the public to review.