Question Period Note: Mount Norquay Ski Area (Liricon) Proposal in Banff National Park

Mount Norquay Ski Area (Liricon) Proposal in Banff National Park

• In managing national parks, Parks Canada maintains or restores ecological integrity and provides Canadians with opportunities to discover and enjoy these treasured places.
• Parks Canada has a rigorous development review and environmental assessment process that ensures all development proposals comply with our mandate and healthy ecosystems are maintained.
• The Norquay ski area operator has submitted a development proposal that includes an aerial tram between the town of Banff and the ski area.
• Within a national park context, all proposals must conform to legislative and policy requirements and include an environ-mental assessment and public consultations.
• Parks Canada is currently reviewing the proposal and is committed to ecological integrity as the first priority in decision making.

TRANSIT SOLUTIONS

• The Agency uses many strategies to effectively manage visitation and is committed to working with partners to develop new ways to manage visitation in popular areas.
Parks Canada has made significant investments towards regional public transit in Banff National Park, reducing congestion and greenhouse gas emissions, and improving overall visitor experiences.

• Mount Norquay is currently operating under approved site guidelines (2011) and an approved long-range plan, as well as a 42-year lease. Legislative amendments under Schedule 5 of the Canada National Parks Act came into effect on June 6, 2019, to reflect the boundary changes developed and agreed upon collaboratively with Norquay ski area operator in the site guidelines. The boundary changes brought into effect a 44 percent reduction in leasehold size.
• The Mount Norquay Ski Area Site Guidelines for Development and Use and the Banff National Park Management Plan permit the ski area operator to submit a feasibility study for a tram/gondola from the town of Banff to the ski area.
• On June 1, 2018, Liricon submitted a feasibility study which included additional elements which exceeded the scope and limitations provided by Parks Canada.
• In August 2019, Liricon submitted additional information for Parks Canada’s consideration. This information is currently under review.
• Parks Canada considered Liricon’s proposal through the lens of the Agency’s legislative and policy framework. A preliminary assessment indicated that aspects of the proposal exceed the scope of what can be permitted under the Site Guidelines and park management plan and would be inconsistent with specific statutory requirements. Since then, Liricon has provided a response to the preliminary review of their proposal and Parks Canada will now carefully review and consider this information.

Question Period notes as provided by the Department to the Minister’s Office