Bighorn Country opponents to express views in telephone town hall

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – The Notley Government continues to face criticism over its plan to create park space in Bighorn Country.

The first of three telephone town halls is scheduled Tuesday.

The phone sessions come after the environment minister cancelled public meetings last week.

“Why wasn’t there better consultation, why weren’t municipalities involved right from day one,” said Brazeau County Reeve Bart Guyon. “That’s going to be the key message, and just let them know that there’s uncertainty and this isn’t rhetoric, this is about real people it’s about real jobs.” 

Last week, Environment Minister Shannon Phillips claimed government employees had been intimidated and then falsely claimed RCMP were investigating those threats.

Many living in the area say the plan is vague when it comes to things like future development and industry access.

“This area generates billions of dollars of revenue and a lot of that is going to be stranded, they talk about industry will be able to continue, but when you read the details it says not without new access,” said Guyon.

Guyon adds it comes with a big cost and people in the area aren’t getting the full story.

“So I think the government needs to take a real sober second-thought on this and pull back and kind of start over this whole process here and really think about this and really educate the public on what this means.”

The Bighorn Country plan would create eight parks and recreation spaces in west-central Alberta, covering more than 384,000 hectares.

A spokesman in her office brushes aside opposition, saying it’s a small, vocal minority.