Canadian Pacific in Banff and Jasper National Parks

For more than 100 years, Canadian Pacific has had presence in Banff National Park with visitor facilities and services

In the late 1980's, Canadian Pacific expanded both the Banff Springs Hotel and Chateau Lake Louise by about 50 percent. In 1988, CP also built nine more holes of golf at the Banff Spring Hotel, AND a convention centre, indoor mini-golf, a bowling alley, and shopping arcade.

NEW DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS

In October 1994, Canadian Pacific unveiled plans for additional development in the National Parks including:

nine more holes of golf at the Banff Springs Hotel, to be added to the existing 27 holes, which would destroy an additional 26 hectares of scarce montane habitat;
200 additional guest rooms and associated staff housing at the Banff Springs Hotel, already the largest hotel in any North American National Park;;
a convention centre and additional staff housing at the Chateau Lake Louise;
relocation of the swimming pool and health club and construction of tennis courts at the Chateau Lake Louise;
18 more holes of golf, 400 new hotel rooms and new staff housing at its newly acquired Jasper Park Lodge; and
unspecified development of four hectares of land in Banff.

Canadian Pacific calls this proposal a "land exchange". CP proposes swapping isolated parcels of marginally developable land in Banff, most of which is not in the montane, in return for the land needed for its golf course. As stated by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, "it is like trading Manhattan Island for beads and mirrors!"

Canadian National Parks Policy on golf courses states:

"Due to the amount of land they require and the need for intense manipulation of natural regimes, no new golf courses will be constructed in National Parks and, subject to environmental assessment requirements, expansions to existing golf courses will not be considered."

In response to concerns about development in Banff National Park, Canadian Heritage Minister Michel Dupuy announced the Banff Bow Valley Study . It is supposed to take a comprehensive look at the effects of development in the valley, but....Canadian Pacific's projects are not included!!