Consultation Framework

Albertans are passionate about our parks, and want more involvement in decisions about parks and in the delivery of parks programs.  

Alberta's Plan for Parks guides decisions for managing the provincial parks system.  It includes Strategy #1 to "Involve Albertans". Our consultation and notification processes were developed to support the implementation of this strategy.

The Involving Albertans consultation framework sets out the circumstances which determine:

• Whether consultation or other forms of notification will be used
• How they will be conducted

Note that this framework does not direct or influence First Nations consultation requirements. Those requirements are subject to Alberta's First Nations Consultation Policy on Land Management and Resource Development.

Consultation Process

Online Consultation

When surveyed, Albertans indicated a preference for email and web-based consultation on issues related to Alberta's parks.  In response, we focus our public consultations online.

• Information on current consultations is posted online.
• Stakeholders and other interested parties are advised of a consultation via email.
• Feedback can be submitted during a 60-day comment period, using an online feedback form, email, or regular mail.

Subscribe to ParkNews to be advised when future opportunities for public comment are announced.

Information bulletins are also issued through the Alberta Communications Network to alert media to the consultation.

Other Consultation Mechanisms

The need for additional consultation mechanisms is determined on a case-by-case basis.  This could involve open houses, information sessions and public or stakeholder meetings.

Results of Consultation

After the consultation concludes and decisions are made, an update is posted online.  The update summarizes the feedback received, as well as the resulting decisions and next steps.  

Notification Process

In some cases, consultation may not be required. However, we still want to keep the public informed of these changes to the parks system. Examples where notification is more appropriate include

• Addition of privately donated land to an existing park
• Emergency closures
• Routine management decisions
• Minor facility expansions

At a minimum, current notifications are posted online.  Notifications includes department and media contacts who are able to respond to questions. Depending on the specific situation, other means of communication may be used.

Notifications about public safety issues and other advisories are posted online, both on AlbertaParks.ca and Reserve.AlbertaParks.ca.  This includes fire bans and liquor bans.

Consultation/Notification Framework

Issue		Consultation	Notification
Designation of New Parks or addition of lands to existing parks	Designated from public/crown land
	Designated from a private land sale or donation
Boundary Amendments	Significant change in size or shape, or significant change to public use of park
	Insignificant or administrative change to size or shape1 , or no significant change to public use of park
Facility Development	Major new development, is of a significant size and footprint, or will significantly change the use of the site
	Minor facility expansions 2
Park Management	New or modified legislation
	System-wide policy changes
	Development of Park Management Plan
	Follow-through on actions committed to and consulted on in  management plan
	General or routine management actions and decisions
	Change in legal classification or the management intent of a park
	Major changes to management zones within a park 3
	Minor modifications to management zone boundaries within a park

¹ Example of an insignificant change to the size or shape of a park is the deregulation of park 0.5 hectares in size that does not contain any natural or recreation values, and has not been used by the public for many years.

² Example of a minor facility expansion is the addition of ten new campsites to an existing campground.

³ Example of a major change to a management zone would be changing the management intent of a zone from a management zone that allows hunting to one that does not allow hunting. A minor modification might be a correction of an error in the original legal description of a zone.