RMA has worked with municipalities on the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains to create a report that addresses the unique challenges that these municipalities face.
Municipalities on the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains face unique challenges and opportunities regarding tourism in the area. In Fall 2022, RMA members passed Resolution 19-22F: Portion of Funding from Public Lands Camping Pass Directed to Municipalities, which calls for:
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) requests that the Government of Alberta provide a portion of the revenue generated from the Public Lands Camping Pass to municipalities with adjacent public lands for the purpose of offsetting additional costs of municipal fire services, peace officers and solid waste services, along with municipal facilities and washrooms associated with recreational use of public lands;
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the RMA requests the Government of Alberta establish a program, funded by a portion of the Public Lands Camping Pass funds, for municipalities to be a coordinating agency for local stewardship and community groups impacted by public lands use.
In response to this Resolution, RMA created the Eastern Slopes Task Force (ESTF), a committee aimed to better understand park-related pressures and develop recommendations for solutions to these challenges. The ESTF was chaired by RMA President Kara Westerlund, and was comprised of representatives from the following RMA member municipalities, chosen based on their proximity to public lands on the Eastern Slopes:
- Clearwater County
- Mountain View County
- Municipal District of Bighorn
- Municipal District of Willow Creek
- Municipal District of Pincher Creek
- Municipal District of Ranchland
- Municipality of Crowsnest Pass
- Yellowhead County
After gathering information from these municipalities, RMA created a final report to promote equity for municipalities on the Eastern Slopes. The Report, Tourism on the Edge: Rural Municipal Perspectives from the Eastern Slopes, includes an overview of the pressures faced by these municipalities and four recommendations for how these pressures may be alleviated.
This report has been sent to the Minister of Forestry and Parks and RMA is currently awaiting a response.
Kallie Wischoff
Policy Advisor
825.319.2245
kallie@rmalberta.com
Wyatt Skovron
General Manager of Policy & Advocacy
780.955.4096
wyatt@rmalberta.com