Bryn Thomas, secretary, Jasper Flying Club, reports that the Crown, acting for Parks Canada, has abandoned the appeal against a COPA member and dropped the charges against all other pilots.
The member was part of a group who staged a fly-in to Jasper, Alta. in 1998 as an expression of displeasure with Parks Canada’s actions to close the Jasper Airport to aircraft except during an emergency. They were ticketed by park wardens. The pilots forced the issue into court where their representation was supported by the COPA Special Action Fund. Their defence and the subsequent not guilty verdict were based on the fact that Parks Canada, owner of the airstrip, had not complied with an earlier court ruling by Justice Douglas Campbell preventing it from closing the airstrip prior to conducting an environmental study. Parks Canada indicated its intention to appeal the decision. That has now been dropped. As a result, the court has awarded the defendant 70 per cent of total costs.
Parks Canada is going ahead with environmental studies aimed at closing both
the airstrips at Jasper and Banff. The recent finalization of terms of reference
for the environmental studies are causing some concern for COPA because, despite
an extensive representation by COPA, they remain narrowly focussed on how the
airstrips will be decommissioned rather than on whether or not they should be.
COPA, along with the members of the Banff and Jasper Flying Clubs and
consultants continue to press Parks on the need for these airstrips. Contact
Kevin Psutka