Dear Hon. May, Mulcair, and Trudeau,
As former Parks Canada staff, we are deeply troubled by the seemingly unjustified and arbitrary firing in mid-June of Dr. John Wilmshurst, who was the Resource Conservation Manager in Jasper National Park.
Dr. Wilmshurst is a highly respected scientist and well-regarded manager. His career with Parks Canada spanned just 15 years, yet in this relatively short time, he made very significant contributions to the advancement of ecological integrity within the national park system. As a Grasslands Ecologist based out of Winnipeg, he developed and led an integrated engagement and research project designed to better understand and communicate native prairie ecosystems. In 2008, he transferred to Jasper National Park where he assumed responsibilities as Ecosystem Science Leader, then as Caribou Program Project Manager, and finally as Resource Conservation Manager. All the while, he also served as an adjunct professor at Laval University and University of Saskatchewan.
In recognition of his outstanding work, the Agency bestowed on him its most prestigious honour, the CEO Award of Excellence, in 2009 for his contribution to the development of principles and guidelines for ecological protection in Canada's national parks. More recently, in 2012, he was given the Public Service Award for conceiving and leading a restoration and monitoring program for Grasslands National Park.
The reason for Dr. Wilmshurst's firing is unknown but it appears consistent with the purging of science-based management taking place in the national parks of Canada.
Like a spectre, the threat of these seemingly arbitrary firings has haunted not just the corridors of Parks Canada but also those of other federal departments. As those who dare to speak up on issues related to the ecological integrity of the national parks or the commemorative integrity of the national historic sites are removed from their positions, a deep fear is instilled to ensure that those remaining toe the party line.
Canadians are proud of their national parks and national historic sites. They have entrusted them to successive governments to care for as irreplaceable legacies and to ensure that these special places are passed along to future generations in as good, if not better, condition than when received. They understand that maintaining ecological or commemorative integrity can only be achieved with science and that this science must be integrated into park and site management decision-making. They also rightfully expect that science to be communicated back to them. A government that blocks, twists, or diverts this communication commits an undemocratic act by denying their citizens the knowledge to make informed decisions.
Therefore, we are asking you to state publicly commitments you are prepared to make to protect and restore the ecological and commemorative integrity of our national parks and historic sites if you and your party form the next government. In particular, what are you prepared to do to restore science capacity to Parks Canada and other federal departments so they can carry out and communicate social, ecological and traditional ecological knowledge? Would you undertake an investigation into what appear to be politically motivated dismissals of scientists and managers within the Agency under the Harper government and, where appropriate, offer amnesty or an apology to the affected individuals?
Additionally, we urge all Canadians to ask these questions of the candidates in their riding and then to seriously consider these matters when they vote on Oct. 19.
Signatories with last position held before leaving Parks Canada:
Bruce Amos, Director-General, National Parks Directorate
Gord Anderson, Warden, Jasper National Park;
Rundi Anderson, Resource Conservation Supervisor, Gulf Islands National Park;
Travis Anderson, Fly-in Trail Crew, Jasper National Park;
Gord Antoniuk, Protection/Operations Manager, Jasper National Park;
Jim Barlow, Field Unit Superintendent, Coastal BC;
Harry Beach, Manager, resource Conservation, Ontario Service Centre;
Danielle Bellefleur, Biologist, Pacific Rim National Park;
Chip Bird, Field Unit Superintendent, Cape Breton
Chuck Blyth, Superintendent, Nahanni National Park Reserve;
Joe Buker, Regional Law Enforcement Specialist, Prairie and Northern Region;
Ross Chapman, Conservation Biologist, Elk Island National Park;
Jim Christakos, Regional Director, Ontario;
Ian Church, Superintendent, Yoho National Park;
Jenny Clark, Environmental Educator, Waterton Lakes National Park;
