Opinion

Dear Editor:

     David McIntyre is an interesting guy; he is well respected. He is good with words.

   Strapping guns onto a sheriff’s posse to go off chasing after renegades saddled with a pack of "asked-for problems" seems to David like last century's solution for solving today's range wars. Rein in the Sheriffs he says, hold onto your horses and slow up, "(s)ociety doesn't need a new park".... all we need are "parklike management tools."

   Meanwhile, back home (on the range) grazing permit holders don't want as many, let alone more, people in the area compromising their grazing capacity. They want longer terms for their current permits (for increased financial value if they were to sell their lease) and they want greater security that no one is going to take away their leases if the area is designated a park. Some permits holders would like a Heritage Rangeland Park which would give gazing use greater priority and protection.

   Not meaning to cause problems for ranchers and their tender-loined baby  calves, conservation groups want grizzly bear habitat expanded and a grizzly bear recovery plan initiated. They think Wildland Parks are needed to give grizzlies a little space to roam (on the range).

   Allan Wakaluk wants a little space (on the range), too. He has applied through Forestry's Alberta Tourism and Recreation Lease (ATRL) program to build a four-season OHV staging area at the abandoned Provincial Ranger Station at the confluence of the South and West Castle Rivers. But the ranchers want that space and don't want the people, so too the grizzlies, and remember that David doesn't want sheriffs gallivanting around those parts, hoofs apounding the montane. Once again, back home (on the range) while the Quad Squad is chasing up money, manpower, and heavy equipment to place high quality engineered bridges over streams, somebody chased after one of their bridges and cut it into two pieces. Made the environmental groups sweat through their britches over allegations of "ecoterrorism."

   Everybody is getting edgy and insecure about this land and their interest and use in it. Then Dr. Horejsi fires off a salvo, double barrels ablazing - we're living it folks, this really is the wild west. His letter to the editor called environmental groups' actions fraudulent, senseless, irresponsible. He also took pot shots at motorized vandalism, thrillcraft (OHVs), and the traditional land abusers. Dr. Horejsi would ride everybody out of town on a rail and he doesn't want a park either, he wants a hearing. So, as hard as is it to image, I believe David McIntrye has got this one wrong. We elected representatives to the legislature to protect our common interests. When things get ragged and wooly out on the range, its time for law and order. The tools are no longer a lone tree and a noose, nor blazing six guns; the law of the day is legislation and the best legislation for our current range war is parks legislation, not "park-like management tools." The Andy Russell - I’tai sah kòp Wildland & Provincial Park proposal for Southwest Alberta is a good idea because it is the best idea.

   It is in our common interest.

Tim Grier