Canada scraps avalanche dog rescue programme in Banff National Park

Parks Canada is ending its rescue dog programme in the Canadian Rocky Mountains this month by eliminating the sole dog handler position at Banff National Park in Alberta. The park receives more than four million visitors a year from around the world. The move is part of Prime Minister Mark Carney's government's broad funding cuts to the public service, and the agency announced last week that hundreds of its employees will soon be laid off.

The agency's explanation

Parks Canada confirmed the decision to the BBC, calling it "difficult". It said the change is part of efforts to modernise its law enforcement branch and that search and rescue operations will continue through other means. Local newspaper Rocky Mountain Outlook reported that the programme is being cut as part of recent C$145m ($104m) budget reductions at the agency.

Outrage and political response

More than 5,000 people have signed a petition to restore the role since Tuesday. It was started by William Stevenson, the Conservative Member of Parliament for the Banff area. He said he welcomes tighter government spending but believes this cut could harm public safety. He also raised the issue in parliament. Ryan Turnbull, a Liberal MP and parliamentary secretary for finance, replied that the government is focused on reducing the deficit. Stevenson has requested a meeting with Parks Canada's CEO.

History of the programme

Dogs were used in the Rockies for 55 years. They searched for people buried under snow after avalanches and, in summer, helped find lost children. The last dog, a German Shepherd named Leroy, retired in August. In seven years on the job, he helped track 156 people, find 57 lost in the wilderness and solve two murders. A new dog had already been trained.

Scott Ward, who worked as a handler for 17 years, said a major public and staff safety resource has been lost. He hopes the programme will be restored soon.