Received a PFO Response From My MP

[Steven Noel]

I previously sent my MP this letter in regards to the Sustainability and Development of Canada's National Parks. I was and am gravely concerned about overdevelopment of our national parks resulting in a subsequent threat of the parks' ecological integrity. My letter read as follows:

Brent Rathgeber
House of Commons
Ottawa ON K1A 0A6


Dear Mr. Rathgeber:

My name is Steven Noel and I am a student at Archbishop MacDonald High School. I write today in regards to Canada's National Parks and the continued issue of human development threatening their sustainability. It is of my utmost concern that our national parks ¬¬–our national heritage– are under continual and severe threats to their further existence. I fear that if immediate and decisive governmental action is not taken to address the binding abuses and neglects that are occurring within these parks, we pose the risk of losing them forever. Subsequently, I will further explain my concerns in an effort to demonstrate the dire mistakes we are making in the current management of Canada's National Parks.

It is of my grave concern that governmental approval of overdevelopment of our national parks, particularly those in and along the Alberta-British Columbia continental divide, is leading to environmental exploitation and a loss of ecological integrity. For example, the Bow Valley Wolf Pack, located in Banff National Park, a pack fourteen strong in 2009, has been completely expunged. This tragedy occurred directly as a result of vehicle strikes on the Trans-Canada Highway, which, despite fencing for much of its length, continues to kill large numbers of wildlife annually. Poor maintenance of this fence, breaches of which often take weeks to secure, ultimately leads to increased preventable wildlife mortality. In August and September of 2008, three wolves died over a span of six weeks on the Trans-Canada Highway within 100 meters of a section of fence damaged by a fallen tree. Directly due to the appalling misallocation of Parks Canada's funding, directed largely at commercial and tourism based interests, the money required to continue the mandate and purpose of our national parks is being neglected. How is it that in the current fiscal budget of 805 million dollars, sufficient staff are not hired to assure the best possible level of safety is not maintained for both wildlife and visitors to the parks? It is because great portions of this sum are directed at advertising the parks as playgrounds to people and businesses across Canada and around the world. This is very disheartening. However, it is of my belief that with the cooperation of all parties involved, a solution can be reached that meets the satisfaction of everybody while finally taking into consideration the fragile ecological integrity of the areas. I would greatly appreciate if you would forward my concerns to The Honourable Peter Kent PC, Minister of the Environment as well as raise them in caucus.

I thank you for taking the time to read my letter and heeding my concern. I hope my voice will be heard.

Sincerely,

Steven Noël

I was disappointed in the response I received, as it used few words to say nothing. No mention was given to my direct examples of ecological damage ocurring within the park, and no hope of any real action being done was suggested. It read as follows.




Any suggestions as to what I might do to get legitamite action from my elected official?

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by Steven Noel

I previously sent my MP this letter in regards to the Sustainability and Development of Canada's National Parks. I was and am gravely concerned about overdevelopment of our national parks resulting in a subsequent threat of the parks' ecological integrity. My letter read as follows:

Brent Rathgeber
House of Commons
Ottawa ON K1A 0A6


Dear Mr. Rathgeber:

My name is Steven Noel and I am a student at Archbishop MacDonald High School. I write today in regards to Canada's National Parks and the continued issue of human development threatening their sustainability. It is of my utmost concern that our national parks ¬¬–our national heritage– are under continual and severe threats to their further existence. I fear that if immediate and decisive governmental action is not taken to address the binding abuses and neglects that are occurring within these parks, we pose the risk of losing them forever. Subsequently, I will further explain my concerns in an effort to demonstrate the dire mistakes we are making in the current management of Canada's National Parks.

It is of my grave concern that governmental approval of overdevelopment of our national parks, particularly those in and along the Alberta-British Columbia continental divide, is leading to environmental exploitation and a loss of ecological integrity. For example, the Bow Valley Wolf Pack, located in Banff National Park, a pack fourteen strong in 2009, has been completely expunged. This tragedy occurred directly as a result of vehicle strikes on the Trans-Canada Highway, which, despite fencing for much of its length, continues to kill large numbers of wildlife annually. Poor maintenance of this fence, breaches of which often take weeks to secure, ultimately leads to increased preventable wildlife mortality. In August and September of 2008, three wolves died over a span of six weeks on the Trans-Canada Highway within 100 meters of a section of fence damaged by a fallen tree. Directly due to the appalling misallocation of Parks Canada's funding, directed largely at commercial and tourism based interests, the money required to continue the mandate and purpose of our national parks is being neglected. How is it that in the current fiscal budget of 805 million dollars, sufficient staff are not hired to assure the best possible level of safety is not maintained for both wildlife and visitors to the parks? It is because great portions of this sum are directed at advertising the parks as playgrounds to people and businesses across Canada and around the world. This is very disheartening. However, it is of my belief that with the cooperation of all parties involved, a solution can be reached that meets the satisfaction of everybody while finally taking into consideration the fragile ecological integrity of the areas. I would greatly appreciate if you would forward my concerns to The Honourable Peter Kent PC, Minister of the Environment as well as raise them in caucus.

I thank you for taking the time to read my letter and heeding my concern. I hope my voice will be heard.

Sincerely,

Steven Noël

I was disappointed in the response I received, as it used few words to say nothing. No mention was given to my direct examples of ecological damage ocurring within the park, and no hope of any real action being done was suggested. It read as follows.




Any suggestions as to what I might do to get legitamite action from my elected official?

Well, you didn't request any specific action beyond forwarding the letter, which he did.

[FCLightning]

Originally Posted by Okotokian

Well, you didn't request any specific action beyond forwarding the letter, which he did.

Well, he did ask for the matter to be raised in caucus.

It is rather funny though to read the response letter that has absolutely nothing to do with anything in the original letter. Some intelligent thought went into that reply

[alacringa]

Originally Posted by Steven Noel

Any suggestions as to what I might do to get legitamite action from my elected official?

HAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Legitimate action from an elected official! HAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Good one, Steven.

[pattycr125]

do you think they really care? all politicians care about is keeping thier jobs, this often means lieing and making prommises they can't keep or giving people ****ty generic responses to thier legitimate concerns hoping that it will distract you, unfortunatly people are to concerned with television and videogames and ****ty worthless pop music nowadays to rally any kind of serious actions to save our planet. i'm afraid we are already defeated, one person has absolutley no power to change anything on thier own unless they maybe happen to be extremely rich, it's unfortunate that given enough time money always translates into political power or power in general. i wish i had something more positive to say.

[Albertadiver]

I hate to be the 'bad guy' here, but Stephen, I read your letter and it was pretty fluffy.

You mention immediate action to protect wildlife, but you don't offer any potential measures to assist. It appears you're concerned about commercialism in the parks, but honestly, what hard facts are you relying upon to prove the destruction of the parks? The Bow Valley wolf pack was in a fairly industrial area. Unfortunately the trans canada corridor is what it is. North and south of this corridor, wolves are flourishing on public and private land. The elk, deer, grizz, and sheep population in the Bow Valley corridor is flourishing as well. Would you propose shutting down the highway altogether? The greenies are already reducing the speed limit to 70 along the corridor in places.

Sorry dude, I'm not sure what you're going to expect out of your government official.

[densa44]

The MP's do not read the letters nor do they write the replys. It was good of you to write but that is unfortunately the way it is. Even if he was wildly in support of your concerns as a backbencher, you have as much influence as he does. Remember that there are 301 of them in Ottawa and they all don't set government policy.

If you are still interested in writing and making your point (I think it is a good one) write to the Prime Minister, he (his staff) will pass it on the the appropriate minister who will send you a response. It would be a collector's item if it were the same letter.

Don't use a stamp, just put OHMS on the envelope (On Her Majesty's Service) and it will go free.

Good luck with this and tell us what happens.

[midgetwaiter]

Originally Posted by Albertadiver

I hate to be the 'bad guy' here, but Stephen, I read your letter and it was pretty fluffy.

I'm going to have to agree with Albertadiver Stephen. It's nice to see someone your age that is literate but I think you need to adjust your writing style. Specifically, cut out the adjectives, a simple sentence is one that will be understood. Stephen King has made a lot of money with adjective barf but it's not effective communication.

Sorry about the response, the state of our democracy is troubling. I think you will find that the representative part of representative democracy doesn't work the way it is supposed to, especially with the current government. The conservative party takes more of a top down approach to policy, unless your representative is influential this may not get any where.

Another avenue is to try and get something tabled at the party's policy convention next year.

[avb3]

Rathgerber is my MP, and I have written him on a couple of occasions. Rather then pontificating, you need to be specific on your request.

He has got back to me every time personally, and usually in a short time frame.

You can also request an appointment with him when he is in his constituency office. Most MP's are pretty good if you request one, but their staff will ask what the subject matter is so they can be briefed.

[Samhael]

Originally Posted by alacringa

HAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Legitimate action from an elected official! HAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Good one, Steven.

truth hurts, dont expect anything sad as it is.

[Kev]

Political responses are designed to close the issue and not invite/initiate a further response. Good for you for writing, and keep doing so on concerns that you are passionate about. 1 letter doesn't mean much, but it's a numbers game. The more letters received, the more attention it will get.

For issues such as you raised with animal deaths, you are better off talking to a local official with Parks.

[gpgriz]

Steve... I don't have any issue with the content of your letter. Good for you for taking the time to write it, proof it, and write it again. As you continue to do this, you'll refine your style to include more facts and specifics.

What troubles me most about this communication is that the response has absolutely nothing to do with the content of the original letter. That's pretty carpy, even for a staffer.

Keep it up Steven. Atleast you're not apathetic and consumed by videogames.

[Steven Noel]

Thank you very much to those gave words of support in my writing of this letter, and also to those who constructively critisized my doing so.

I plan to refine my approach with more detailed examples and referenced material and continue to pursue this issue for which I am very passionate about.

[uglyelk]

Originally Posted by Steven Noel

I plan to refine my approach with more detailed examples and referenced material and continue to pursue this issue for which I am very passionate about.

Might I suggest before you do anymore letter writting you get your facts correct? The Bow Valley Pack has not been expunged! Their numbers are on the increase the alpha female is pregnant. Wolf packs that have been eradicated don't normal have a litter.

The sky ain't falling so you don't need to try and hold it up!

[uglyelk]

Bow Valley Wolf!

[boomstick]

i love it ...standard form letter the wife used to pump out for this guy , political smoke and mirrors.