Kamloops-Shuswap-Central Rockies MP Mel Arnold is calling on the federal government to ensure avalanche control continues in Rogers Pass, warning that a change in military support could affect both public safety and the economy.
In a statement released May 12, Arnold said the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces will not be renewing their agreement with Parks Canada to support avalanche control operations beyond 2027.
For decades, the Canadian Armed Forces have worked with Parks Canada to provide avalanche control in Rogers Pass, a critical section of the Trans-Canada Highway through Glacier National Park.
Arnold said the corridor is too important to leave without a clear plan, noting that more than 4,000 vehicles and 40 trains pass through Rogers Pass each day. He said that every hour the route is closed can cost the Canadian economy an estimated $3 million.
“The economic importance of this corridor cannot be understated,” Arnold said in the statement.
He said the current annual deployment of the Canadian Armed Forces, under Operation PALACI, provides protection for the transportation gateway at a relatively low cost to taxpayers.
Arnold said the federal government has not yet outlined a strategy for how avalanche control and public safety at Rogers Pass will be maintained once the current arrangement ends.
“This significant Liberal Government cut puts safety and a key economic corridor at risk,” he said.
The Conservatives are calling on the federal government to ensure avalanche control continues in Rogers Pass and other critical economic corridors.
