Key facts
- Parks Canada is ending its 55-year-old search and rescue dog program in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
- The program's elimination is part of broader budget cuts affecting Parks Canada.
- The decision has led to public outrage and a petition with over 5,000 signatures.
- Critics argue the cut compromises public safety in Banff National Park.
- The last dog in the program, Leroy, retired in August after helping track 156 people.
Parks Canada is discontinuing its 55-year-old search and rescue dog program in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, a decision that has sparked significant public backlash. The agency cited modernization efforts and budget cuts as reasons for eliminating the sole handler position in Banff National Park, a popular tourist destination. Critics, including local MP William Stevenson and former handler Scott Ward, argue this move jeopardizes public safety in a region prone to avalanches and lost hikers. The government, meanwhile, stated its focus is on reducing the national deficit.