Editor:
Re: Snow boarders rescued near Sunshine and RMO editorial A slice of the Bow Valley life.
When I saw the RMO March 1 front page cover picture showing Alpine Helicopter pilot Lance Copper long-lining rescuer Lisa Paulson and an injured climber out of a dangerous situation in the Lake Louise area, I immediately wondered who foots the bill for these rescues.
There is no short answer, but generally, if the rescue takes place in a national park, it all ends up on the taxpayer’s tab. In discussion with numerous people on this matter, I found that despite Park Canada’s best attempts to educate backcountry users, some continue to fail to get the message and end up in trouble, which often results in very costly rescue operations.
Marc Ledwidge, manager of the visitor safety program for Banff, Yoho, Kootenay Parks, fronts the busiest rescue service in Canada. He confirmed my findings regarding the cost of a helicopter used in a mountain rescue – $2,000 per hour. That’s just the tip of the iceberg when putting a rescue together. That sum will not include the costs of all the support people (there are nine dedicated just to search and rescue) equipment etc., necessary to put a mission together.
There’s no question those in trouble should be rescued, but should the costs be borne by the taxpayers of the land? Shouldn’t those who take part in dangerous activities be required to carry insurance to cover the costs of a rescue and after care?
Those silly snowboarders who last week put Marc’s rescue team in a perilous situation at Sunshine should pay for their rescue, and not out of Park entrance fees either, which is public money. These daredevils not only put their lives in danger, but those of several brave mountain rescue experts who put their own lives on the line in these extremely dangerous rescues.
It is long overdue that those taking part in extreme sports, carry insurance to pay all costs if they need to be rescued. I must pay my annual medical insurance bill, which includes an ambulance rescue team to pick me up and do what they need to save me in an emergency.
If I chose not to pay for that coverage – I will be rescued – but Alberta Health Care will send me a bill for the full costs and I’ll pay it out of my own pocket.
Why does that change when I need to be rescued in a national mountain park, and it involves a helicopter, nine people and a dog?
In 2009, Parks spent $32,000 over seven days trying to locate a lost tourist in Jasper National Park. This fine adventurer eventually walked out on his own, flying back to his home in Chicago, Ill. – not one penny poorer for all the trouble he caused. Is this fair?
Alvin Shier,
Canmore
