Kananaskis Logging Blockade Sparks Legal Debate
Kananaskis Blockade: Conservation Standoff Sparks Legal Debate
A “peaceful blockade” established by the Defenders of the Eastern Slopes (DOES) has halted access to a logging road in Kananaskis Country since late October 2025. Located approximately 130 kilometers southwest of Calgary near the Highwood River, the action aims to prevent West Fraser Cochrane from constructing a bridge crucial for clear-cut logging in the Upper Highwood and Loomis Creek watersheds. The move has garnered significant online attention, with many voicing support for protecting Alberta's water and fish habitats.
Legality and Conflicting Claims
DOES contends that permits issued by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) for the bridge construction, intended for logging in areas vital for threatened bull trout spawning, violate federal law. However, officials from Alberta's Ministry of Forestry and Parks have clarified that unauthorized barricades, like the one erected, are illegal under the province's Public Lands Act. The DFO, meanwhile, has stated its authorization includes specific mitigation and monitoring measures to avoid or minimize impacts to fish habitats. This standoff underscores the ongoing tension between resource development and environmental preservation in Alberta's sensitive headwater regions.
