[1] The headwaters of the North Saskatchewan River, the source of drinking water for the province's capital city, Edmonton, which is hundreds of kilometres to the east, is located in the proposed region.
[1] The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) has indicated this region along with several others, as one that could "help Canada meet conservation targets under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.
"In an open letter that Phillips posted on Facebook, she specifically expressed her disappointment at United Conservative Party MLA Jason Nixon's "inaccurate statements" and "misinformation.
"[4] In 1974 former premier Peter Lougheed held the eastern slopes hearings, to begin a conversation with "ranchers, hunters and sportsmen" about protecting the Bighorn Backcountry.
"[6] In 2016, the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative sponsored a survey that was contracted to NRG Research Group and the Praxis Group™ to poll Albertans' attitudes towards a new Bighorn Headwaters park.
[5][Notes 2] In May 2018, the NDP government announced that Alberta was going to "create the largest protected area of boreal forest in the world by setting aside four new provincial parks and expanding another along its northeastern borders".
[1] "Alberta Environment and Parks Minister Shannon Phillips issued a statement Saturday announcing the cancellation of upcoming public information sessions in Drayton Valley, Edmonton, Red Deer and Sundre.