A no-fly zone ordered over the Kananaskis area to secure the G-8 summit in late June could cost local heli-adventure companies hundreds of thousands of dollars, say company officials.
Marty von Neudegg, spokesman for Canadian Mountain Holidays in Banff, says his heli-hiking company stands to lose about $270,000 in lost business due to the no-fly zone, which will extend an 80-nautical mile radius around the summit site at Kananaskis Village.
"If they had given us a year's notice, we could have dealt with this. But to give us a few weeks notice is atrocious behaviour," Neudegg says angrily. "Because of (Ottawa's) lack of planning, we're suffering and . . . our guests are suffering. It looks terrible on us."
Neudegg's company isn't alone.
Extreme adventure businesses all along the Alberta and western B.C. Rockies that rely on air flights to operate are bracing for major losses.
The no-fly zone will be in effect from June 25 to June 28. The G-8 runs from June 26 to 27.
Operators are demanding both compensation and an explanation why the no-fly zone is so large. They say they're being stonewalled by the federal government.
G-8 officials say they'll compensate all affected businesses. The compensation package is expected to be unveiled by the end of April.
"We are sensitive to concerns being expressed . . . for timely and appropriate compensation," said Mike O'Shaughnessy, a G-8 spokesman in Ottawa. "Our intention is to ensure minimal disruption to activities of Alberta businesses and citizens as a result of the summit."
Officials with the Department of National Defence and Transportation Canada say the no-fly zone is necessary to protect summit delegates, especially in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks on America.
Ottawa announced the no-fly zone on March 20. It will extend from Kananaskis Village northwest to Golden, B.C., south to Invermere, B.C., west to B.C.'s Selkirk Mountains, and east to Springbank, on the outskirts of Calgary. Calgary International Airport will operate during the summit, but delays are expected.
Heli-adventure tours are a favourite of the world's monied eco-tourists. A three-day trip to one of Canadian Mountain Holidays' $8-million luxury mountain lodges in B.C's Purcell Mountains, for example, costs more than $1,500 per person. Tourists must book their tickets a year in advance, and, due to the no-fly zone, 176 customers worldwide are now watching their dream vacation turn into a nightmare.
Paul Leeson, operator of Purcell Lodge in Golden, says he'll lose about $112,000 in bookings because of the no-fly zone. However, Leeson is more concerned about the potential damage to his company's reputation for cancelling pre-booked trips at the last minute.
"This will really hurt our reputation," Leeson says. "This (no-fly zone) is ludicrous. If I have to, I'll get my own helicopter and fly on my own, damn the security restrictions."
The summit this June marks the first time details of a compensation plan have been released before a major summit meeting.
Recent summits in Quebec City and Ottawa have resulted in drawn-out compensation battles between businesses and the federal government.
Quebec City merchants recently received $7 million for losses from the Summit of the Americas in 2001. The money took nine months to arrive, however, and came after 9,000-plus Quebecers launched a class-action lawsuit against summit organizers.
Ottawa merchants are still awaiting compensation for losses at the G-20 summit last November.
Their lawyer, Josh Moon, says his clients are frustrated.
"We've had no input. Nobody knows what is in the compensation plan," Moon says. "There's also concern and skepticism about why it's taking so long."
Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier says he has urged federal officials to make the compensation process fair, timely and "administered locally, so people don't have to fight Ottawa for compensation."
As for Neudegg, he has offered spots for security officials on his flights if it means saving bookings. He says he can't find anyone in government willing to explain why the no-fly zone can't be altered to accommodate affected businesses.
"We've been met with absolute, stony silence," he said.
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