Construction will go ahead on Kananaskis Country bridge

The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society says the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is allowing a logging company to build a bridge over an ecologically protected area. (Supplied)

The federal government has given an Alberta logging company the go-ahead to build a bridge that was delayed years ago because of environmental concerns.

The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) says the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has approved the construction of a new bridge across the Highwood River in the same location as another bridge in 2023.

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At that time, the DFO told the company responsible for building the bridge to stop as there were no permits in place.

Now, the DFO says West Fraser Cochrane can build the bridge over the river, widely considered to be a home for threatened bull trout.

CPAWS says the DFO’s decision is another example of the federal government putting profits ahead of the survival and recovery of listed species.