Parks Canada will not lay charges against Banff National Park Superintendent Salman Rasheed after an image showed him with an off-leash dog. Parks Canada said in a statement that its Law Enforcement Branch has finished investigating the incident and decided not to lay charges. An internal administrative review has also concluded. The agency said it initially became aware of the incident through an image, rather than a direct report through its usual public reporting channels. Parks Canada first launched an internal review before referring the matter to its Law Enforcement Branch after receiving additional information. “Visitors and residents rightly expect that these rules apply equally to everyone, and Parks Canada fully agrees,” a spokesperson said, referring to national park regulations. The spokesperson said the law enforcement investigation followed the same process used for other potential violations of park rules and was independent of local management. Parks Canada said it cannot share further details about the investigation because no charges were laid. It also does not publicly discuss internal administrative reviews because they involve human resources matters. The agency said it uses education, public awareness and enforcement to encourage people to follow park rules and protect wildlife and the environment.
