Parks Canada has decided not to pursue legal action against Salman Rasheed, the superintendent of Banff National Park, despite his admission of breaking federal regulations by allowing his dog to be off-leash. Jennifer Burnell, a spokesperson for Parks Canada, stated on Monday that the investigation into the matter had concluded, and no further details would be provided as charges were not filed through the provincial court system.
When approached for an interview by CBC News, Burnell, Rasheed, Parks Canada’s acting CEO Andrew Campbell, and the vice-president of operations Jewel Cunningham did not respond immediately. Cunningham had previously mentioned that Parks Canada was examining the situation and would take suitable actions after it was referred to the law enforcement division.
Both Rasheed and Parks Canada acknowledged the incident, with Rasheed characterizing it as an “isolated lapse in judgment.” As the top official in Banff National Park, Rasheed is responsible for enforcing federal laws within Parks Canada.
The incident came to light when the Rocky Mountain Outlook, a local media outlet, reported with a photo that Rasheed had been seen walking his dog, Max, off-leash on the Tunnel Mountain trail in Banff. Having dogs off-leash is prohibited in Canadian national parks, and this incident occurred shortly after a notable off-leash case led to a $1,500 fine.
Burnell emphasized the importance of compliance with national park regulations in safeguarding wildlife, pets, visitors, and the ecological balance of the park areas under Parks Canada’s care. She stated that it is expected that all individuals, whether visitors or residents, adhere to the rules equally.
An internal administrative review initiated by Parks Canada through management channels concluded that the matter was appropriately addressed. Burnell mentioned that the process was regarded as a human resource issue, and Parks Canada refrained from providing further comments on the matter.
Between 2021 and 2026, there were 503 reported off-leash dog incidents in the Banff field unit, resulting in 314 warnings and 22 charges. In the Lake Louise, Yoho, Kootenay field unit, there were 106 reported incidents, leading to 79 warnings and 27 charges. Off-leash dog incidents can result in fines of up to $25,000 but not criminal charges.
Since July 29, 2026, thirteen individuals have admitted guilt in the Canmore Court of Justice for various violations of the Canada National Parks Act, such as flying a drone and camping without a permit. Fines imposed ranged from $150 to $3,000.