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Calgary Herald

'Apoplectic:' Competition Bureau drops probe into U.S. company's sightseeing dominance in Banff/Jasper

A federal competition regulator's decision to drop its probe into an American company's dominance of the Banff-Jasper sightseeing market appears to be Canada caving to the U.S. amid an ongoing tariff war, says a businessman who pushed for the investigation. Article content The Competition Bureau of Canada last year launched an investigation into Colorado-based VIAD's acquisition of the Jasper SkyTram that was approved by Parks Canada in the summer of 2024. The purchase pushed the company's market share of the sightseeing sector in Banff and Jasper National Parks to more than 90 per cent. Article content Article content Article content In a letter to Adam Waterous, owner of Mt. Norquay ski resort, the bureau said it could find no evidence that the acquisition noticeably exacerbates domination of the privately-operated tourist attraction in Canada's two most-visited national parks. Article content Article content 'Based on the information obtained by the Bureau, it does not appear the acquisition has resulted or is likely to result in a substantial lessening or prevention of competition,' states the April 30 letter. Article content 'Accordingly…I am writing to inform you that the commissioner has discontinued the inquiry.' Article content VIAD through its subsidiary Pursuit operates the Banff Gondola at Sulphur Mountain, Lake Minnewanka Cruise, Columbia Icefield Adventure, Jasper's Maligne Lake Cruise and the Columbia Icefield Skywalk, which comprise the lion's share of that market of paid attractions. Article content It owns Brewster Express bus line and 10 hotels throughout those parks (two are in Banff), while also operating the iconic Prince of Wales Hotel in Waterton Lakes National Park. Article content Article content Since 2011, Parks Canada has approved VIAD's applications for one new sightseeing attraction, an expansion of a tourist venue, eight hotel purchases and one hotel construction, which had boosted the company's share of the market from 50 per cent to 85 per cent, said Waterous. Article content At the same time, Parks Canada has repeatedly turned down Norquay's bid to build a gondola from the Banff townsite to its ski hill, insisting the plan was 'found not to be feasible due to non-conformance with key park policy and legislation.' Article content Waterous said the competition bureau's refusal to address what he calls an obviously unfair and detrimental monopoly is an abdication of its role and smacks of Ottawa seeking to avoid inflaming a trade war instigated by U.S. President Donald Trump. Article content 'Canadians are going to be apoplectic that the federal government is not prepared to challenge an American monopoly in the national parks,' Waterous said Monday, adding the move is akin to Ottawa's decision last month to nix its digital sales tax (DST) at the insistence of the U.S. amid tariff wrangling.