An Alberta Liberal MLA is reacting to the start of work clear cutting in Kananaskis Country and the Highwood Pass.

David Swann says the area will be permanently damaged.

"Very disappointing, I was there last summer. I looked at some of the area being cut, looked at some of the recent cuts just off the south road off the Highwood and it was terribly destructive," Swann says. "Terrible disappointed that this government is not acting any differently from the previous government in terms of protecting our watershed, ensuring recreation and tourism opportunities are protected and obviously protecting habitat that's essential for wildlife in the area."

He says the water issue is critical with climate change and water concerns in southern Alberta and the locations for the clear cutting need to be reviewed. He called it an "iconic landscape, much visited and much celebrated" by hunters and recreationalists and says it's very poor judgement.

Swann says the government should be setting a higher standard for cutting and the cutting should be more selective.

In 2008, 2010, and again later, the NDP government, the opposition at the time, was condemning the same activities they're now allowing.

Swann says people need to contact the government and make their views known as we go into a pre-election year where the party needs general support and donation to fight that next election in 2019.

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