A call has been made by a Canadian competition watchdog to prevent a monopoly in the provision of paid experiences in Alberta’s mountain parks following the acquisition of the Jasper SkyTram by a U.S.-based company. Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality announced the completion of the $23.7 million acquisition of the tram located at Whistlers Mountain on January 2, 2025. The tram was previously owned by the same company operating the Marmot Basin ski resort.
After concerns were raised by private business operators regarding the acquisition by Viad Corp (now Pursuit), the Competition Bureau initiated an investigation in late 2024. In April, the bureau concluded that no further action was necessary. Keldon Bester, the executive director of the Canadian Anti-Monopoly Project, expressed worries about Pursuit’s ownership of private attractions in national parks, citing potential lack of competition in the Rocky Mountain region. The Project released a report in December urging the federal government to reverse Pursuit’s previous acquisitions to prevent a monopoly in Banff and Jasper.
Pursuit operates hotels, attractions, restaurants, and lodges globally, with ownership of 11 hotels and various attractions in the Banff, Jasper, and Waterton Lakes national parks, including the Banff Gondola and the Columbia Icefield Adventure. Stuart Back, the chief operating officer of Pursuit’s Banff Jasper Collection, highlighted the company’s positive impact on local communities, creating jobs, reinvesting profits, and contributing to wildfire relief efforts in Jasper.
While Pursuit’s attractions cater to individuals with accessibility needs, Bester raised concerns about the potential higher costs associated with paid activities compared to free park activities. Despite the Competition Bureau’s findings of no competition-related issues, Bester emphasized the importance of consumer vigilance against potential higher costs and reduced quality and innovation in the presence of monopolies. Bester also called on Parks Canada to ensure competition promotion when private operators work within the parks.