Parks Canada has decided not to pursue charges against Banff National Park superintendent Salman Rasheed, who acknowledged breaching federal regulations by allowing his dog to roam off-leash.
In a statement issued on Monday, Parks Canada representative Jennifer Burnell confirmed that the “law enforcement investigation has now concluded” and indicated that the agency would not disclose further details.
Burnell stated, “Information regarding law enforcement investigations is not publicly shared unless there are charges filed through the provincial court system, which is not applicable in this situation.”
While CBC News sought an interview, Burnell declined the request. Neither Rasheed nor other Parks Canada executives, including acting CEO Andrew Campbell and vice-president of operations Jewel Cunningham, responded promptly to inquiries from CBC News.
Cunningham had previously mentioned that Parks Canada was “reviewing the matter further and will ensure appropriate action” following the law enforcement branch’s referral.
Both Rasheed and Parks Canada had acknowledged that the event occurred, with Rasheed describing it as an “isolated lapse in judgment.” As the chief official in Banff National Park, Rasheed is responsible for enforcing federal laws on behalf of Parks Canada.
The situation gained attention after the Bow Valley news outlet Rocky Mountain Outlook reported that Rasheed was seen walking his dog Max on the Tunnel Mountain trail in Banff.
It is prohibited to allow dogs off-leash in Canadian national parks, and Rasheed’s incident occurred just two months following a notable court case involving off-leash dogs that resulted in a $1,500 fine.
A recent study published in the Journal of Wildlife Management investigated over 300 conflicts between dogs and bears, finding that dogs were responsible for initiating more than half of those encounters, resulting in the deaths of five people and 56 dogs.
‘Visitors and residents rightly expect that these rules apply equally to everyone’
Burnell indicated that the federal agency had “recently become aware” of the image of Rasheed with an off-leash dog. She emphasized that “adherence to national park regulations is essential for protecting wildlife, pets, visitors, and the ecological integrity of the areas we manage.”
She added that “visitors and residents rightly expect these rules to be uniformly enforced, and Parks Canada fully concurs.”
Burnell mentioned that an internal administrative review commenced “through management channels,” and previously stated that “Parks Canada is confident that the situation was appropriately handled.”
She clarified that the process pertained to human resources and that Parks Canada would not comment further on it.
Between 2021 and 2026, the Banff field unit recorded 503 incidents involving off-leash dogs, leading to 314 warnings and 22 charges. The Lake Louise, Yoho, and Kootenay field unit reported 106 incidents, resulting in 79 warnings and 27 charges.
While incidents involving off-leash dogs do not lead to criminal charges, fines can reach as high as $25,000.
Since July 29, 2026, 13 individuals have pleaded guilty in Canmore Court of Justice for different violations under the Canada National Parks Act, with the most frequent offenses being flying drones and camping without a permit. The lowest fine imposed was $150, while the highest reached $3,000.