Parks Canada has decided not to pursue legal action against Banff National Park superintendent Salman Rasheed for breaking federal regulations by allowing his dog to roam off-leash. Jennifer Burnell, a spokesperson for Parks Canada, announced on Monday that the law enforcement investigation has been completed, and no charges will be filed. She stated that details of law enforcement investigations are typically not disclosed to the public unless charges are brought through the provincial court system, which is not the case in this situation.
Efforts to obtain comments from Parks Canada officials, including Rasheed, Andrew Campbell, the acting CEO, and senior vice-president of transformation, and Jewel Cunningham, the vice-president of operations, were unsuccessful.
Rasheed and Parks Canada both acknowledged the incident, with Rasheed describing it as an “isolated lapse in judgment.” As the top authority in Banff National Park, Rasheed oversees compliance with federal regulations for Parks Canada.
The incident was exposed when the Rocky Mountain Outlook, a local media outlet in the Bow Valley, reported with a photo that Rasheed was walking his dog, Max, off-leash on the Tunnel Mountain trail in Banff. Off-leash dogs are prohibited in Canadian national parks, and Rasheed’s case occurred shortly after a high-profile off-leash violation resulted in a $1,500 penalty.
In response to the incident, Burnell emphasized the importance of adhering to national park rules to safeguard wildlife, pets, visitors, and ecological balance. She stressed that all individuals, whether visitors or residents, are expected to follow the regulations equally, a sentiment echoed by Parks Canada.
An internal administrative review was initiated by Parks Canada through management channels to address the matter. Burnell confirmed that Parks Canada is content with how the issue was handled and noted that the process was treated as a human resources matter, with no further comments from the agency.
Notably, the Banff field unit reported 503 off-leash dog incidents from 2021 to 2026, resulting in 314 warnings and 22 charges. The Lake Louise, Yoho, Kootenay field unit reported 106 incidents with 79 warnings and 27 charges. While off-leash dog incidents do not lead to criminal charges, fines of up to $25,000 can be imposed.
Since July 29, 2026, 13 individuals have pleaded guilty in the Canmore Court of Justice for various violations related to the Canada National Parks Act, including flying drones and camping without permits. Fines for these infractions ranged from $150 to $3,000.
