Chamber for, Wilderness Committee against controversial parks legislation
The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society’s B.C. Chapter is taking aim at a recent provincial government decision to allow resorts to be built into provincial parks, promising to keep a close eye on the issue.
Also called the Parks and Protected Areas Statutes Amendment Act, the amended Bill 84 passed third reading on Nov. 26 to amend the previous act.
Among other things, the act now allows "park use permit for an activity related to resort or tourism development if, in the minister’s opinion, the activity and the development are consistent with or complementary to the recreational values of the park involved."
Under the amended act, the government can also issue drilling licences, permits, leases or other land rights under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Act "for purposes of exploration, or development or production of, petroleum or natural gas in or from the subsurface of land within a park or recreation area."
The government also amended the descriptions and boundaries for several provincial parks, allowing right of ways, roads, pipelines and other conveyances.
"B.C. has one of the greatest wilderness resources in the world and has the chance to do this right," said John Izzo, the B.C. chapter president of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. "Tourism done indiscriminately would cause us great concern. We intend to work proactively with tourism and government to make our parks the best in the world."
The B.C. Chamber of Commerce has come out in support of the plan. "In the lead-up to the 2010 Winter Olympics, the legislative changes will enhance our parks’ reputation as another world-class destination that can capture the imaginations and dollars of international tourists," said chamber president John Winter.
Winter also expects the parks to generate more revenue for the province, attracting investment, tourism dollars and jobs while maintaining environmental standards. The province has already committed to helping the tourism industry double revenues by 2010.
"B.C.’s park systems is a valuable asset that should be managed by legislation that balances the needs for economic development in local communities with conservation values and wilderness protection," Winter said.
That said, Winter encouraged the government to "get on with the business of building up our international tourism industry and developing local communities by modernizing our parks protection legislation. Bill 84 is a step in the right direction."
The Western Canada Wilderness Committee was not as enthusiastic over the amended parks bill as the Chamber of Commerce, branding the move as a "sell out."
"When did Joyce Murray (Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection) become the Minister of Industrial Development," asked Gwen Barlee, policy director for the WCWC.
"Her job is to protect parks now and for future generations.
"Parks have never been properly funded but since Minister Murray took over it’s gotten much worse. Staffing has been gutted, much hated parking fees have driven visits down and now we see an attempt to turn our protected areas into ‘McParks’."
The Wilderness Committee believes that the true tourism value of B.C.’s parks resides in their pristine state, not in the potential for development. They also believe that allowing any kind of private development in the parks will reduce the power of the province and citizen’s to protect the environment.
"Big private investments in public parks will inevitably mean big private control of public parks," said Barlee.
"The people of this province fought hard and built a spectacular park system over generations and generations. If the calls and e-mails we’ve gotten from our members are any indication, the people of B.C. won’t take this new attack on their cherished protected areas lightly."
Murray tried to set the record straight on the government’s intentions in a press release last week.
"Protecting our parks is in everyone’s interest, including the tourism industry, which we are determined to build," she said.
"We know what draws so many visitors to our provincial parks each year – it is their spectacular natural beauty.
"British Columbia already has resorts and lodges in a number of parks, including E.C. Mainning, Mount Assiniboine and Bonaparte, that complement this beauty. These lodges attract park visitors who are looking for something other than the traditional camping experience, and they make valuable contributions to local economies."
The government believes that increasing the number of lodges will help build the provincial economy and attract more visitors to parks and "Heartlands" communities of B.C.
Some of the revenue from the lodges will go back into the parks, improving funding for conservation and wilderness objectives. As it currently stands, parks are underfunded and understaffed.
Murray said the province has no interest in creating Whistler and Sun Peaks-style resorts, focusing on lodges and other alternatives to camping.
"Populations are ageing, park visitors are from many different cultural backgrounds, and with that change comes different wants and needs," said Murray.
Murray also points out that recreational activities such as kayaking, rock climbing and horseback riding are already allowed in some parks, and more recreational opportunities will be possible with the new parks amendment.
More cultural projects, involving the history of the province and culture of First Nations, will also be available.
According to the Ministry, the province has not changed its mind about logging and mining in parks.
