VICTORIA— The latest B.C. Parks statistics report shows that families were shut out of B.C. Parks by fee hikes on the 100^th anniversary of our parks system, says Rob Fleming, New Democrat environment critic.

“During the Liberal decade of decline overall parks use has gone down by 16 per cent – that’s 3.9 million fewer family visitors and campers enjoying our parks,” said Fleming. “Day users have dropped in response to deteriorating trails and the loss of parks programs such as interpretive services while campers have dropped off because years of fee hikes have made family holidays less affordable.”

During the 100^th anniversary year, parks use declined by 580,000. The report notes that “the increase in camping fees implemented for 2010/11 affected attendance across the province.

“Instead of helping families celebrate the 100^th anniversary of B.C. Parks, the Liberals slammed them with another fee increase,” said Fleming. “The result was a massive decrease in camping at many parks on their 100^th anniversary.”

Decreases in campers include a 44 per cent decline at Garibaldi Park, a 27 per cent decline at Summit Lake, a 26 per cent decline at Naikoon Park, and a 17 per cent decline at Lakelse Lake.

“An FOI released earlier this year showed park rangers were so starved for resources they were timing their visits to parks around the greyhound bus schedule," said Fleming. “When you have a government report which says part of the reason camping was down 44 per cent at Garibaldi is because of ‘lots of trees on trail until late in the month’ – it isn’t hard to connect the dots between higher fees, fewer services and declining visitors."

The Outdoor Recreation Council called the Liberal parks policies “a downward spiral, where trails are not maintained, camp sites are closed, and inadequate planning and field management is occurring,” in their Spring/Summer 2011 report.

The report can be found here: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/research/statistic_report/statistic_report_2011.pdf

Rob Fleming

Victoria-Swan Lake

Rob Fleming was elected on May 17, 2005 as the MLA for Victoria-Hillside, and re-elected on May 12, 2009 as the MLA for the re-configured consti