Alberta Parks Closures

[GStyler]

https://calgaryherald.com/news/local...of-budget-cuts

Alberta Parks announced the list of closures online, which will leave some sites entirely off-limits to the public this year and others with specific campgrounds or facilities closed.

Shortened operating seasons will be in effect for some provincial campgrounds, meaning later opening dates and earlier closures than usual.

Environment Minister Jason Nixon says the province can no longer afford the “retail” side of parks.

“We can’t continue to spend $86 million of Albertans’ tax dollars and only see $36 million come in,” he said Tuesday.

Nixon was unable to say how much money the move would save. Documents released by his department late Monday put the figure at $5 million in the 2020 budget year.

Beginning this fall, Alberta Parks staff will also no longer groom cross-country ski trail tracks in three areas of the Kananaskis Region. Those include Peter Lougheed Trail, Mount Shark Trail and the Kananaskis Village area.

Grooming will continue at the Canmore Nordic Centre, while track-setting by the West Bragg Creek Trails Association will still occur in the West Bragg Creek area.

The Alberta budget tabled last Thursday also included job losses to seasonal staff and increased camping fees. The government estimated that the equivalent of 25 public sectors positions under the umbrella of Alberta Environment and Parks would be eliminated in the 2020-21 fiscal year.

Of parks impacted by closures this year, 10 will be fully closed to the public, impacting 4,490 hectares of provincial land.

The list of parks with full closures in 2020 includes:

Kehiwin Provincial Recreation Area
Running Lake Provincial Recreation Area
Stoney Lake Provincial Recreation Area
Sulphur Lake Provincial Recreation Area
Little Fish Lake Provincial Park
Crow Lake Provincial Park
Bleriot Ferry Provincial Recreation Area
Greene Valley Provincial Park
Twin Lakes Provincial Recreation Area
Sheep Creek Provincial Recreation Area

For parks with partial closures, some areas will remain open but non-serviced. That means services such as garbage collection and grounds-keeping won’t take place in the accessible areas of the park.

The 10 parks affected by partial closures include:

Bow Valley Provincial Park – Barrier Lake Visitor Information Centre (facility)
Gooseberry Provincial Recreation Area – Elbow Valley Visitor Centre (facility)
Dinosaur Provincial Park – Comfort Camping (facility)
Gooseberry Provincial Park Lake (campground)
Engstrom Lake Provincial Recreation Area (campground)
Chain Lakes Provincial Recreation Area (campground)
Lawrence Lake Provincial Recreation Area (campground)
Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park – Tolman Bridge Campgrounds (campground)
Notikewin Provincial Park (campground)
Smoky River South Provincial Recreation Area (campground)

A service fee increase of $3, on top of the base camping rate at most campgrounds, will take effect this year, according to Alberta Parks.

With last week’s budget, the government also announced it identified 164 of its 473 sites for proposed removal from the system.

“Sites removed from the parks system would have their legal park designations removed, and could be open for alternate management approaches,” Alberta Parks stated online.

“This includes potential Park Partnerships through sale or transfer to another entity such as a municipality, so that sites could continue to provide important economic and recreational benefits to local communities. Some of the sites could also stay open under a public lands management model or revert back to vacant public land.”

The total amount of land involved is about 16,000 hectares. The United Conservative government says that’s less than one per cent of the parks system, but it isn’t clear if that includes the national parks.

The move brought a mix of disbelief and anger from environmental groups, political critics and park users.

“It’s extremely disappointing,” said Rhonda Jewett, a cross-country skier who has competed internationally and says she’s never skied anywhere that compares with Kananaskis. Last weekend, she said, the trails were packed with skiers, including a Korean tour group.

Trail groomers make it possible for people with mental and physical disabilities to use the park, she said.

“This is a big deal and I don’t see anything good about it,” said Kecia Kerr of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.

“These are public goods that are for all Albertans. We shouldn’t be thinking of them from a business-model perspective.”

Opposition environment critic Marlin Schmidt said hundreds of people had already contacted his office to express concern about the changes.

“It doesn’t make sense. It’s so out of touch with what Albertans have told me they want.”

An online petition opposing the plan has so far amassed more than 4,000 signatures.

“Will you sign the petition calling on the UCP government to stop the fire-sale of Alberta’s provincial parks?” it states.

The province says the 164 sites are mainly recreation-focused, with many being “very small and under-utilized.”

“Work is underway to explore the feasibility of various alternate management approaches for each site,” the province stated.

Alberta currently manages 473 provincial parks, wildland provincial parks, provincial recreation areas, ecological reserves, wilderness areas, natural areas and heritage rangelands.

There is more info on the government website.
Some are unclear to what the actual changes are.

https://albertaparks.ca/news-events/...ZWRDM66ErHKEsM

I get closing day use sites which are surrounded by crown land.
But there are some that are surrounded by private land, with no other camping option in the area.

Previously, when a site was being considered for closure, there was public consultation. With these, there was just sweeping closures.
I'm sure they could have found a better way to save a few bucks.

[dodger]

Enough people will be pizzed that next election will be up in the air. Spending had to be curtailed but some of this is starting to be a test in patience. Plus on top of cuts a significant jump in property taxes.

Dodger.

[Redneck Tommy]

Originally Posted by dodger

Enough people will be pizzed that next election will be up in the air. Spending had to be curtailed but some of this is starting to be a test in patience. Plus on top of cuts a significant jump in property taxes.

Dodger.

Yes but property taxes are local blame your county for that one.

[dodger]

Originally Posted by Redneck Tommy

Yes but property taxes are local blame your county for that one.

https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/latest-pr...ners-1.4836403

Dodger

[pikeman06]

Why wouldnt the government lease them out for a season or two or at least offer an option to do so? Make a quick buck and at least the property is maintained. Anything that sits vacant for any length of time in alberta seems to age remarkably fast. I would maybe be interested myself if it was feasible. Nice way to spend from may till September. I hope they give it a little thought first. I dont disagree with the cuts but rather than cut provincial park employees and related costs and shut down campgrounds they could lease them out create a job or two along the way.

[gordfishing]

Just wrote my MLA and suggested if we closed all Safe Injection sites immediately we would save a lot more than the proposed 5 million the UPC is going to save with this parks plan

So tell me I get all liquored up get behind the wheel crash my car ! How come I don't get a second chance but if I'm a druggy I can overdose all I want and get free needles and drugs for the next time

[Harley74]

Originally Posted by pikeman06

Why wouldnt the government lease them out for a season or two or at least offer an option to do so? Make a quick buck and at least the property is maintained. Anything that sits vacant for any length of time in alberta seems to age remarkably fast. I would maybe be interested myself if it was feasible. Nice way to spend from may till September. I hope they give it a little thought first. I dont disagree with the cuts but rather than cut provincial park employees and related costs and shut down campgrounds they could lease them out create a job or two along the way.

If you go on to the Alberta page you will see that there is an offer for private individuals , local gov`t ,concerned groups etc. to put forth offers to assume responsibility for these site. Most of these site are in isolated areas and do not attract much interest . Check out more info and I think you will find that this is actually a good thing

[Grizzly Adams]

Originally Posted by dodger

Enough people will be pizzed that next election will be up in the air. Spending had to be curtailed but some of this is starting to be a test in patience. Plus on top of cuts a significant jump in property taxes.

Dodger.

I see an opportunity for the Alberta Party to take advantage, I'll be looking at them seriously.

Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park – Tolman Bridge Campgrounds (campground)

Anyone who has been there, knows these are gems in the Badlands.

Grizz

[The Cook]

Originally Posted by dodger

Enough people will be pizzed that next election will be up in the air. Spending had to be curtailed but some of this is starting to be a test in patience. Plus on top of cuts a significant jump in property taxes.

Dodger.

I voted for Kenney but his slash and burn on medical front line workers has me thinking the unthinkable.

[MountainTi]

Originally Posted by skidderman

The previous NDP created a financial mess then when someone tries to fix it people bitch. Those who voted NDP are reaping the rewards and only them should be blamed.

I used to believe in the old saying, "you can't please everybody". Anymore "you can't please anyone" seems more fitting.
The economy is in the crapper, not only provincially but federally as well. We are swimming in debt. We wanted change. Now we have it, cuts are being made, and the majority are still bitching. Pathetic.

Originally Posted by ESOXangler

Cmon man you really think they are responsible for everything?.... You need to take a long look in the mirror...

They are responsible for a great deal of it.
As Jim Prentice once said "Albertans need to look in the mirror". That cost him big time. But in the end, he was correct. Think deep about it. We want the best of everything but bitch about paying for it.

[crazy_davey]

Originally Posted by MountainTi

I used to believe in the old saying, "you can't please everybody". Anymore "you can't please anyone" seems more fitting.
The economy is in the crapper, not only provincially but federally as well. We are swimming in debt. We wanted change. Now we have it, cuts are being made, and the majority are still bitching. Pathetic.

Exactly!!! Everybody thinks you can run a province and country with pixie dust and rainbow farts now days.

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by crazy_davey

Exactly!!! Everybody thinks you can run a province and country with pixie dust and rainbow farts now days.

But but the budget will balance it self that means we can have whatever we want right

[ESOXangler]

Originally Posted by MountainTi

As Jim Prentice once said "Albertans need to look in the mirror". That cost him big time. But in the end, he was correct. Think deep about it. We want the best of everything but bitch about paying for it.

Ahh you caught my veiled quote. Nice. My point was this issue has been going on for years! Lougheed built the strength of Alberta, Getty let it stagnate and waste. Klein performed disastrous cuts, and then rest of the ingrates contributed just as badly. So people shouldn't be so quick to blame the NDP. This has taken years!

And I would understand the cuts alot more if he hadn't given his friends a 4.5 billion break. They are a party filled with libertarians. Which means the main mandate is to privatize public institutions. That's the strategy behind the cuts.

[MountainTi]

Originally Posted by ESOXangler

Ahh you caught my veiled quote. Nice. My point was this issue has been going on for years! Lougheed built the strength of Alberta, Getty let it stagnate and waste. Klein performed disastrous cuts, and then rest of the ingrates contributed just as badly. So people shouldn't be so quick to blame the NDP. This has taken years!

And I would understand the cuts alot more if he hadn't given his friends a 4.5 billion break. They are a party filled with libertarians. Which means the main mandate is to privatize public institutions. That's the strategy behind the cuts.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think Kenney is the answer. Just another politician that doesn't have a set of balls. In it for himself. But he was the best option by far.
A leader that will MAGA will never get elected. Too many bleeding heart, left leaning snowflakes whose feelers are hurt at the drop of a budget cut reside in this province (country). And many of those said voters believe themselves to be conservatives. Sadly I believe we are doomed for....well....ever. Doubt we will ever see someone tough enough ever elected provincially or federally again. And that is where I'm envious of 'Merica

[dodger]

Originally Posted by The Cook

I voted for Kenney but his slash and burn on medical front line workers has me thinking the unthinkable.

Agreed. Plus my donations are on hold now.

Dodger

[kk4]

We have too many parks which we operate too inefficiently and as a result we are bleeding money. Nobody likes to see their favorite park cut, but the cuts are needed.

The protesting against these cuts is blown out of proportion by the media and is led by the minority of socialists in Alberta. I hope UCP isn't phased and cuts a lot deeper. Maybe they can drive the socialists right out of the province if they think the grass is greener elsewhere.

[lannie]

Originally Posted by kk4

We have too many parks which we operate too inefficiently and as a result we are bleeding money. Nobody likes to see their favorite park cut, but the cuts are needed.

The protesting against these cuts is blown out of proportion by the media and is led by the minority of socialists in Alberta. I hope UCP isn't phased and cuts a lot deeper. Maybe they can drive the socialists right out of the province if they think the grass is greener elsewhere.

Agreed. Opportunities will arise out of this in the private sector.

[Predatorhunter]

Agreed.

[KinAlberta]

Originally Posted by lannie

Agreed. Opportunities will arise out of this in the private sector.

Didn’t before. Too much short term risk and volatility for small players that can’t easily survive one or two down years.

This is just part of a long slow slide in cuts to services used by those Albertans willing to spend their tourism dollars at home rather than exporting them to places around the world. (Economic leakage.)

Recall all the parks and facilities that were shut or off loaded onto municipalities in the 1990s. How many exist today? Any road side picnic facilities? How about all those campground picnic shelters built in the 1960s when Alberta was relatively undeveloped and poor in many ways.

How many billions of dollars do Albertans spend abroad annually? Killing job potential at home.






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[BCSteel]

Imagine thinking that the average Canadian paying over 42% of their income to various provincial and federal taxes should have to pay to randomly use undeveloped public lands.

UCP: we need to make cuts because of reckless NDP spending. Also the UCP: we're spending $286M on 500 more RCMP that the vast majority of Albertan's don't want and we've created a brand new crown corporation that will pay out up to $1B/year but only to one specific race.

[dmcbride]

I don’t have a problem with some parks being returned to crown land because lack of use.

https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/co...one-centimeter