Editor:
This letter was sent to B.C. Environment Minister George Heyman.
I am writing to you because of my concern about BC Parks and related issues. I spent much of my childhood and young adult life travelling B.C. and staying in our provincial parks. That was in the days when most parks had an on-site ranger and maintenance staff. There were good full-time jobs, many summer student jobs and our parks were well maintained. Then there were years of governments that placed no value on our parks system and chose to turn the maintenance over to private contractors, drastically cutting back on the numbers of park rangers and other staff.
Fast forward to 2020 and we have a situation that is prompting more and more people to seek outdoor recreation opportunities. Rapidly increasing numbers of people want to have a camping and hiking experience. Our parks are not ready and equipped to deal with these numbers. As developed parks become crowded and reach capacity, people are taking off into the backcountry. Sadly many are ignorant of how to behave, leaving trails of garbage behind them and entering sensitive areas putting ecosystems at risk.
I am asking that the government place a priority on our parks and make the investment required to return to the world-class parks system we once had. Parks should be expanded and adequately staffed to maintain and monitor their use. This would require major investment but many good, outdoor jobs could be created, particularly for young people.
The climate emergency we are trying to fight, and which also falls under your ministry, is connected. The more people have the opportunity to experience the beauty of our forests, mountains and coastline in an educated and positive way, the more likely they are to vote for policies to protect them and that awareness cannot help but expand to our environment in general.
Yvonne Mounsey, Roberts Creek
