Re: “Cutting parks budget is petty,” David Marsden, Opinion, March 10.
I wanted to take this opportunity to try and correct some of the misinformation that has been circulating about our current parks restructuring process.
The Alberta government is not selling Crown land as part of the parks restructuring. We are working on partnerships with organizations, including municipalities, First Nations and non-profit organizations, as well as contractors to partner to run underutilized infrastructure in our system in more productive and taxpayer-friendly ways.
These facilities represent 0.3 per cent of the current provincial parks land base. This is a model that has worked effectively in the province for years.
A prime example is the Friends of the Eastern Slopes, who have managed campgrounds and recreation areas in the backcountry in that area for more than 20 years.
Albertans will always have access to Crown land, regardless of which partnerships are sought or how a location is designated. We reject the idea that it is only government that is able to provide quality services at parks’ day use and camping areas.
We don’t have to designate an area a park in order to ensure good stewardship, or economic opportunities for Albertans.
In fact, this restructuring will enhance these opportunities as partnerships are formed – particularly for First Nations and Metis Albertans, some of whom have already expressed interest in these sites.
We trust that most Albertans are responsible and have a deep love for our wild places.
Moreover, our government is building upon the province’s already impressive tradition of conservation by partnering with non-profits and ordinary Albertans to protect our air, land, water and biodiversity.
We’re strengthening partnerships with parks societies and groups such as the Alberta Conservation Society, the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Program, Ducks Unlimited and the Alberta Riparian Habitat Protection Society.
We are looking at these changes because we want our parks system to work for the largest number of Albertans possible, but we are also responsible to Alberta taxpayers.
Practices such as flying in firewood to the backcountry by helicopter and having parks staff drive long distances to change trash cans at locations that saw 22 users last year are simply not sustainable.
Albertans are doing more with less – we need to follow their lead.
I hope this has helped clear up some of the misinformation around this important issue.
I want to make it crystal clear: access for Albertans and good stewardship will always be hallmarks of our government, even through tough economic times.
We will work diligently to ensure that current and future generations always have access to the incredible landscapes right in their backyards.
If you have any additional concerns, please reach out to me at aep.minister@gov.ab.ca.
Jason Nixon is Alberta’s minister of environment and parks.