Cuba Libre
Well-Known Member
Had enough of this bunch in Victoria yet??
Camping fees to increase across B.C.
Provincial park users will pay as much as $30 a night starting April 1, government says
By JONATHAN FOWLIE, Vancouver SunMarch 19, 2010Comments (128)
StoryPhotos ( 1 )
It will soon cost as much as $30 per night to camp in provincial parks in British Columbia.Photograph by: Dario Ayala, Canwest News ServiceVICTORIA — It will soon cost as much as $30 per night to camp in provincial parks in British Columbia.
Environment Minister Barry Penner said Friday that park fees across the province are going up April 1, to as much as double the current amounts.
“Our costs have continued to go up to deliver the service, and revenues to government continue to go down, so with that equation — plus increased spending on health care and education — that means there’s less dollars for other areas,” Penner said.
“We believe users should pay a portion of the costs that are incurred by their choice to use campgrounds,” he said.
“The alternative is to divert money from other government functions like health care, or run a bigger deficit.”
The overnight fee for basic and moderate camp sites will increase to between $19 and $21, up from $15-$16.
Camping fees in developed campgrounds will increase by between eight and 15 per cent, Penner said, rising to between $28 and $30 from $26.
“We’ve tried to provide people with low-cost options, but for the sites with the highest level of service, in those areas with the highest level of demand, those sites will be at the price of $30,” Penner said.
Adult premium backcountry fees will rise to $10 per night from $5.
Sites affected by that increase include Garibaldi, Cathedral, Berg Lake (Mount Robson), Wells Grey, Juan de Fuca, Strathcona, Cape Scott, Mount Assiniboine, Kokanee Glacier and Bugaboo.
Premium backcountry fees for youths and adult backcountry fees for other parks will remain unchanged at $5 per night, Penner said.
Other fees will also increase.
It will now cost $12 per night for a moor buoy, up from $10. The cost for RV users to dump waste into a sani-station goes to $5 from $2.
New Democratic Party critic Rob Fleming said the increases are being imposed at the same time that the government is cutting back funding for parks.
“People are getting really annoyed and concerned with the state of B.C.’s parks,” Fleming said. “Now they’re getting charged more for a parks system that’s never been in worse shape.”
The budget for parks in B.C. has dropped steadily over the past three years, going from $33.9 million in 2008-09 to a projected $30.8 million for 2010-11.
“They’ve cut the parks budget so significantly over a number of years, and continue to do so, that they’re literally driving people to pursue camping opportunities in Alberta and Washington state,” Fleming said.
Penner also said a new reservation system will be in place April 1, allowing campers for the first time to reserve specific camp sites.
He said that even with higher fees, B.C. parks are still generally cheaper than most private-sector camping areas, and that they are competitive with public-sector campgrounds in other jurisdictions.
“B.C. parks continue to represent fantastic value,” Penner said, “and that’s something we can all be proud about.”
jfowlie@vancouversun.com
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun
20ft Alumaweld Intruder
Camping fees to increase across B.C.
Provincial park users will pay as much as $30 a night starting April 1, government says
By JONATHAN FOWLIE, Vancouver SunMarch 19, 2010Comments (128)
StoryPhotos ( 1 )
It will soon cost as much as $30 per night to camp in provincial parks in British Columbia.Photograph by: Dario Ayala, Canwest News ServiceVICTORIA — It will soon cost as much as $30 per night to camp in provincial parks in British Columbia.
Environment Minister Barry Penner said Friday that park fees across the province are going up April 1, to as much as double the current amounts.
“Our costs have continued to go up to deliver the service, and revenues to government continue to go down, so with that equation — plus increased spending on health care and education — that means there’s less dollars for other areas,” Penner said.
“We believe users should pay a portion of the costs that are incurred by their choice to use campgrounds,” he said.
“The alternative is to divert money from other government functions like health care, or run a bigger deficit.”
The overnight fee for basic and moderate camp sites will increase to between $19 and $21, up from $15-$16.
Camping fees in developed campgrounds will increase by between eight and 15 per cent, Penner said, rising to between $28 and $30 from $26.
“We’ve tried to provide people with low-cost options, but for the sites with the highest level of service, in those areas with the highest level of demand, those sites will be at the price of $30,” Penner said.
Adult premium backcountry fees will rise to $10 per night from $5.
Sites affected by that increase include Garibaldi, Cathedral, Berg Lake (Mount Robson), Wells Grey, Juan de Fuca, Strathcona, Cape Scott, Mount Assiniboine, Kokanee Glacier and Bugaboo.
Premium backcountry fees for youths and adult backcountry fees for other parks will remain unchanged at $5 per night, Penner said.
Other fees will also increase.
It will now cost $12 per night for a moor buoy, up from $10. The cost for RV users to dump waste into a sani-station goes to $5 from $2.
New Democratic Party critic Rob Fleming said the increases are being imposed at the same time that the government is cutting back funding for parks.
“People are getting really annoyed and concerned with the state of B.C.’s parks,” Fleming said. “Now they’re getting charged more for a parks system that’s never been in worse shape.”
The budget for parks in B.C. has dropped steadily over the past three years, going from $33.9 million in 2008-09 to a projected $30.8 million for 2010-11.
“They’ve cut the parks budget so significantly over a number of years, and continue to do so, that they’re literally driving people to pursue camping opportunities in Alberta and Washington state,” Fleming said.
Penner also said a new reservation system will be in place April 1, allowing campers for the first time to reserve specific camp sites.
He said that even with higher fees, B.C. parks are still generally cheaper than most private-sector camping areas, and that they are competitive with public-sector campgrounds in other jurisdictions.
“B.C. parks continue to represent fantastic value,” Penner said, “and that’s something we can all be proud about.”
jfowlie@vancouversun.com
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun
20ft Alumaweld Intruder