References
1 According to government figures provincial parks in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba generate over $1 billion annually. For BC figures see: British Columbia. Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. Economic Benefits of British Columbia’s Provincial Parks, 2001. You can find the report here. Information for Alberta provincial parks can be found here. For Saskatchewan see here
2 BC Freedom of Information request obtained by the Wilderness Committee, February 2007, revealed there were only 10 full-time permanent park rangers in British Columbia for the 2006-2007 season, down from 26 park rangers in 2000-2001. More seasonal rangers are hired during summer months bringing the number of rangers in 2006-2007 to 64 Full Time Equivalents (FTEs), down from 94 FTEs in 2000-2001. In 2003 the BC provincial government promised to hire up to 50 new rangers.
3 British Columbia. Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. Economic Benefits of British Columbia’s Provincial Parks, 2001. You can find the report here
4 British Columbia. BC Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. Annual Report 1996.
5 BC Freedom of Information request obtained by the Wilderness Committee, February 2007, provided FTE position information for BC Parks staff.
6 Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. “BC Parks still $50 million short.” Press Release, January 28, 2003. You can find the report here
7 The biannual operating expenditures budget for Washington State Parks is $123 million, amounting to $61.5 million annually. Click here for the report. The operational budget for Alberta’s provincial parks for 2007-08 is approximately $46 million. The 2006-07 budget was $43.7 million. Online report here
8 In a freedom of information request released to the Wilderness Committee in 2006, BC government documents revealed the net revenue from parking meters ranged from $50,000 to $250,000 during the three years the meters had been in operation. In 2003 a government appointed panel, the Recreation Stewardship Panel projected the meters would generate $4-6 million annually in revenues. See page 54 of the online report here
9 Large high voltage transmission lines are needed to carry electricity from hydro generating stations to transformer substations. Transmission towers can range from 20 to 50 meters in height, and are located in “right of ways” (cleared tracts of lands averaging 40 to 80 meters in width).
10 British Columbia. Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. Economic Benefits of British Columbia’s Provincial Parks, 2001. Online report here
11 British Columbia. BC Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. Annual Report 1996
12 British Columbia, BC Stats. BC Parks Household Survey 2005. Provincial Report Final – 2006. You can find it here
Credits
Research & Writing: Gwen Barlee
Editing: Matthew Sasaki and Stephanie Gribble
Fact checking: Lisa Brideson
Design: Gil Aguilar
Photos: WC files except where noted.
Web Publishing 2007: Gil Aguilar
Western Canada Wilderness Committee Vol. 26, No 6. Summer/Fall 2007. Canadian Mail Product Sales Agreement No. 0900567. Posted in Vancouver for free distribution. Printed in Canada on recycled newsprint with vegetable-based inks. Press Run 60,000 © Wilderness Committee 2007. All rights reserved. Written material may be used without permission when credit is given.
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