Budget Fails to Deliver for B.C. Parks on 100th Anniversary

Today’s budget fails to deliver a single new cent for B.C. parks and protected areas even though 2011 is the 100th anniversary of B.C. parks, said Sierra Club BC Executive Director George Heyman.

“B.C. parks have endured years of devastating cuts and this budget contains absolutely zilch to remedy that,” said Heyman. “In fact, the government still plans to decrease parks funding, even as it celebrates the 100th anniversary.”

Yesterday’s throne speech mentioned renewed interpretative programs in parks, presumably to partially replace programs cut during the past decade, Heyman pointed out. Yet today’s budget contains no dedicated funding for enhanced interpretive programs.

The 2011 budget chops $660,000 from parks and protected areas, following last year’s cut of $655,000 and a whopping $2.5 million cut in 2009.

“The B.C parks budget is only slightly larger now than the budget for the government’s public affairs bureau. There appears to be money to spin the 100th anniversary of B.C. parks, but not to protect or improve them,” said Heyman.

Heyman called the lack of funding for B.C parks staffing “shameful.” “We have only one regular full-time park ranger for every 1.3 million hectares of B.C. parks and protected areas, far less than jurisdictions like Alberta. Yet this budget cuts conservation officer services by a further $408,000. It also does nothing to protect B.C.’s 2,000 at-risk species.”

“The B.C. government continues to spend millions of taxpayer dollars in subsidies for the prosperous oil and gas industry, rather than making a significant investment in a green economy that will benefit all British Columbians."

Sierra Club BC is calling on the next Liberal leader to make a clear commitment to fund parks and protected areas, protect at-risk species, and take meaningful action to reduce B.C.’s carbon emissions.

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Contact:

George Heyman, Executive Director: (604) 312-6595

Sarah Cox, Communications Director: (250) 812-1762