The current health pandemic has shone a light on the cracks in many of our public systems, and BC Parks is no exception. B.C.’s provincial parks have been chronically underfunded since the early 2000s, with minimal resources to manage nearly 15% of the land in our province.
This lack of funding has caused many issues within parks. Parks rangers are few and far between, leaving areas with no one to monitor for illegal activity such as wildlife poaching and dumping.
There are decades worth of maintenance and planning to do, to keep up with demand for outdoor recreation while safeguarding nature.
As B.C. reopens our communities and green lights local travel, camping and hiking, provincial parks provide one of the most affordable and spectacular ways to explore the province. To keep these places open safely, we must invest in B.C.’s parks.
Investing in parks means investing in community wellbeing. Having space for people to roam and feel the wind on their faces and the clean air in their lungs helps clear minds and cleanse the soul. Mental health is a primary concern and therefore funding our parks is imperative to keep everyone well.
Lorraine Fralin
Squamish
