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 Resort
Lodges in Parks idea draws criticism
By Judie Steeves
staff reporter
Kelowna Capital News
Feb 27 2005
Bill Barisoff blames the furore on the "silly season"
just prior to an election, but people like Kelowna's Lloyd Manchester
of EarthCare say the public should be aware the government plans
to permit private resorts to be built inside provincial parks.
Both were responding to leaked documents that the Public Service
Employees for Environmental Ethics say indicate the government intends
to invite domestic and foreign investors to develop private, for-profit
facilities in parks.
The documents say there are "well-developed plans to promote
significant commercial developments in B.C.'s parks."
However, in an interview with the Capital News, Barisoff said legislation
permitting lodges in parks was passed in 2003, but each proposal
would be weighed on its own merit.
Before any proposals go ahead there would be environmental impact
assessments and a public consultation period. And if everyone was
up in arms about it, they would pull back, the minister said.
"It's not true that we're trying to market or push any through
in a hurry," he said. "We're trying to accommodate people
wanting to stay in a lodge; people who don't want to stay in tents;
seniors, people with disabilities."
There are already 165 lodges in parks such as Manning and Cathedral
Lakes, and a new one in Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park.
"We're not talking about mini-Whistlers. This would be the
sort of facility where families could stay," he added.
The province is looking at getting the strategy in place for early
fall, but it would be 2006 before anything would go forward, he
said.
He pointed out that there is an advisory committee to the B.C. Parks
Lodge Strategy, which includes the B.C. Federation of Naturalists'
Clubs, B.C. Wildlife Federation, the Alpine Club of Canada, Wilderness
Tourism Association, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society and
Canadian EarthCare Society.
In fact, he noted the Alpine Club has made the only serious proposal
so far, for a 30-bed eco-hostel in Mount Robson Provincial Park.
Manchester, one of those on the advisory board, said they all had
to sign non-disclosure agreements, and the committee was just a
sounding board with no opportunity for input or recommendations.
He said the committee has met three times, with the last meeting
six months ago.
The majority of those on the committee opposed the concept, including
the industry representatives, said Manchester.
"It's a terrible idea that won't assist parks in any way,"
he said. "Our parks are there as a legacy and we have to treat
them as such.
"We've already seen increased fees in parks, fees for parking,
and yet they've cut park services such as interpretive programs."
Instead, such commercial lodges should be located outside the park
where they would benefit the community, he said.
The Sierra Club of Canada, Western Canada Wilderness Committee and
CPAWS also oppose any plan to put privately-financed lodges, complete
with long-term leases, into provincial parks.
The Valhalla Wilderness Society warns that 10 parks have already
been identified for resort developments.
"A park is a park because it has been withdrawn from the rest
of the land base that is available to private interests to make
money," said Anne Sherrod, chairwoman of the society.
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Canadian EarthCare Society
Street Address:
702 Bernard St.
Kelowna, BC
V1Y6P5
E-mail: info@earthcares.org
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