Under it's 2006 "BC Park Lodge Strategy", The BC government has opened 12 protected provincial parks to private developers to build and operate accomodations inside wilderness areas ranging from 10-15 person huts to a 100-bed hotel with restaurant, marina and gift shop. Calls for proposals from developers opened in August 2006, and proposals have so far been submitted for Mount Robson Provincial Park (near Jasper; part of the UNESCO Canadian Rocky Mountains World Heritage Site), and Maxhamish Lake Provincial Park (near border to NWT; the only protected area in the Maxhamish Uplands ecosection). Ten other parks opened to development have not yet had proposals submitted by developers. Other parks may be opened for proposals under the Park Lodge Strategy at any time.
There was no public consultation into the BC Park Lodge Strategy, and this initiative has garnered widespead public criticism. For example, at the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Annual General Meeting on October 27, 2006, representatives from over 95% of BC's municipalities & regional authories voted to express their opposition to these plans for development inside provincial parks. However, the Province appears to be pushing ahead quickly with this initiative despite its unpopularity.
If you'd like, you can write or email your MLA, or Gordon Campbell about this.
Premier Gordon Campbell
Legislative Buildings
Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4
Email: premier@gov.bc.ca
More information:
Friends of the Campaign for BC Parks
Wilderness Committee
Globe & Mail Article
Grad Caucus | Information for Biology graduate students at Simon Fraser University.
