Over the last three years, CPS has become the voice for park residents, visitors and neighbours who are concerned about continuing deterioration of PANP’s buildings, road and facilities; park fees increasing dramatically; and the threat of more and more regulation.
CPS successfully lobbied Parks Canada to scrap its draft management plan in 2003 and start over with a process that will address the issues that are important to park supporters. Please let us know what issues you think CPS should emphasize with the upcoming management planning process for Prince Albert National Park by sending your comments to gh.cps@sasktel.net.
In 2002, Parks Canada’s Western Regional Director promised to repair the leaky Waskesiu River dam. A month later, the dam had been totally removed! Given recent droughts, this action severely limited use of the main Waskesiu marina, and now threatens the breakwaters. During 2003, PANP hired consultants to i) identify options for levels of water and alternative methods of controlling the levels for Waskesiu Lake, ii) obtain public input into the options prepared, and iii) prepare conceptual designs for a maximum of three sites and configurations.
PANP officials circulated the Consultant’s report in October for comment and CPS provided a formal response, recommending that PANP build a fixed weir that would eventually provide a lake level of 532.24 metres, or roughly the level the lake was normally operated at with the existing dam for many decades.
The CPS Position
“That the Concerned Park Supporters supports Option 2 of the Waskesiu Lake Outlet Draft Report except that a concrete breastwall with imbedded rocks at the crest be implemented….. This would enable Parks Canada to maintain the Waskesiu Lake crest level at 532.24 m at the outlet.
The motion supports the higher level outlined in Option 2, yet with the resistance to tampering proposed in Option 3. After careful consideration, we believe setting the crest at 532.24 will have a minimal impact on downstream fish populations and habitat as suggested in the study, while promoting greater spawning and upstream benefits in the Kingsmere River.”
Proposed increases in Park entry, camping, and recreation fees over the next four years were announced by Parks Canada in a letter from Rod Blair, Park Superintendent, to interested individuals dated December 19, 2003. The Park is asking the public to support the increases so it can rebuild visitor facilities. “Without increases there will be a reduction in service levels and in some cases elimination of services”, the letter says.
CPS Position
The CPS position on fees is outlined below in the motion passed by the CPS Board, followed by a summary of the rationale that was sent to PANP:
“that CPS support small, bi-annual increases in park fees consistent with the rate of inflation provided that the Government and Parliament of Canada simultaneously vote sufficient additional funding to enable Parks Canada to rebuild the crumbling infrastructure of Canada's national parks while ensuring national parks remain accessibleall Canadians.”
The proposed fee “adjustments” are considerably higher (on average of 20% per year) than “smaller amounts” as suggested in Parks Canada’s letter accompanying the proposed fee schedule. CPS Directors recall an earlier meeting with Parks Canada in which the subject was briefly discussed and the understanding was that “smaller amounts” meant 2-5%. Increases of 20% annually arenot “small”.
These proposed increases are particularly onerous coming fast on the heels of major increases in 2003. The combined 2003 and now proposed increases result in an exponential increase in fees; more than doubling them in a very short time. While agreeing that Park visitors should share some of the operating cost of national parks directly through fees, CPS believes fees should not prohibit or discourage the enjoyment of parks by all Canadians.
At the same time, CPS questions the need for large fee increases when the Government of Canada is and has been under-funding the Parks Canada Agency for many years, as evidenced by the declining condition of park infrastructure.
The failure of the Government of Canada to provide enough funding to Parks Canada to keep pace with increased operating and capital costs, particularly for the maintenance and modernization of infrastructure assets, we believe, discourages visitation, further reducing revenue needed by Parks Canada to help sustain our national parks.
The CPS Board also identified a problem with the Park’s consultation approach on fee increases. Parks Canada’s comment form gives only two options, either 1) support proposed fee increases, or 2) accept reduced services. This creates an automatic bias in favour of the response Parks Canada is seeking. This approach does not contribute to rebuilding the trust Parks Canada has lost with stakeholders in recent years.
While the PANP deadline for feedback on fee increases has passed, CPS encourages members to reinforce the CPS position on fees and the related infrastructure issue by writing to the Hon. David Anderson, Minister of Environment responsible for National Parks, with a copy to your MP, asking the Government to increase the Parks Canada Agency’s annual budget in order that park infrastructure can be rebuilt and maintained and fees can be kept at reasonable levels.
Infrastructure ~ Persistent pressure must be applied to the federal government to bring about a renewed funding commitment for infrastructure maintenance. In a letter from CPS to incoming Prime Minister Paul Martin on December 8, 2003, CPS signaled its intent to develop a nation-wide campaign of Canadian citizens (a Canadian coalition of park supporters) to lobby government for a commitment to increased infrastructure funding. CPS has struck a committee to prepare a strategy for this initiative. Members with ideas, suggestions and/or who would like to participate in this initiative are encouraged to contact Rick Lokken c/o gh.cps@sasktel.net.
Scoping Document ~ Parks Canada says it will soon draft a Scoping Document outlining the priorities for the five-year Management Plan. CPS will be submitting priorities for the Scoping Document that will guide preparation of the next five-year PANP Management Plan. The Board identified several priorities in four main categories:
1. Infrastructure - including roads, marinas, breakwaters, buildings, weirs, beach facilities, campgrounds, docks, trails, etc.
2. Watershed management includes water quality, flow, lake levels, impoundment, etc.
3. Increasing visitation including recreational opportunities, fees, golf course management, park promotion, creating a people-friendly atmosphere, expansion and development (residential/commercial - i.e. hotels, cabins, campsites), etc.
4. Community involvement in park decisions and stewardship, including park values, community roles & relationships, science-based research, indicators and measurements of park status, involvement of Aboriginal peoples, wilderness zoning etc.
Kingsmere Lake Access ~ Recent low water levels in the Kingsmere River combined with sand build-up (impoundment) in South Bay are severely restricting access by boaters. CPS will continue to lobby Parks Canada to find solutions that will restore traditional access by small motor boats, as was promised by the Park Superintendent at the time the dam was removed from the Kingsmere River.
Bill Rawlinson, Chair of the CPS Membership Committee, is urging all members to encourage others to join CPS in the interest of maintaining a strong, effective voice on PANP issues. If you know someone who is a regular visitor to the Park and feels strongly about the way it is or should be managed, encourage him or her to join CPS and be represented. And to new members, welcome!
Members Forum ~ Perhaps you have an idea, comment or concern that you’d like to share with other members. If so, this space is for you! Be brief and to the point though. As you can see, it doesn’t take much to fill four pages! Send your comments to the Editor at the CPS address on the back page of the newsletter.
The Save Our Spruce group waged a hard-fought campaign to rally support for the trees of Waskesiu. Parks Canada, reversing an earlier decision, agreed to spray the townsite and golf course with BTK, a safe and natural pesticide. Spraying in 2003 was successful and will take place again in 2004. To get an update on the SOS campaign or contribute to the community’s share of the cost, visit www.Save-Waskesiu.com. A major issue in coming years will be budworm damage to trees outside the spray area. The death of so many trees in the backcountry could limit access to trails and campgrounds due to increased deadfall and fire hazards. It is important that your voice be heard on this issue. Join CPS and let us know what you want Parks Canada to do about this problem!
