BC's Environment Minister admits that to be true, but says parks are being managed effectively

Golden Ears Provincial Park is getting $500,000 to put towards trail upgrades, but an environmental group says other areas in our province are still suffering.

The Wilderness Committee claims there has been no improvement since 2011 when campers were asked to “bring your own toilet paper.”

Executive Director Gwen Barlee says there are just 12 rangers patrolling 1000 parks and protected areas and it is not acceptable.

“The operational budget has stayed the same. You haven’t seen an increase in park rangers,” says Barlee.

“We need to double to operating budget, We need to get rangers back into our parks. It’s not just trails in Golden Ears that are suffering,” she adds.

Environment Minister Terry Lake admits its operating budget for provincial parks has not changed, but he thinks they are being managed more effectively.

“It means using money in a better way. Making sure we are reducing our administration costs, we do that across the ministry to make sure that the dollars we are spending are enjoyed by the visitors to the park,” explains Lake.

He says the results of that are well-noted. “I notice it all around the province when I visit our parks. New water treatment centres, picnic facilities, camping facilities and today the new trails we are announcing.”

Two years ago the premier announced the removal of pay-parking, while that could always have an impact on revenue Lake doesn’t see that reversing any time soon.

Over the next three years, Golden Ears will receive funding to upgrade, connect, resurface and establish hiking trails as part of the province’s capital investment plan.