WHEREAS the provincial government recently issued a Request for Proposals without public consultation for new fixed roofed accommodations of up to 100 beds or more, including resorts and lodges, in 12 provincial parks; AND WHEREAS this privatization initiative lacks tools to limit future facility expansion, encourages helicopter and float plane traffic, permits foreign multinational financing ownership, requires parking lots, staff housing, logging for fire breaks, sewage and electricityall at a time when preservation of wilderness is considered BC parks most important asset; AND WHEREAS these facilities would best benefit local municipalities if they were appropriately situated in our communities where tourists and visitors would most actively support and enrich local economies, and where they would not unfairly compete with our existing tourism, hotel and restaurant services: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities advise the provincial government that it supports environmentally sustainable eco-tourism resortlodgemotel accommodation outside provincial park boundaries and opposes new private, for-profit roofed accommodations inside provincial parks.
Ministry of Environment There are currently 160 existing fixed-roof accommodation facilities in BC Parks. In the past, decisions regarding fixed-roof accommodation facilities were made without the benefit of a comprehensive policy. In July 2006, Government of British Columbia Government approved the new Fixed-Roof Accommodation Policy to clarify the type and scale of fixed-roof accommodation that will be considered in provincial parks and protected areas. BC Parks staff has identified 10 sites in which new facilities would be appropriate. In addition, there are two parks Elk Lakes and Mount Assiniboine where new operating tenures for existing facilities, and potential improvements to those facilities, are being sought. As with the development of any facility in a park, any proposal for fixed-roof accommodation will have to consider the parks recreational and conservation values and objectives. That means any new development will have to complement the natural BC Parks experience - not detract from it. Further, any new development must be consistent with park management plans, will be encouraged to incorporate green technologies and will be subject to impact assessments, including local government, First Nations and public consultation. The recent request for proposals for the 10 new development opportunities will be subject to this review and consultation process as part of the development decision. This is not a privatization initiative, nor is it an initiative that lacks tools to protect and preserve the parks ecological, recreation, conservation and wilderness values. These remain of paramount importance. Fixed-roof facilities provide park visitors an alternate type of accommodation within our provincial park system and are to be constructed and operated in a manner that is consistent with the parks values and management objectives. Providing different kinds of accommodation options in parks will help to attract new visitors, as well as contribute to the development of the tourism economy in nearby communities.