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The B.C. government's Economic Benefits of British Columbia’s Provincial Parks study reveals a huge economic return from government investment in B.C.’s parks system.
Vancouver (10 July 2012) - The B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) has enlisted the help of Bigfoot to kick off their summer campaign to increase funding to B.C.’s parks system.
Bigfoot and Ranger Dave star as characters in an online video – part of an internet and print-based campaign that highlights the impact of B.C. parks cuts and urges people to ask the B.C. government to restore parks funding.
The campaign focuses on B.C. park rangers as an endangered species, with only 10 full-time rangers left to patrol 1000 parks and protected areas, covering more than 32 million acres province-wide. 
“B.C.’s park ranger corps has been cut by more than 60 per cent since 2001,” says BCGEU President Darryl Walker. “We have the third largest park system in North America and we can’t afford to send the few rangers we have left out to patrol our parks.”
Walker pointed to freedom of information documents which confirm that more than 40 park vehicles were sidelined and gasoline and travel budgets severely cut back, making it difficult for park rangers to patrol B.C. parks. The documents also revealed that greyhound buses, scooters and taxis were being considered as alternative transportation for rangers and supervisors.
The union also claims that the government’s austerity measures hurt rural communities which depend on tourism revenue from B.C. parks, citing the Economic Benefits of British Columbia’s Provincial Parks study as evidence. This study, produced by the B.C. government itself reveals a huge economic return from government investment in B.C.’s parks system.
“The government’s own study shows that visitors spend $10 in local economies for every dollar spent by the government on B.C.’s park system,” says Byron Goerz, chair of the component representing park rangers. “We have to stop looking at parks as a cost and recognize they are huge revenue generators for local communities.”
The campaign web site (www.saveBCparks.ca) contains a variety of information resources, and includes an online form to e-mail the Premier, Environment Minister and opposition critic to ask the government to restore B.C. parks funding to 2000 levels.
More information:
BCGEU's Save B.C. Parks campaign
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE