Thread by @CPAWSNAB

We had a closer look at the Alberta Park's announcement and decided to check some of the concerning statements we had seen. Check out our new blog

13 Truths and a Lie about Alberta's Parks cpawsnab.org/alberta-parks-…

#DefendABParks #ProtectABParks #ABLeg #abpoli

Alternative Management could be:

forestry activities
New oil and gas development
New or unrestricted off-highway vehicle access
Commercial facilities

Use your voice, send a letter - bit.ly/DefendABParks

174 sites our of 463 #AlbertaParks sites will be impacted by these changes.

A new public opinion survey conducted recently shows that almost 7 in 10 Albertans oppose the closure or removal of these parks from the parks system.

cpawsnab.org/strong-majorit…

Ten sites are slated for full closure where the “entire site will be closed to public access” another 10 will have partial closure.

In fact, changes to the Public Lands Administration Regulation made in November 2019 make it easier for private partners to apply for and receive dispositions for commercial developments on public lands including hotels, lodges, shops, mini-golf, motocross tracks among others!

Existing agreements have the sites remain in the Alberta Park's system, meaning they still have the protection that being a Park has. This will not be true with the new private partnerships.

cpawsnab.org/alberta-parks-…

Studies by the Canadian Parks Council have found that for every dollar governments invest in parks in Canada, $6 is generated back into the GDP! The reported $5M in operations funding that will be saved did not include this.

The value of parks and recreation areas is much greater than direct government revenue alone. Health, mental wellbeing, access to nature, clean air and water - so much value!

What value do you get from Alberta's parks?

The Alberta government made a goal to more than double tourism revenue, while simultaneously ridding the Parks system of many of the places that tourists come to visit.

We have, however, heard from members in Peace Country, that day users for a number of the closed sites were not accounted for in the media reports.

On February 18, 2020 the Alberta Parks Consultation Framework framework was updated to the Alberta Parks Engagement Framework which removes the requirement for consultation and states only that “the public may be engaged or notified.”

cpawsnab.org/alberta-parks-…

Recently a parcel of public native grasslands in southeast Alberta was put up for auction for a private sale.

nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/c…

You have a voice - use it. We know there's a lot going on right now, but this is important too!

Send a letter asking the Alberta government to reverse their decision - you can use our template: bit.ly/DefendABParks

Even better give your MLA a call: 310-0000