Alberta government drops K-Country usage fees – for one day only
The Alberta government is offering residents the opportunity to explore the province's parks and participate in special activities by dropping a controversial fee imposed just a short time ago.
Minister of Environment and Parks Jason Nixon announced Friday afternoon on July 17, also known as Parks Days 2021, that all Albertans would be able to access parks and recreational areas in Kananaskis Country, free of charge.
"I encourage everyone to explore the hundreds of parks, public lands and protected areas this province has to offer, and to take part in special activities planned for Parks Day 2021," he wrote on Twitter.
Starting June 1, all visitors to Kananaskis Country are required to purchase a conservation pass from the provincial government.
The promotion to drop the fee was not welcomed by many people who responded to Nixon's tweet, asking about the motive behind granting a one-day free pass for the "regressive annual user fee."
Meanwhile, others were also quick to point out that the free Saturday would not be accessible for all Albertans.
CALGARIANS SEEKING THE OUTDOORS
Regular visitors to the area, like the Paul family from Calgary also never imagined that they’d have to pay to access their favourite outdoor getaway.
Aju Paul says the province should have considered the mental aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic, before charging Albertans.
“I’m frustrated a little bit because after COVID, everyone is trying to get out here,” he said.
“With the current economic situation, I think it’s a good idea to ease this a little bit so people have an opportunity to get out and get more active.”
Officials say the fee was introduced to cover the costs for services in the park areas such as garbage collection and trail grooming.
"The increase in visitors has meant more litter, injuries, human-wildlife conflict, overcrowding, traffic and illegal parking in K-Country and the Bow Valley. In 2020, the Kananaskis Public Safety team responded to more calls for help in K-Country than in Banff, Yoho, Kootenay, Jasper and Waterton National Parks. The increased popularity of this area means we continue to have to increase services in the area," said Nixon's press secretary Paul Hamnett in an email to CTV News.
FEES NEEDED TO BALANCE THE BOOKS
Avid hikers like Jaci Lyndon agree that fees should be in place, especially to provide better maintenance in the area.
“Conservation pass fees include summer and winter trail maintenance, safety and education so with that brought in, I really think Albertans will see a value,” Lyndon said.
“For me it was important that this extended to the winter months because there’s snowshoeing, cross country skiing and last year we had the track setting removed from the provincial budget.”
In addition, one of the other biggest concerns remains in excess garbage and vandalism following a record 5.4 million visits to the K-Country area last year.
Supervisor at the Kananaskis Information Centre, Julie Schmitt, says the funding is much needed if visitors wish to enjoy a clean and safe park experience.
“Any garbage that gets left is a wildlife attractant and I’ve already seen improvements on the garbage collection,” she said.
“Education is also very important because we’re trying to encourage more information, hopefully in the long run that helps to reduce the amount of adverse things that happen and potential rescues that occur as well.”
According to the province, 42 rescues were conducted in the Kananaskis area alone during the final week of June.
The daily fee is $15 while an annual pass is $90. Hamnett says all the fees collected will be used within the park for a number of initiatives, including improvements to Canmore's Nordic Centre, new parking areas in the Highwood Corridor, reopening visitor centres in K-Country as well as adding more conservation officers and parks staff among other improvements.
Anyone found in the area without a valid pass will be penalized with a $150 fine for personal vehicles and $300 for commercial vehicles.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
B.C. theatre to pay $55K to neurodivergent actor in discrimination case
British Columbia's human rights tribunal has awarded a neurodigergent actor, who was diagnosed with sensory and learning disorders, more than $55,000 after finding that a Kelowna theatre company discriminated against him because of his disabilities.
Who's responsible for regulating cannabis stores operating under the sovereignty banner?
It's not quite clear who is supposed to be regulating so-called sovereign cannabis stores or even ensure they're benefiting Indigenous communities.