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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Businesses near parks could pay, Kent muses
Environment minister talks of fees to help cover costs
Peter Kent (CP)
The Canadian Press archives The mayor of Canmore, Alta., says cuts to Parks Canada have already affected businesses near Banff National Park (above). (CP)
OTTAWA -- Businesses located near national parks, historic sites and canals run by Parks Canada could be asked to pay fees to help offset upkeep and operating costs.
Environment Minister Peter Kent openly talked about the potential fees this week, while also suggesting a plan to cut the operating hours of those sites -- in some cases in half -- could be reversed or scaled back.
Kent made the comments after meeting with municipal leaders from 13 communities along Ontario's historic Rideau Canal system. "There are quite a few beneficiaries along the Rideau Canal system, as in our national parks, who in this context pay absolutely nothing for the privilege of operating those businesses," Kent said. "Whereas in the national parks, there are franchise fees to be paid by those who benefit economically."
One of those attending Tuesday's meeting with Kent was Doug Struthers, the mayor of Merrickville-Wolford, Ont. Struthers said the minister never spoke at the gathering about the possibility of charging commercial operators on the canal fees. Such a move could pit local businesses against each other, he said.
"It would be an interesting conversation, I'm sure," he said. "Nobody likes to have a fee to be in business."
The meeting focused on the government's current plan to cut back the canal's hours of operation and its potentially devastating impact on local businesses.
"The initial inclination was to reduce operating hours on the shoulder periods, in the early spring and the late fall," Kent said.
"The mayors have been very effective... in communicating that there would be significant impact economically."
No decisions have been made, however, and Kent was merely being frank about his discussions with communities and businesses that would be affected by any changes, said spokesman Adam Sweet, who stressed Thursday that the minister is not advocating charging new fees.
The plan to trim operating hours is still scheduled to go ahead in the spring, Sweet added.
Kent suggested to reporters in Ottawa on Wednesday that businesses operating in proximity to the Parks Canada canal systems in Ontario and Quebec may have an unfair advantage over those within federal jurisdiction.
Cuts to parks programs and the resulting loss of jobs have already hurt communities that depend on the tourist dollars the national sites attract, said John Borrowman, mayor of Canmore, Alta., southeast of Banff National Park.
"The significant cut in funding to Parks Canada has already had a negative impact to the town of Canmore," Borrowman said.
-- The Canadian Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 10, 2012 A17
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