Pitch your tent! Get dressed up in your best skiing, climbing, or hiking gear and come down to The McDougal Centre to protest the proposed changes to our Alberta Parks. This will be a peaceful and apolitical protest to fight the proposed budget cuts. Please join us on March 15th to respectfully share your story of why these natural spaces are important to you and why we should always continue to protect them. In doing this we hope to raise awareness regarding the crucial of protecting our parks while directing people to forms of action.

Why?

The Alberta government is planning to fully or partially close 20 provincial parks. In the process of doing this 164 sites will be removed from provincial designation and left vulnerable to third party management.
These closures are accompanied by campground fee increases and cuts to services, such as trail maintenance in many prominent cross country skiing areas. As Albertans, we are privileged to have access to some of the most beautiful and well maintained natural spaces in the world. Environment Minister Jason Nixon says that Alberta can no longer support the "retail" side of parks. Nixon has not confirmed whether the 16,000 Hectares proposed by this movement will be sold off, and has asserted that conservation will still be the main priority. However, the proposed changes leave these sites vulnerable, and the future of our parks uncertain. If the Government can threaten 16,000 acres of parkland within their first year of power, imagine the losses that can occur in the next three years.

FOR THE LOVE OF OUR PARKS!

-If you are planning to bring a sign, please make sure to avoid "political bashing" and make a sign on recyclable materials. Suggestions for slogans are: we love Alberta parks, protect our parks and don't leave us in the dark about our parks.

-be aware if you bring a tent you are responsible for it.

-this event will go on snow or shine, please be prepared to be outside and bring what you need to be comfortable for an extended period of time (i.e food, water, warm clothes, chairs etc.)

-please respect the space we are presenting in as well as the spirit of the event.

-please use a pack it in, pack it out mentality and leave the site spotless, recycle your signs etc.

We will be joined on March 15th by some members from CPAWS Southern Alberta Chapter.

If you would like to sign the petition follow this link:
https://act.leadnow.ca/dont-let-kenney-privatize-nature/

If you would like to do some more reading on the issue check out these articles:
https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/alberta-releases-list-of-parks-to-be-closed-or-partially-closed

https://globalnews.ca/news/6623820/alberta-parks-closures/

If you would like to write a letter to your MLA please check out this awesome template.
https://action.cpaws.org/page/57187/action/1?fbclid=IwAR1gtHnjufdRcQuJrURuSNplA2nL6Q2PiV_Jr7E-z11VEJk7ToqdTmvluKA