Another new fee...$90/yr for kananaskis users

[JB_AOL]

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/cana...ge-in-vehicle/

Once again.. I am glad to this.. the place was overrun by people and there's needs to be extra $ for cleanup/maintenance.

Just wish it was a pass so I could switch it between vehicles.

[straight]

It means, when I buy WT tag in WMU406 for $30 I should pay $90 to park my vehicle? Nice.

[sns2]

And I thought the NDP were tax and spend. What a joke. $90. Wow.

[Grizzly Adams]

Originally Posted by sns2

And I thought the NDP were tax and spend. What a joke. $90. Wow.

So much for taking a casual drive into the mountains. Might be alright for regular users, but it's going to discriminate against people like me who just want a day out. But then, I can't afford the golf course and it's imported white sand either.

Grizz

[CNP]

https://kananaskistrails.com/where-i...0and%20Canmore.

K Country Map is ^

At least I found out that immediately N of CNP does not apply. K Country in the S doesn't begin until (approx) S and W of Hwy 532.

[DiabeticKripple]

$90 is a bit steep. $45 ain’t bad but it seems like the UCP is intent on being anything but conservative at this point

[59whiskers]

Originally Posted by CNP

https://kananaskistrails.com/where-i...0and%20Canmore.

K Country Map is ^

At least I found out that immediately N of CNP does not apply. K Country in the S doesn't begin until (approx) S and W of Hwy 532.

It will in time. Wait till the NDP get elected next time.

[midgetwaiter]

Originally Posted by CNP

https://kananaskistrails.com/where-i...0and%20Canmore.

K Country Map is ^

At least I found out that immediately N of CNP does not apply. K Country in the S doesn't begin until (approx) S and W of Hwy 532.

Maybe good, maybe not. I’m concerned everyone that doesn’t want to cough up the $90 will end up south of 532.

[CNP]

The Globe and Mail continues to hide behind a pay wall..........seriously, does the G&M gain significant revenue stream from that?

Sorry for the derail but you linked to a news source that does not provide...

I'd like to know more considering I live off of the Kananaskis Rd...

[Donkey Oatey]

Originally Posted by CNP

The Globe and Mail continues to hide behind a pay wall..........seriously, does the G&M gain significant revenue stream from that?

Sorry for the derail but you linked to a news source that does not provide...

I'd like to know more considering I live off of the Kananaskis Rd...

Here is the article.

Albertans who want to hike, ski or otherwise play in Kananaskis Country will have to pay to access the area come June 1, when a $90 per-vehicle annual fee comes into effect.

The pass is part of a broader set of measures the province will announce Tuesday to protect the area, after a record five million visitors descended on the region last year. By comparison, Banff National Park next door sees, on average, about four million annual visitors.

Social media posts on Kananaskis mountain trails in 2020 skyrocketed as Calgarians and others fled the city to find outdoor fun during a pandemic, but so did graffiti on signs, excessive speeding by some drivers, illegal parking, helicopter rescues and garbage.

Dubbed “Alberta’s mountain playground,” the Kananaskis region is about an hour’s drive west of Calgary. It comprises about 4,000 square kilometres of Rocky Mountain parks and foothills loaded with scenic hiking paths, alpine and Nordic ski trails, caves and golf courses.

Alberta Environment Minister Jason Nixon told The Globe and Mail that as a result of the surge in visitor numbers, the “greatest gem inside the provincial parks system” exceeded its operational expense budget.

“It’s great that everybody is going to enjoy Kananaskis – that’s what we want – but we continue to see a significant environmental strain on what is one of the most beautiful places in our province,” he said.

“What we hear from Albertans is that they’re comfortable with modest fees, as long as the fee is going back to the park or to the landscape. In this case, it will be 100 per cent doing that.”

Mr. Nixon said Tuesday’s announcement will include “some significant capital upgrades” to – and the expansion of – Kananaskis, the hiring of 20 new conservation officers and 50 new park employees, and the opening of a new emergency centre.

Unlike Ontario, Alberta doesn’t charge for day use of its provincial parks. Mr. Nixon said his United Conservative government is not considering implementing a provincewide park fee system at this point, given most are camping areas that already charge a fee. But nothing is off the table.

The annual pass will be tied to licence plates, but visitors will also have the option to pay $15 per day. Among those exempt from the fee will be low-income earners and First Nations people. Much like the system in place in Banff National Park, the fee will apply to anyone who uses park facilities.

Debbie Mucha, Kananaskis West area manager with Alberta Environment and Parks, said on a departmental blog that the amount of garbage and disregard for parks facilities was a huge issue last year, with filled dog poop bags and paper coffee cups littering scenic hiking trails.

The surge of people also led to “significant damages” to “delicate flora and fauna which were being crushed or decimated in sensitive areas,” she said.

Ms. Mucha said visitors were also behaving “in a more aggressive way with staff and contractors,” likely because of the underlying stress of the pandemic. Conservation officers had a difficult time responding to the increased enforcement issues, she said, because much of their days were spent on public safety incidents, wildlife response, parking issues and cleaning up garbage.

The new fee is the latest in a series of changes the UCP government has introduced for public land use.

Its February budget hiked camping fees by $1 to $3 a night. Earlier this month, the government announced changes to the Public Lands Act to allow a new, $30 annual pass to camp on public land on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains.

[JDK71]

cash grab and why not all pay to use .

[jhl]

Jason Kenney and his troup of misfits changing the landscape of Alberta one tax at a time. Wow this minister of Environment is destroying our back country access one fee at a time. $90.00 access fee, $30.00 random camping fee. for what? more garbage pickers and wanna be tough guy wildlife officers. We already paid for this park and all the other parks, and because they cannot seem to manage the funds want to charge people more to see our Alberta. While I agree they need more F&W officers, this is just a slap in the face to hunters, hikers, and real outdoor people. And another kick is to not charge certain groups for what ever reason. Not good.

[JDK71]

Originally Posted by jhl

Jason Kenney and his troup of misfits changing the landscape of Alberta one tax at a time. Wow this minister of Environment is destroying our back country access one fee at a time. $90.00 access fee, $30.00 random camping fee. for what? more garbage pickers and wanna be tough guy wildlife officers. We already paid for this park and all the other parks, and because they cannot seem to manage the funds want to charge people more to see our Alberta. While I agree they need more F&W officers, this is just a slap in the face to hunters, hikers, and real outdoor people. And another kick is to not charge certain groups for what ever reason. Not good.

well said 100% right

[JB_AOL]

Originally Posted by jhl

Jason Kenney and his troup of misfits changing the landscape of Alberta one tax at a time. Wow this minister of Environment is destroying our back country access one fee at a time. $90.00 access fee, $30.00 random camping fee. for what? more garbage pickers and wanna be tough guy wildlife officers. We already paid for this park and all the other parks, and because they cannot seem to manage the funds want to charge people more to see our Alberta. While I agree they need more F&W officers, this is just a slap in the face to hunters, hikers, and real outdoor people. And another kick is to not charge certain groups for what ever reason. Not good.

Idk.. I agree but disagree.. this will (in theory) provide more money for maintenance and upkeep, while also discouraging the masses from just popping out there.

Last year k-country was an absolute zoo, with the "city folk" doing "city" things.. I think they had to do this and I welcome it.

[sewerrat]

I have no problem pay a fee, If I have not ben there that week end , and people are pooping next to the toilets wrecking signs leaving a trail of garbage , overflowing bins , why should my tax money clean that crap up.
Human beings are worse than pigs, they are disgusting.

It be on crown land or in provincial parks those place look worse than a hog barn.

[CNP]

Originally Posted by Donkey Oatey

The annual pass will be tied to licence plates, but visitors will also have the option to pay $15 per day. Among those exempt from the fee will be low-income earners and First Nations people. Much like the system in place in Banff National Park, the fee will apply to anyone who uses park facilities.
.

Thanks DO

The usual exemptions but being tied to license plates is maybe even more of a cash grab. How many families only have one vehicle these days? It's approx 1.5 km from my home in CNP to the cattle guard where the forest reserve starts and I'm in K country at least once a week. The news release to the G&M does not adequately spell out all the nuances of the new requirement. I'm not even sure where the boundaries of K country are?

[kilgoretrout]

Originally Posted by CNP

The Globe and Mail continues to hide behind a pay wall..........seriously, does the G&M gain significant revenue stream from that?

Sorry for the derail but you linked to a news source that does not provide...

I'd like to know more considering I live off of the Kananaskis Rd...

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...fees-1.6003671

This article says 2 vehicles but could be wrong ....... just across the pond from you to the west

[flyrodfisher]

Edit to my previous post...from the link above it seems like the town of Canmore WILL be included in the Kananaskis conservation pass.


Wonder how that will work?

So... even a stop for gas in Canmore is an extra $15?

[does it ALL outdoors]

How many that welcome this new "tax" think that that money will actually be spent on more enforcement and cleanup?

Or will the money be collected and put into some slush fund with very little of the collected fees, if any being spent on said enforcement and cleanup?

I'm skeptical that any noticeable difference will be made, except users a little lighter in the wallet.

Theoretically your wallet being lighter will make your vehicle more fuel efficient so you can feel better about saving Mother Earth, I guess

Anytime a proposed new tax comes up I have only one reply, NO MORE TAXES!!!

Politicians expect us to all live within our means but they do just the opposite.
Something about do as I say, not as I do

[Bushrat]

Originally Posted by does it ALL outdoors

How many that welcome this new "tax" think that that money will actually be spent on more enforcement and cleanup?

Or will the money be collected and put into some slush fund with very little of the collected fees, if any being spent on said enforcement and cleanup?

I'm skeptical that any noticeable difference will be made, except users a little lighter in the wallet.

Theoretically your wallet being lighter will make your vehicle more fuel efficient so you can feel better about saving Mother Earth, I guess

Anytime a proposed new tax comes up I have only one reply, NO MORE TAXES!!!

Politicians expect us to all live within our means but they do just the opposite.
Something about do as I say, not as I do

I tend to agree. All I see is the creation of another bureaucracy with most money going to top heavy officials and their minions down to a few people actually in the field writing some tickets and some summer students doing a bit of cleanup. They will have nice trucks and equipment and nice offices. Just creating the illusion of doing something without doing something. Lots of add campaigns and fluff. Typical of most gov't programs they will achieve the bare minimum to justify asking for increased budgets in following years as they will need more money to keep their jobs and ineffective bureaucracy rolling along. 5 years from now the fee will be $200 and nothing much will change from the present situation.

[TreeGuy]

Pretty much the best (only) thing Kenny et al have achieved during their tenure is ousting the Nutley regime.

100% going back to Kananaskis? BS!

80%+ will go to union hacks for ‘administration’ costs.

Then perhaps most of the remainder will go to enforcement ‘officers’ who’s sole purpose shall be to patrol/fine those without a parks pass. Hmmm. More union employees.

The remaining 1-2% will go toward improvements. Maybe.

Nothing will change. NOTHING. Not until we have an administration that stands up against sending untold billions per year to quebek and getting raped by public service unions.

There’s only ONE taxpayer and Kenny’s UPC obviously doesn’t seem to comprehend this. They’ve lost my vote.

Tree


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[tallieho]

100% behind this action..User pay,is part of what we all do.

[HalfBreed]

If Albertans weren't the pigs they are, this wouldn't be happening.

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by HalfBreed

If Albertans weren't the pigs they are, this wouldn't be happening.

It’s not a issue unique to Albertans it seems a portion of humans are just slobs

[mac1983]

I don't go to k-country, beautiful place just not for me, to many city types for me. Why should my taxes go to pay for all the city slobs to abuse nature. I'd rather my taxes go to the local volunteer fire department than clean up after a bunch of slobs. User pay works just fine for me. Unless you want our income and property taxes to double or more, and implement a provincial sales tax. If you haven't noticed our economy has tanked for the last 10 years, someone has to pay. You all see to be in love with Rachael I just don't get it. Rant over...

[badbrass]

Some Albertans!
They know who they are! The same ones that throw their coffee cups and garbage out the car window when driving! Slobs!



!QUOTE=HalfBreed;4366774]If Albertans weren't the pigs they are, this wouldn't be happening.[/QUOTE]