The BC Liberals have been enthusiastic about creating new parks and protected areas in our province. With 57 new parks since they came into power in 2001, they say B.C. has the highest percentage of protected land of any province in Canada.

But when it comes to the money they spend on the parks it's a different story.

Environmentalists applaud the Liberals for preserving more parkland, but the operating budget has taken a hit in the past decade.

  • In 1999 the government spent $42 million on provincial parks.
  • In 2008 the number was $36 million

Gwen Barlee of the Wilderness Committee says a recession is the most important time to protect the province's spectacular wilderness.

"Especially with an economic downturn people aren't going to go abroad, they're going to vacation here at home," Barlee said. "That's why I find it surprising that B.C. government would cut parks again in the midst of a recession."

Environment minister Barry Penner defends the move.

"We're increasing spending in health and education and that does mean we have to be mindful of our spending in other areas," Penner said.

Budget cuts mean the camping season is being shortened in 45 provincial parks this year and the number of park rangers returning for the summer has been slashed.

Jason Crabb knows all about the value of a good park ranger. A decade ago he and a companion were rescued by one in Slocan Lake in Valhalla Provincial Park.

"We took our canoe out, a big storm hit," he said. "There's no question that Bob saved both of our lives that day there was nobody else around that day and no chance of us getting our boat upright."

Crabb is talking about Bob Furher, a 17-year part-time ranger who's been told he won't be needed this summer.

"If we allow the parks to go unregulated who knows what can happen there with people's lives and the environment," Crabb said.

And critics believe the cuts to programs and services in the parks are linked to an alarming statistic. In 2008, six million fewer people enjoyed our provincial parks than a decade ago.

Meanwhile, the environment minister says he hopes the cuts to B.C. parks are only temporary. But critics say even in the good times the Liberals didn't fully restore funding to the pre-2001 levels.

And as a comparison we looked at Alberta's parks budget. It's more than double B.C.'s, even though Alberta has a lot less park space.

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Mi-Jung Lee