FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2006
Saveontarioparks.ca
joins the fight against provincial park cuts
TORONTO – A new web site being
launched today at
Saveontarioparks.ca will give Ontarians a chance to voice
their opposition to reductions in summer staff at Ontario’s
provincial parks.
“Summer staff at Ontario parks
play a huge role in providing 10 million park visitors with an
enjoyable and rewarding experience,” said Leah Casselman,
president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union. “We
are giving Ontarians an easy way to send a message to Premier
Dalton McGuinty to let him know that these cuts are not
acceptable.”
At the start of the season, the
Ministry of Natural Resources announced park staffing
reductions equivalent to 226 summer jobs for students and
seasonal workers. This is a 19 per cent reduction compared to
2005.
“Ontarians did not vote for
cuts to public services,” said Casselman. “On the contrary,
they voted to rebuild public services that had been shattered
by 10 years of cuts.
“It is now clear that the
McGuinty government cannot be trusted to keep the most basic
promise of their 2003 election campaign.”
Cuts to park staffing have
affected natural heritage educators, park wardens, maintenance
staff, park store staff, and park administration, including
fee collection.
Ontario parks are already 80
per cent funded by user fees, which is the highest rate of
cost recovery of any park system in Canada. The province chips
in just $13.7 million of the $63.6 million operating budget
for all 319 provincial parks.
“The tiny investment it takes
to keep our parks running is repaid several times over through
the many social, economic, and environmental benefits our
parks provide,” said Casselman. “We encourage everyone to
visit
saveontarioparks.ca and have their say.”
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For information:
Randy Robinson (416)
448-7441; (416) 788-9134
